Page 49 of It’s Only Love (Citrus Pines #1)

“I know that now and I know why: for the house, but I didn’t last night. So, I drank a lot, I wanted to pass out. I left the bar alone , it's important you know that.” He stroked his fingers over her cheek.

She was torn between leaning into his touch and trying to pull away. In the end her anger won out, she tried to wriggle out of his grasp, but he held her too tightly, not letting her get away. “So, what? She turned up later for a quickie and you thought, yeah, why not?”

“No,” he said through gritted teeth. “Darcy followed me, she practically attacked me, and forced herself on me after I repeatedly asked her to leave. If anything, I should be mad at you for leaving me in her evil clutches, I barely escaped with my honor intact.”

Her eyes flashed angrily. “You seemed like you were enjoying it enough!”

“Darlin’, can you stop? I’m trying to tell you something very important,” he sighed.

She was fast running out of steam, but she still wasn’t sure if she believed him. When he called her darlin’ like that it made her insides melt which wasn’t helping.

“Also, if you paid attention during all the times we made love, you would know how I look when I’m enjoying myself,” he pouted.

“If I paid attention? How dare you!” she spluttered. He tweaked her nose, clearly relishing how much of a snit she was in. She batted his hand away. “Don’t do that!”

“Anyway, after you left, I passed out. Darcy and I did nothing. I haven’t done anything with anyone but you for years. I don’t want anyone except you. I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want you.”

“Wait, did you say, ‘ made love’ ?” she whispered, staring up into his brilliant blue eyes. He nodded and as she took in his words, she felt tears welling up in her eyes.

He kissed them away as they spilled over onto her cheeks.

“You’ll never know how sorry I am that I didn’t tell you about the letters.

I found them by accident about a week ago and I didn’t know how to bring it up, but that’s not an excuse because when you love someone, you don’t hurt them.

That’s what I did, I broke your trust and I just hope one day you can forgive me,” he said, sincerity coating his words.

“You love me?” she uttered softly, almost scared to ask him to clarify.

He just smiled and nodded. “I forgave you immediately, I know you wouldn’t have done it on purpose.

Since I came back home you’ve done nothing but care for me, help me, and support me.

But when I saw you with Darcy, that hurt,” she said, sad eyes peeking up at him through her lashes.

He closed his eyes and sighed, resting his forehead to hers. “I don’t know how I can make it up to you.”

There was a pause as she replayed his words, letting them sink in.

“You can start by towing my car home,” she murmured.

His eyes flew open and met hers, hope shining in their depths.

“I’m not towing it home, I’m sending it for scrap and buying you a new one,” he joked, and she laughed before he cupped her cheeks, serious again.

“I love you so much, I promise I’ll never hurt you again.

” He dipped his head and hovered just above her mouth, a breath away, waiting patiently and allowing her to make the choice.

She met his lips, pressing their mouths together in a tender kiss. “You really love me?” she asked gently when they pulled apart .

A smile lit his face. “Very much, tell me you love me too?” he asked hopefully.

She bit her lip hesitantly, unsure if she could let go of her issues and give herself over to him completely.

He bent down to her ear. “Tell me you love me, darlin’, I know you do. It’s only love, you don’t need to be afraid anymore, I’ve got you,” he murmured. His breath tickling her ear, sending her pulse skittering.

She wavered. “This is crazy! We’ve never even been on a date!”

“A date?!” he whooped with laughter. God, she loved his laugh.

“I don’t need to take you on a date to know I want to spend the rest of my life with you!

We might never have been on a date together, but I’ve spent my whole life learning about you.

I know everything I need to know, and I can’t wait to find out anything else.

But if this is a sticking point, then I guess I’ll have to take you on a date. ”

She threw her arms around him and plastered kisses all over his face.

“Does this mean you want a date?” he asked.

She smiled at him. “No, you fool, it means I love you.”

He pulled her tighter to him and kissed her again before setting her back down. He ran to her car, grabbed the box of letters and her luggage from the back seat, throwing it into the bed of his truck. Then grabbed her purse before coming back to her and sweeping her off her feet and into his arms.

“What’re you doing?” she gasped as he hefted her up and marched back towards his truck.

“I’m taking you home, Marilyn.” He put her in his truck and they drove off.

On the way back to town she called Taylor, Justine and Beau. She told them she was staying and would see them tomorrow morning at the bar to celebrate.

“Good,” he growled. “Tonight, you’re mine.”

He spent the night showing her how much he loved her, and she showed him right back.

Two months later…

Dean waited outside his study, his ear pressed to the door, heart pounding in his chest. Honestly the first time ever she goes in there and doesn’t immediately start writing, just typical! He thought with a smile. Although it wasn’t his study anymore, it was hers since she moved in with him.

Who would have thought fifteen years ago that he and Christy Lee would be head over heels in love and shacked up together? Not him, that’s for sure. The last two months had been the most amazing time of his life, all thanks to her.

The second he’d brought her back to town, she declared his home was now hers.

He chuckled at the memory, although she declared it, there had been worry in her eyes that he wouldn’t feel the same.

Hell, this place only felt like a true home when she was here, he had been ecstatic that she wanted to move in straight away, and he spent the rest of the night.

