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“This may not be a good time, or the right place, but I can’t help it. I love you, Paxton Farraday.”
His smile dimmed slightly and if not for the intensity that grew in his eyes as he studied her, she would have sworn that she’d just ruined everything.
“I have to ask.” He blew out a slow long breath. “Love me as in oh you’re my best fishing buddy, or love me as in I don’t want to ever live without you?”
“For the first time in my life I know what it feels like to be head over heels, honest-to-goodness, in love with a man.”
“You’d better mean me, because I have been head over boot heels in love with you since you were eight years old.”
At that very moment, someone handed his aunt a microphone and she tapped on it, getting everyone’s attention. “So y’all know. Supper is ready. Ribs and fixings are on the back porch. As you’ve already found, the drinks are in coolers along the other side.”
Applause sounded from all around. Just about every member of the Farraday clan was in attendance as well as half the town. Even Sister and Sissy had closed the shop to be here.
“Sing!” someone shouted from not far away.
Aunt Eileen shook her head. “Not tonight. This gathering is for the young ones.”
Several more voices followed, “Sing!”
Paxton’s aunt rolled her eyes. “Fellas, give a gal a break.”
Now pretty much every adult and half the kids had their hands cupped around their mouths and were hollering good and loud, “Sing!”
“All right. All right.” Aunt Eileen waved her hands at the crowd. “You win.” She spun around, whispered something to her sister-in-law Ann, and then turned back to the family gathered around the wooden dance floor Aunt Eileen always had laid down when there was family and music. “This one is for all you lovebirds out there. One of my favorite songs by Old Blue Eyes.”
It took Sandra a few moments to place the opening notes, but as soon as Paxton’s aunt started crooning, Some day, when I’m awfully low, she recognized what had also been one of her dad’s favorite oldies tune.
“Shall we?” Paxton raised her one hand and she knew that he’d been the one to ask his aunt to sing that song.
At her nod, he twirled her into the fold of his arms. For the remainder of the tune, she found herself melted against him, comforted by his thoughtfulness and his deep low voice serenading her right alongside his aunt. Every time he crooned ’cause I love you, her toes tingled and her heart danced. No matter how long and hard the last few years had been, absolutely nothing was sweeter than this very moment.
When the peppy tune slowed, and Aunt Eileen glanced at her husband, her voice dropping to sing the last lines, the way you look tonight, Paxton pulled her tightly against him, dipped her ever so slightly, and lifting her back into his arms, kissed her hard, and strong, and sweet and lovingly. Yep. Life had never been better.
Chapter Twenty-Two– Epilogue
The ribbon cutting day for the new charity project in town had finally arrived. Everyone was bopping around with delight. So many happy smiling faces, Quinn Farraday couldn’t help but smile along with them. At least a little.
There was just one tiny little glitch. Paxton had fallen head over boot heels in love with Sandra Lynn. That of itself wasn’t a problem. Her getting affordable new housing to live in when Paxton had been carrying a ring around in his pocket for almost two weeks was a potential fly in the charity’s ointment. After all, if Sandra Lynn said yes, she would no longer be a single mom in need of assistance.
“Has he said anything to you?” Ryan took one last look at the cleaned-up little house, making sure it was ready for the major photo op that would be happening in about one hour.
“Not a word. But he’s barked several times if that counts.” Quinn rolled his eyes. His slightly older brother was behaving like a surly teen.
“Shh. Here they are.” Ryan took a step aside and noticed the camera crew coming up the walk. “Is this being filmed for the show?”
Quinn shrugged. “Heck if I know.”
“Well, I can’t imagine a worse time to have anything on film.”
“Why is that?” Quinn figured half of what was filmed would land on the cutting room floor anyhow.
“Really? Our brother wants to marry the woman who is about to be gifted affordable—and if I do say so myself—beautiful housing that she may have to give back sooner than later, and you want that on film? On national television?”
“You have a point.”
“No sh…”
“You were about to say something appropriate, weren’t you?” Their aunt came in the door, grinning at her nephews. “You two always were cute when I caught you with your hands in the cookie jar. Now what’s all this about?”
