Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 60933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
When Bryony reached me, she stopped and sang, “It’s a love story, baby, just say yes,” with a huge grin on her face, then stepped back, and Brady stopped in front of me.
In that moment, it was if time had stilled. Everything and everyone around us had faded away as I watched Brady go down on one knee. I heard Bryony’s squeal of delight, but all I could see was him. Looking up at me. His crooked grin and then the small ring box he opened in his hand with the most beautiful diamond I had ever seen.
“This is forever,” he said. “It’ll always just be you… Marry me?”
I let out a sob, then covered my mouth as tears started streaming down my face. I managed to nod, then blurted out, “Yes!”
Bryony threw her arms around my legs, and the clapping, whistles, and cheering filled the backyard.
“We did it, Daddy! She said yes!” Bryony’s excitement made me cry even harder. “And I get to be a Higgens too, Mommy! Daddy said he wants me to be a Higgens too!”
The sobs came harder as Brady stood up and pulled me into his arms, then slid the ring onto my finger. I could hardly see it through my tears, but what it looked like wasn’t important. I would have happily worn a string on my finger if he had put it there.
Brady cupped my face and wiped away my tears with his thumbs, then pressed a kiss to my lips. “Always, Riley. You and Bryony have been my forever since the day you climbed into my truck to get out of the rain. I just didn’t know how damn lucky I was. But I swear to you I will never forget.”
“This is the best day ever!” Bryony said.
Brady bent down and picked her up, then pulled me to his other side. “It’s not every day the two most beautiful women in the world agree to be mine,” Brady told her.
There just wasn’t enough room in my chest to hold the love I felt in that moment. I’d never imagined I would have this. Once I had thought my dad would have to be Bryony’s father figure. I hadn’t thought I would find a man that I trusted to love her enough. To want her, too.
But I hadn’t been expecting Brady Higgens either. Of all the boys in Lawton, I’d managed to win the love of the best one. My fairy tale had come true.
GUNNER AND WILLA
“This was going to be a journey, but it was one she had needed for far too long.”
CHAPTER ONE
WILLA
Nonna put a cup of coffee and a slice of pie in front of me on the table. I had mentioned missing her apple pie last month when we talked on the phone, and she’d remembered. This one was still warm from the oven, and the smell had been the first thing that hit me when I walked in the door.
“This is heaven,” I said with a sigh of happiness.
“If you and Gunner would have stayed here while visiting, you’d have had that and more by now,” Nonna said with a smug smile on her face.
I felt guilty about that, but staying at Nash’s had been something Gunner wanted to do for this visit. This was the end of the field party and the beginning of something new. I was proud of Ryker and Nash for all they had done and were going to do.
“I know, Nonna. But we always stay here. This is a big deal for the guys, and being there among them through this was something Gunner wanted to do.”
Nonna nodded. “I understand that. I’m just pointing out the facts. I baked two pies and a batch of brownies for you to take over to the Lee boy’s house. But you tell Gunner I still expect him to come see me again. He’s only stopped by the one time this trip, when y’all first arrived.”
“He will, Nonna,” I assured her.
She poured herself a cup of coffee, then took the chair across from me. “I’ve got some things to talk to you about. Ain’t something I’m wanting to do, but it’s got to be done.”
I put my fork back down without taking the bite of pie from it. When Nonna made that face, it was never a good thing. Although I wasn’t a kid anymore, that expression and tone of voice made me feel ten.
“What is it?” I asked, watching her closely.
She sighed heavily and gripped her coffee cup in her arthritic hands.
“Nonna, are you sick? Is something wrong?” I asked, feeling panic grip me.
She shook her head. “No, it ain’t me. It’s your mom.”
Relief and unease settled over me then. Nonna was fine. I could live with that. As for my mother, we didn’t speak of her. Even my brother, Chance, never mentioned her when we spoke or visited. He did talk about Bella, our six-year-old little sister, who I had never met. He adored her, and I knew he wanted me to know her. If it weren’t for my mother, I would want to also. But seeing Bella meant seeing my mother.