Her heart gave a leap. She could feel that tie between them growing stronger again. Here they were, helping each other and talking about helping his son. “Perfect. I’ll meet you shortly. Are you going to be at the usual cookout site? Where we used to roast marshmallows and gaze up at the sky?”
My, how good those memories were, her hand tangled in his while they cuddled close as the fire sparked and they hoped for shooting stars.
“The very same.” He took her shoulders in his hands, and as he rubbed them, she could feel the aching tenderness in histouch. “Hannah Montgomery, you are one special woman. Thank you…for understanding and for being so good to my boy. And me. It’s probably more than I deserve after how I treated you, but I promise I won’t make you regret it.”
As she watched him walk back to the main house to retrieve Cooper, she realized she actually believed him.
TOUGH MAN’S TEA
2 parts motherwort…to bring a calm and grounding presence back into the heart
1 part chicory bark…for a sweet, nutty flavor for cleansing and nourishing
½ part cinnamon chips…to bring spice and warmth back into one’s life
½ part angelica root…to heal that empty feeling inside
—
Brew for ten minutes and serve, making sure never to tell Ben McAllister that he’s drinking a tea with an herb called motherwort in it.
Diary Entry
Hannah Montgomery
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Cooper was mostlyhis usual self the following morning.
Gramps was right about the power of a good night’s sleep. Ben still made sure to keep him close as they ate breakfast and talked about plans for another cookout this weekend—one involving Hannah, his son suggested to his delight.
Watching her with his son last night as the firelight danced over their precious faces had a new part of his heart settling back into place. When he’d sought his bed, the sheets hadn’t felt so cold. He’d gone to sleep with happy memories of their mingled laughter and her side pressed against his while his son insisted on spearing their marshmallows with the sticks they’d gathered.
Simple moments.
Simple living.
Stripping back life to what mattered most.
Being together.
Having fun.
Enjoying the beauty of a good fire and a warm summer night.
By the end, his heart had been as warm as the kindling glowing among stones.
He was in the yard when he spotted Hannah walking down with a red thermos. Watching the easy sway of her hips had him wanting to pull her close, but he still needed to wait a bit. Instead, he tipped his hat. “Morning, sunshine. Don’t you look pretty as a picture today?”
She gave a swish of those mouthwatering hips of hers. “Why, thank you. Your Tough Man’s Tea.”
He took it and peered at it with a comic expression. “How bad is it really? I figure if you’re smart, you’ll enact a little revenge and make it pukey.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” she said with a sparkle in her eyes, making him grin.
“No? Good to hear. Now, what are we doing for our rain check tonight?” He still had to show her where he planned to build her school.
“The fried chicken will still be good cold.”
