Chapter 16
Haylee sat in front of her latest painting in the room she used as an art studio in the home she shared with her sisters. She loved the scent of paint and wet canvas that filled the small room.
She dabbed at the canvas with her paintbrush, putting the last bit of shading on a cholla cactus. The sky was the vivid blue of a sunny Arizona afternoon, the ground a reddish-brown, with the majestic Huachuca Mountains in the distance.
“There. I think that’s it.” She set the brush on the palette and studied the work of art critically. “Not bad.” She had spent time on the nuances all morning and was finally satisfied with the result.
A knock on the door caught her attention, and she called over her shoulder, “Come on in.”
She kept her gaze on the painting, searching for anything that might need touching up. No work of art was perfect, and that was part of the beauty of it.
Large arms wrapped around her shoulders, and she felt the warmth of Tyson’s embrace and breathed in his scent of soap, shampoo, and man. “Hello, gorgeous,” he murmured.
“I’m glad you’re here.” She turned on her stool and tipped her head back for a kiss, and he made good on it. “I’m finished, and it’s ready to go to the gallery.”
Eleven months had passed since her first showing, and it had been almost nine months since the bank robbery.
He smiled down at her. “I’m kidnapping you to celebrate.”
She laughed. “Is it kidnapping if I’m a willing participant?”
“You have paint on your nose.” He grinned as he studied her face. “And on your cheek.”
“I’m sure I have it everywhere.” She slid off the stool, and he stepped back as she removed her pink smock, decorated with colorful paint smears. “It would be all over my clothes if I didn’t use this thing.”
They walked toward the door, and she hung the smock on a brass hook near the frame. “Where are we going?”
“My place.” He followed her down the hall and to her bedroom. “I’ve got takeout from Ricardo’s in the truck in an insulated bag.”
“Yum.” She shooed him back from the door. “Give me fifteen minutes to take a quick shower and make myself presentable.”
“I can’t watch?” He gave her a look so sexy that it sent a warm flush through her from head to toe.
“Stop that.” She waved him out of the room. “Go on now.”
He grinned and closed the door behind him as she shook her head. She stripped out of her old T-shirt, worn jeans and lingerie, and hurried to get ready. She didn’t want the Mexican food to get cold.
Half an hour later, they were in his truck, pulling up to his ranch. Freya and Zoey bounded to the vehicle, their butts wiggling with excitement.
They made short work of the takeout. Haylee hadn’t eaten much since she’d been so absorbed in her work, so she ate her tacos with ravenous enthusiasm.
After cleaning up their meal, he took her by the hand. “I’ve got to show you something.”
She always enjoyed his big, firm grip, and she walked at his side across to the opposite end of the house that she’d only seen once when he’d taken her on a tour months ago. Three guest rooms were in that part of the big house, and there hadn’t been any reason for her to go there since.
They reached the hallway with the bedrooms, and he escorted her to the last room on the left. He opened the door, stepped back, and held it open for her.
She stepped past him, and her jaw dropped. Skylights that hadn’t been there before let in the sunshine. A series of smaller windows had been added above a large picture window that looked out upon a desert garden filled with a variety of cacti and desert plants.
In the center of the room was a finely crafted easel with a blank canvas and an equally beautiful wooden stool. Beside the easel was a table for supplies needed while painting and another stool. Along the back wall was a structure like a wooden bookcase with cubbyholes for more supplies.
She turned to him, unable to believe the incredible room. “It’s amazing and wonderful.”
“And it’s all yours.” He grinned. “Have a seat.”
She moved into the room, across the floor with its eighteen-inch tiles, smelling fresh paint and wood. She perched on the stool in front of the easel and canvas. “How did you do all of this?”
He took the other stool, moved it closer to her, and sat on it. “I’ve been working on it for you for months, a little at a time.”
She looked at him in amazement. “By yourself?”
He shrugged. “I grew up helping my dad build and make things ourselves, so I have prior experience.”
She shook her head, having difficulty comprehending what he’d done for her and an even harder time finding words to express how much she appreciated it.
He held her gaze. “You can paint full-time here.”
She smiled. “I wish. I still need to make money.”
“I have a proposition for you.” He placed his palms on his thighs. “Now that I have the jerky business going, I’m ready to get my horse rescue ranch up and going.”
“That’s wonderful.” She cocked her head. “So, what’s the proposition?”
“You have a minor in nonprofits and experience working with those kinds of organizations.” He smiled. “I’d like you to run the horse rescue ranch nonprofit. You could do that part-time and paint to your heart’s content the rest of the time.”
Her eyes widened. “Really?”
He nodded. “So, what do you say?”
She climbed off the stool and flung herself at him. “I’ll take the job.”
“Glad to hear it, hon.” He wrapped her in his large embrace and held her to him. He kissed the top of her head. “I have another proposition.” She stepped back, and he got to his feet.
“What else could you possibly have to surprise me with now?” She looked around her at the perfect room and turned toward him. “I still can’t believe?—”
Haylee’s words stuck in her throat. Tyson was on one knee, holding an open small jeweler’s box. Nestled in brown velvet was what must have been a two-carat diamond ring on a simple gold band.
