Chapter 14
With Ricard behind bars and Millie safe, Adam returned to work for the first time since the rescue. He still had a huge bruise on his chest from being shot, but it was nothing because he had Millie back.
Concentration seemed impossible. He’d read the same paragraph three times and still didn’t know what it said.
All he wanted to do was get back to Millie. To hold her in his arms and breathe in her vanilla scent.
“What are you doing, brother?” Benjamin came around the desk and looked over Adam’s shoulder. “Can’t concentrate now that you’re a happily married man?” He laughed.
“Laugh it up, Chuckles. Love will get you one day, too, and then the younger brothers will follow. Soon we’ll have to build more houses, and we’ll have kids running around. It’s going to be a whole new life.” He punched his brother in the shoulder. “And you’re gonna love it.”
“In your dreams.” Benjamin sobered. He walked to the other side of the desk and sat in one of the chairs. Although Mom and Dad would have loved that.”
“Yes, they would have.” Adam was quiet for a moment remembering his parents and their zest for life. Seeing their sons married and having children would have put them over the moon. Especially his mom. She wanted nothing more than to see the ranch overrun with grandchildren.
“You okay, Bro?” asked Benjamin.
“Yeah, I’m good. Just thinking about the folks.”
“I miss them, too. We all do. They should be here.”
Adam nodded. “They should be. But they’re not, so we just have to do the best we can do…for them.”
“I’m still not getting married…ever.”
Adam laughed. “We’ll see. We’ll see. I’d make a bet with you, but I know better. You cheat. No, I don’t think I’ll bet with you ever again.”
Benjamin blushed. “I see you’ve figured me out. Just don’t tell the brothers. I can still get them to bet with me.”
Raising a brow, Adam grew serious. “You can’t keep cheating. Yes, I’m telling them. Or you can quit making bets or if you do, be honest about them.”
“You take all the fun out of everything. You know that?” He crossed his arms over his chest and settled back into the chair.
“I know but this is my lot in life.” Adam placed his forearms on the desk and leaned forward. “I’d much rather be back upstairs in bed with my beautiful wife.”
“Speaking of your beautiful wife, she’s probably got breakfast on the table. Are you ready?”
“For Millie’s cooking? Always.” He stood, walked around the desk, and draped an arm over his brother’s shoulders as they headed to the kitchen. “So, what are you looking for in a wife?”
That morning, while Millie was busy the breakfast dishes, Adam got all his brothers together in their father’s office. “I need your help. I want to give Millie a surprise, but I can’t prepare it myself. I need to keep her busy while you do.”
All of them nodded.
“We’ll do anything for Millie,” said Everett. “You know that.”
“Okay, thanks.” Adam told them what he had planned.
Amidst grins and nods, each man took off with their assigned task.
Adam worked until about eleven o’clock when he saw on the security footage that all his brothers had returned.
Now was his turn. He walked to the kitchen, came up behind Millie while she prepped food on the counter and wrapped his arms around her waist. Then he began kissing her neck. He felt her shiver and smile.
She turned in his arms and wrapped hers around his neck. “What has you so lovey-dovey?”
“Can’t I kiss my beautiful wife?”
She smiled up at him, her eyes more black than blue. “Of course, but I get the feeling something’s up.”
“I can’t keep anything from you. I want you to take a ride with me. The brothers have already said they would fend for themselves for lunch. So, will you come with me?”
She chewed her bottom lip. “I feel like I should say no. I still have a lot to do.”
“Will any of it make a difference if it doesn’t get done today? I can help you with anything you want tomorrow.” He made a sign over his heart. “Cross my heart and hope to die if I don’t.”
“I hate that promise. Nothing could make me want you to die for any reason.”
He grinned. “Okay, I’ll just promise. How’s that?”
“Fine. Let me get my boots on and we can head to the barn.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Millie came down less than ten minutes later. She wore boots and had a sweater tied around her shoulders. “I’m ready.”
He reached out with his right hand and took her left hand, tucking it into his side. “Let’s go, gorgeous.” He guided her to the barn where the horses were saddled and ready to go. Adam helped her mount and then swung up onto Lightning. He led them out of the barn and toward the mountains.
After a little while, Millie looked over at him. “Are we going to the waterfall?”
He smiled. “I wondered if you would remember the way. To answer your question, yes, we’re headed to the waterfall. I know it’s one of your favorite places and since all the Ricard stuff is settled I decided it’s time we went back.
Two hours later the waterfall came into view, though they’d heard it for at least ten minutes before. Adam led her up above the falls to the lake that formed them.
There along the bank was a blanket and a picnic basket with a bottle of sparkling cider and two glasses.
“Adam! This is wonderful and so thoughtful. Thank you.” She stopped several feet away and dismounted, dropping the reins to the ground.
He did the same. Then he walked to her, took a hand and led her to the blanket, where she settled next to the picnic basket. Adam knelt on one knee, his heart in his throat.
“Adam?” Her eyes questioned him with her eyes wide and her brows high on her forehead.
“Millie Sullivan, will you choose me this time?”
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she nodded and dropped to her knees in front of himdf. “Yes! I choose you. This time and every time. I choose you.”
“I, Adam Sullivan, take you to be my wife, for forever.” His heart pounded and his hand shook slightly.
“I, Millie Sullivan, take you to be my husband, for forever and a day.”
“I love you, Millie, with all my heart and soul.” He placed a diamond engagement ring and matching wedding band on her finger.
“And I love you.” She jumped up into his arms.
He was ready for her and took her lips with his. This kiss was the first real one as husband and wife without any fears or stress hanging over them. Adam laid her back on the blanket, without letting go of her lips, and they made love, in the open, in their favorite place.
Later, much later, they rode back to the ranch. As they entered the ranch yard, all of the brothers came out of various buildings and clapped and cheered
Adam and Millie dismounted and were surrounded by their brothers. Each one of them wanted a hug from Millie and gave Adam a handshake.
She turned to Adam and leaned into his side, wrapping her arms around his waist.
He placed an arm around her shoulders and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
She looked up at him. “This is perfect. This is home.”
“You are my home. Wherever you are, I will be. I love you more than anything.” He placed a hand on her belly. “And this baby is already so loved and so welcome. I can’t wait until he gets here.”
She grinned as she rubbed her still mostly flat belly. “I can’t either, my love. I’m happier than I ever thought I would be. I’m so glad I ran into you in the grocery store.”
“Me, too, darlin’. Me, too.”