“Bradley said the same thing, but I feel so bad about letting him down. I loved him once, the children did too.”
“I understand that. But you have to realize that what you did saved your life and the children’s. Now you have to put it behind you and accept what you have—a chance to start again where you have people that love you. And none more than me. I meant it, April. I want to marry you.”
Chapter 23
“Mom, yes. Do it please.” Leo peered at her from the small screen of Drew’s phone.
“Are you sure you’re okay with it? It’s been a big change for you both lately. Moving here, new school and friends. I worry that I’m rushing you.”
Tilly nudged her bother out of the way and looked at her. “Mom, its fine, promise. We spoke to Drew about it yesterday. He wanted to make sure we were cool with it and we are. Mr. Hope, tell her, will you?”
She handed the phone back to Atticus. His cheerful face filled the screen with her children peeking over each side of his head. “The children are excited, April, as am I and Gigi. We can’t wait for you two to tie the knot. It’s been a long time coming. Now, go and celebrate and don’t worry about the children. We’re going to go over and see Arlo. He needs help with his oyster pots and the children are keen to get involved. He’s making a new section up and promised to show Leo how it’s done.” He cleared his throat. “Listen, the children want to have a sleepover at our place. Gigi has offered to do hotdogs on the fire with s’mores. Is that okay with you?”
“Please, please, Mom,” they both cried out in unison.
“You’re so good to us, Atticus. Thank you.” She hung up and handed back the phone to Drew. He took it and slipped it into his pocket.
“Ready to give me an answer now?”
“Maybe.” She lifted herself up and reached for him, locking lips with enough force to have him falling back on the blanket. April laughed and lay on top of him. “I love you, Drew. I don’t think I ever fell out of love with you.”
“Don’t ever feel bad about the past, April. It happened and that’s fine. Let’s use our energy to build a future for us and the children and anymore we might have.”
“You want more?”
He wiggled his eyebrows. “I’m keen if you are. If not, well I guess I can live with that. So long as I have you in my arms, I can deal with anything.”
She kissed his throat. “Maybe, but not yet. I want to enjoy being married first. Plus, I like my job even if the boss is a bit pushy.” She giggled. “I do love you, Drew. Deeply love you.”
“Love you more.” He rolled her over and lifted himself up, slipped his hand into his pocket bringing out a velvet jewelry box. “Let’s do this properly shall we.” He opened it while shuffling onto his knees.
“April Williams, will you do me the honor of being my wife?” He opened the box and held it out to her. A sparkling solitaire diamond glinted at her.
“Drew, it’s gorgeous.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes.”
He picked it out of the box and slipped it on her finger. “I don’t know about you, but I can think of a better place for us to be than here right now. Fancy a walk around the bay to your new home? I have champagne on ice.”
“Does that mean I get to have a sleepover as well?”
“I was hoping you would. And yes, I know I owe my father for this.”
“He knew?”
“Of course. I had to have his help to set this up, get Deacon and the horses and arrange to look after the children. I didn’t ask him to have the children for a sleepover though. That would be his idea, promise.”
“Let’s go then. We have a lot of years to make up for.”
The End
Click this link to read the next book in the series. Hold Me Now, out in early May. Don’t Let Go is available in June. https://amzn.to/2WB257C
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Volume Three
Riley
RILEY
Copyright 2019 Ann B Harrison
Kindle Edition
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright
Ann B Harrison is the internationally best-selling author of thirty plus romance novels including her fabulous Watson Brothers Romance stories published by Tule Publishing Group.
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Chapter 1
What the heck have you done, Sassie O’Leary? Bitten off more than you can chew again. Pa would be rolling in his grave if he could see her now. Talk about going to extremes to avoiding smothering anyone who comes into her life!
The photos in the real estate office had glorified the old house in the small Colorado town of Cooper’s Crossing more than she could believe. It would have been stunning in its heyday, no doubt about it. A horse tied at the hitching post, chickens scratching in the garden at the edge of the lot, a cute cowboy sitting in the rocking chair on the front porch with his hat pulled down over his eyes to shut out the