“Will you marry me, Haylee?” He looked at her with solemn eyes as she stared at him. “You will make this cowboy the happiest man on earth.”
She dropped to her knees before him, ignoring the hard tile. She threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes! Oh, my God, yes.”
He gathered her close and hugged her. He leaned back, and she tipped her face up to his. “Thank you for saying yes. I love you more than anything on God’s green earth.”
She smiled. “My love matches yours. I can’t imagine anything better than you being my husband and me being your wife.”
He kissed her deeply, and she fell into it, so happy she could burst with it all. The studio was incredible, running his nonprofit a wonderful thing, but best of all, he would be hers forever.
Haylee leaned back in Tyson’s embrace on the deck of the riverboat as it cruised along France’s River Seine. A soft breeze blew strands of hair around her face and brushed her cheeks with a feathery caress.
Along the Seine, the riverboat slid past green shores crowded with trees and bushes, with homes peering through here and there and occasional towns with a small dock. The river went through several locks and continued on to flow into the English Channel.
“It’s so gorgeous here.” She breathed deeply of the cool air. “It’s so different from Arizona. The desert has its own beauty, but this is incredible.”
Tyson rested his chin on the top of her head. “It is beautiful, hon.”
The cruise had been Tyson’s wedding gift—two weeks starting in London, then the bullet train to Paris, where they boarded the riverboat. Now, they were halfway through the trip along the Seine, and at the end of the cruise, they would head back to Paris.
“I love the swans.” She watched a pair of wild swans swimming in a small alcove. The lovely white creatures inhabited the banks along the green waters from outside Paris to the river’s end in Normandy.
Tyson gave a soft laugh. “You wouldn’t have ended up with geese at a bridal shower if they were wild back home.”
She grinned at the memory. “I can still picture one of the little monsters nipping Helen’s bottom.”
The boat had left Paris earlier in the week, and they’d made stops at medieval towns and tiny jewels of places to visit.
And art—she was submersed in arteverywhere. They had started at the British Museum in London, then in Paris the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay before the cruise. She had reveled in more art than she’d been exposed to her entire life.
Haylee turned her attention to her surroundings. The captain had begun docking the boat.
“We’ve reached Giverny.” Haylee turned in Tyson’s arms to face him. “It won’t be long until we visit Claude Monet’s home, gardens, and art studio.”
She thought about yesterday when the riverboat had stopped at Auvers-sur-Oise, a picturesque village where Vincent Van Gogh spent the last couple of months of his life.
“I still can’t believe that yesterday we stood in so many places Van Gogh had painted and the room where he’d lived.”
Tyson nodded. “It was great seeing his painting of that room back at the museum in Paris.”
“It’s fascinating they haven’t rented the room since his death.” Haylee thought about the ivy-covered gravesite where he was buried. “It was an interesting story of how his beloved brother, Theodore, was interred next to him.”
“And now for Monet.” Tyson took her hand. “Let’s get downstairs and get ready to go.”
As Haylee and Tyson rode in the tour bus with other Spirit passengers to Monet’s home, she could hardly contain herself. He squeezed her hand as she looked from the window to him. His sexy grin made her feel warm all over.
“I’m so excited to visit the places special to Monet.” She smiled. “I never dreamed I’d do so many things I’d only read or heard about before. This is the most amazing trip. Thank you.”
He kissed her softly and drew back. “I’m happy you’re enjoying yourself. I love doing all these things with you.”
“How could I not enjoy myself?” Haylee leaned her head against Tyson’s shoulder, feeling content and loved. She couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have found a man like him who cherished, loved, and appreciated her.
And how lucky she was to experience everything she’d done so far with Tyson. She had thought of traveling to Europe but wasn’t sure she’d ever get the opportunity to. Experiencing art and culture in this way was incredible.
She looked out the window as the bus slowed and pulled up to Monet’s Giverny estate. Lush gardens filled with brilliant flowers, arching vine-covered walkways, and willow trees were near the entrance. “Oh, my God. This is amazing.”
They left the bus with their group, following their guide. Haylee looked around her—there was so much to see. Tyson took pictures for her so that she could spend the time enjoying every bit of the experience.
They followed the crowd and their guide and soon entered the most beautiful gardens Haylee had ever seen. The guide told them that Monet had designed the gardens and had everything planted once he made enough money with his art.
“There is so much greenery and beauty.” Haylee looked up at Tyson then back to everything around her. They walked along a pathway filled with bright, vibrant, colorful flowers around a waterway.
A small bamboo island was distanced from the rest of the garden because it was an invasive species. Their guide told them that Monet had wanted to enjoy the bamboo but hadn’t wanted it to take over his garden.
The gardens continued with lovely trees, flowers, and greenery surrounding them. They came upon a pond covered with lily pads and their pink flowers.
Haylee let out her breath. “To think, he painted this very pond in some of his famous paintings.” She smiled and gestured ahead.” There’s the bridge Monet made famous in his artwork.”
