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When she reached the top, she discovered that Decker had made a love nest.Two glowing battery-powered camp lanterns set on either side of the fluffy comforter that covered a fresh mound of hay.A bucket of ice with champagne and two fluted glasses set next to the makeshift bed, along with a wrapped package.Through the open window the sun was setting, its deep oranges and pinks casting a magical glow over the entire scene.
Tears filled Sweetie’s eyes as she climbed the rest of the way up the ladder.“Oh, Deck, it’s beautiful.”
He stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, his soft lips brushing her neck.“No, you’re beautiful.”He turned her and the look of love in his eyes made her melt.“I know the townsfolk want to celebrate with us until the wee hours of the morning, but I wanted just a little time alone with my new bride.”
She smiled.“Your bride?I like the sound of that.But I have to warn you that there are about a hundred covered buttons on Mama’s wedding dress and by the time we get it off, everyone will probably be heading home.”
He pulled a hankie out of the back pocket of his tuxedo pants.A white hankie with primrose flowers embroidered along the edge.He gently lifted her chin and dabbed at the tears.“As fun as getting you out of that dress sounds, I didn’t bring you up here to get you naked.”
“You didn’t?”
He shook his head and gave her a kiss before he took her hand and led her over to the comforter.Once they were seated, he handed her the wrapped package.“Happy birthday, Sweets.”
More tears welled.“You remembered.”
“Of course I remembered.I would never forget your birthday.Even if it happens to fall on our wedding day.Go on.Open it.”
She carefully removed the heart-printed paper to discover a box inside.When she lifted the lid, her heart swelled to bursting.
“If you don’t like it,” Decker said.“You don’t have to wear it.You just liked Dixie Chick’s so much, I thought you might like one.”
She glanced up to find him blushing and looking just like the young boy who had first come to Holiday Ranch.A young boy who had lost everything, but refused to give up.Now that boy was hers.She was one lucky girl.
She lifted the pink knitted sweater with the big red heart on the front and hugged it close as tears rolled down her cheeks.“I love it.And I love you.”
“And I love you.”He handed her the handkerchief.“But if you keep taking my hankies, I’m going to have to embroider more.”
She stopped wiping her cheeks and stared at him.“You can embroider too?”
He cleared his throat.“Let’s move on.There’s something else I need to give you.”He took an envelope out of the inside pocket of his tuxedo jacket and handed it to her.It was addressed to Bobby Jay.
“What’s this?”
“I don’t know.Bobby Jay gave it to me the other day when I ran into him.He said he’s had it for a week and just kept forgetting to give it to you.”
“Bobby Jay?But why is he giving me his mail?”
“He said the card inside is addressed to you.I figured it was a birthday card.”
She opened the envelope to find another envelope with her name on the front.But there wasn’t a card inside.Just a folded note.She read through it quickly, her eyes widening with each word.
“What is it?”Decker asked.“Don’t tell me it’s another marriage proposal.”
She shook her head.“It’s from the band that played the other night.The one that accompanied me when I sang ‘Small Town Regrets.’I guess they sent it to Bobby Jay because they didn’t know how else to contact me.”
“Contact you for what?”
Sweetie reread the note to make sure she wasn’t dreaming before she lifted her gaze to Decker’s.“They just got a recording deal and they want to include ‘Small Town Regrets’ on their first album.”
Decker took her hand and gently squeezed it.“And how do you feel about someone else singing your song?”
She took a moment to assess all the emotions swirling around inside her.There was a small amount of disappointment that she wouldn’t be singing her own songs on stage, but mostly she just felt ...“Happy.And damned relieved that I don’t have to sing it in front of people and see their reactions.”
Decker lifted her hand and kissed it, his mama’s diamond engagement ring that he’d given her sparkling in the sunset.“They’re going to love it, Sweets.I know it.”He lowered her hand and grinned.“And here you thought you weren’t going to make it in the music business.I never doubted it.When Sweetheart Mae Holiday sets her sights on something, she usually gets it.”
Looking at the man sitting next to her, she couldn’t argue the point.“I guess that’s true.I set my sights on you and now you’re mine.”
He easily lifted her onto his lap.“Not before I set my sights on you.I’ve wanted you since the moment you first strutted out the door with your ponytail swinging.”He kissed her a slow, leisurely kiss that held the kind of love that lasts forever.When they were both breathless, he lifted his head and his eyes twinkled mischievously.“You know what I’m thinking?”
“Is it the same thing I’m thinking?”
He smiled wickedly.“A hundred buttons isn’t that big a deal.”
She drew him back to her lips.
Yep, he was the right boy for her.
THE END