He nodded in that direction. “Stand over there, and I’ll take your picture in front of the bridge’s entrance.” He was always taking pictures of her.
She did as he said and struck a couple of poses, then went to him and took his hand. “Come on.” She led him past a tree that arched over the entryway to the bridge, covered with wisteria vines.
She looked at him and smiled when they reached the bridge’s center. He brought her into his arms and kissed her.
He drew back, and she sighed and smiled. “Selfie.”
He grinned, and they took several selfies with flowers and the lily pond behind them.
“Excuse me.” They turned to a young woman who was smiling at them. “Would you like me to photograph you two on the bridge?”
“Yes, please.” Haylee beamed at her. “Thank you.”
Tyson handed over his cell phone, with the camera already cued up. The woman walked down the path until she reached a point where she could photograph them on the bridge, Tyson’s arm around Haylee’s shoulders.
The young woman returned and gave Tyson back his phone.
“We appreciate this so much,” Haylee said and thanked her again.
They continued through the gardens and took a few more selfies, as they’d been doing the entire trip. They’d have plenty to look back on when they returned to King Creek.
Later, the guide took them into Monet’s colossal art studio, which Haylee fell in love with. “This makes me itch to get back to my art in the studio you created for me. I feel so inspired by Monet’s works throughout this place.” Just thinking about him painting in this very room was breathtaking.
Haylee turned in the center of the room, taking in the colorful artwork that covered the walls from floor to ceiling. How could she help but feel inspired by the space? “All the masterpieces Monet created in this place—it’s unbelievable to be here.”
She grew quiet as she took everything in.
Tyson stood beside her and rested his arm around her shoulders. “I have a feeling you could spend hours in this place.”
She tipped her head to look into his eyes. “I’m just amazed by all this color and beauty.”
He took her hand and kissed the back of it. “Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?”
She smiled and kissed him. She took a step back—to think I just kissed my husband in Monet’s art studio.
Next, they toured Monet’s home. It was lovely. The guide told them the artist hadn’t liked his own artwork hung in his rooms. Instead, he had Japanese woodblock prints covering his walls.
“I find it interesting that Monet liked to have such a fluid look to his place,” she said as they walked through his bedroom. In some of his rooms, the furniture was painted the same colors as the walls. One room was painted light blue with a darker blue trim, including a glass-front bookcase.
His dining room was enormous, with yellow-painted walls and furnishings, including a china cabinet and a table and chairs. The kitchen was painted blue with copper pans hanging along one side.
When they left the home, Haylee was so full of excitement that she could barely contain herself. “If we had time, I’d go back and see it all again. I wish I could sit there and paint everything.”
Their guide ended the tour in the streets of Giverny, where she turned everyone loose.
Haylee and Tyson held hands as they headed for Giverny’s church, where Monet and his family attended services. On the way, they passed cafés, shops, and galleries.
“Too bad we don’t have time to have coffee in one of these cafés.” Tyson squeezed her hand. “That’s the only thing about being on a tour—it doesn’t seem like there’s enough time to do everything.”
She nodded. “That’s so true.”
Haylee adored the quaint town. “Just think, Monet and his family walked this street.”
It wasn’t long before they went to the church and traveled to the graveyard behind it to search for Monet’s gravesite.
Claude Monet and his family members had been buried in a big plot topped with a large, white marble cross. “How appropriate.” Haylee looked over the plot. “All of this greenery and flowers covering the gravesite.”
Haylee and Tyson held hands at the foot of the burial plot. “I wish I had a bouquet to leave.” She tipped her head back to meet his gaze. “A kind of thank you to one of my favorite artists of all time.”
He brushed his lips over hers. “Just being here is a thank you.”
They walked back through the street of Giverny, from the church to where their bus waited.
It amazed her that Tyson understood how important art was to her, and he had taken her to the homes of two of her favorite artists. She meant enough to him that he was willing to spend days of this European vacation on some of the things that brought her joy.
When they had returned to the riverboat, they got a couple of glasses of wine from the lounge and carried them to the upper deck, where they stood next to the railing, looking out at the river and swans swimming nearby.
“It’s been a gorgeous day.” Haylee tipped her head back and looked into the blue sky before looking at Tyson again. “It’s amazing we haven’t had rain all day.”
He nodded. “It has been beautiful weather. I’m sure we’ll see more rain for the rest of the trip.”
Haylee leaned back against the rail and met his gaze. “I love you, Tyson Donovan.”
He took her glass from her and set it and his own on a nearby table, then brought her into his arms. “I adore and love you, Haylee Donovan.” He grinned. “I love saying that. It reminds me that you’re mine, forever.”
“And ever.” She slid her hands up his shoulders and linked her hands behind his neck. “How do I thank you for all these wonderful experiences?”
“You said ‘yes’ to being my wife.” He drew her close to him. “That’s all I’ll ever need.”
Tyson lowered his head, his mouth covering hers, and all she could think was how much she loved this man and how lucky she was to have him.