..and morning...showing her how happy he was.

They only left the bedroom to show up at the bar the next morning to see everyone.

He felt so proud walking in there with her on his arm.

She was his. His forever. Taylor had thrown herself at them both the second she saw them, sobbing.

The first time he’d ever seen her actually cry.

She was so happy Christy was staying, so grateful to him that he made it happen and that they were going to be one big, happy family.

Beau came over and hugged them both, equally pleased, especially now he was moving back to the town, something Dean was also ecstatic about, could life get any better? As Christy moved away to speak to Taylor and Justine, squeezing his hand gently before letting it go, he and Beau started talking.

“So, I guess I’ll officially have to stop flirting with her now, huh?” Beau asked, a shit-eating grin on his face.

Dean punched him on the arm. “Bitch, please. You were never a threat.”

Beau nodded. “That is true, although how does it feel knowing I kissed her first?”

Dean’s smile fell off his face.

Beau turned to face Christy, folding his arms over his chest and tapping his chin in contemplation.

“I mean, you have her now, and forever, blah blah blah, but technically, I had her first…” Beau trailed off and fixed him with a stare.

“Run…” Dean growled.

Beau barked out a laugh and ran outside, Dean close behind.

They had made it to the children's play area before Dean tackled him to the ground and gave him a dead arm, and a dead leg for good measure. Dean chuckled at the memory, served the bastard right . The women had come outside to watch them wrestling and, eventually, Christy begged them to stop, not wanting Beau to damage Dean’s pretty face.

They both laughed and came over to where the women were standing.

“Hey, Blake,” Taylor called, waving as the new deputy headed into the bar. All of a sudden, Justine grabbed Beau and pulled him to her for a kiss. Beau stumbled and slammed into her, pinning her to the wall of the bar, obscuring her from view.

As they kissed, Dean flicked his eyes to Christy, when did this happen? Christy just shrugged and he moved his eyes to Taylor, whose lips thinned and eyes narrowed as she watched them. As soon as the door to the bar banged shut behind Blake, Justine pulled away from Beau.

“Sorry, Beau, I don’t think it’s going to work,” she said, patting his shoulder and turning to speak to Christy.

Beau looked as confused as the rest of them.

The sound of Christy’s muttering brought him back to the present.

She was working on the first draft of her new book.

He wasn’t allowed to read it until it was finished, but he couldn’t wait.

He loved curling up with her on the couch in her study and having her bounce ideas off him.

She was so talented, and he was so thrilled that he got to be part of her process.

“ Oh my God… ” she cried from inside her study.

Dean smiled to himself . Showtime. He took a deep breath, tried to stop himself from shaking and opened the door.

He walked into the room, and she got up from her desk, her notepad in her hand, still reading what was on the page.

She turned to face him, shock lining her features and watched as he slowly got down on one knee and produced a small box.

Her hands went to her face as he opened the box.

“Christy, will you-” he started, his voice shaking slightly from his nerves, but that was as far as he got.

She screamed and flung herself at him, tackling him to the floor, showering him with kisses. “Yes,” kiss, kiss, “of course,” kiss, kiss, kiss, “I’ll marry you!”

He chuckled and rolled on top of her, pinning her with his weight, kissing her lips, tilting her head to dive deeper, and she sighed into his mouth.

When they pulled apart, he took her hand and placed the ring on her finger.

She looked at the ring, her mother’s wedding ring, then at him and promptly burst into tears.

He laughed and pulled her to him, swallowing the lump that formed in his throat.

*

That night, when their friends came around for a barbecue, Christy showed everyone the ring.

There was screaming, applause, tears, and hugs all round.

Even Beau got a little choked up, which Christy thought was super sweet.

The girls took her to one side to start talking wedding dresses and venues, while Beau and Dean were at the grill talking bachelor parties.

“No strippers!” she shouted over to them, and Dean laughed.

“I don’t wanna see anyone naked but you, darlin’,” he replied.

Justine sighed dreamily, Beau chuckled, and Taylor muttered, “Gross.”

“Let me go and get some drinks,” Christy said, getting up and heading into the kitchen, leaving Taylor and Justine to talk flower arrangements.

As she made her way back out onto the terrace with a pitcher of margaritas, Christy paused.

Dean and Beau were at the grill, Beau and Taylor sniping at each other, and Justine was sitting watching them and laughing.

Christy’s heart squeezed in her chest. This was it, what she had imagined, but even better because it had come true.

She was so full of love and surrounded by her family that she felt her heart would burst with happiness. Who would’ve thought a few months ago, when she returned home with such dread, that this would be the outcome? Not her, that was for sure.

She went back outside and sat down with Taylor and Justine, not really listening to what they were saying, instead she was eyeing up the sexy blond at the grill.

The way he threw back his head with laughter, his biceps flexing when he moved his arms, his back muscles rippling through his shirt.

She shivered and couldn't wait to get her hands on him later.

As though he read her mind, he turned, and their eyes met.

He smiled at her, those gorgeous dimples of his making an appearance and he winked, his smile promising a night to remember.

“–I just don’t understand, that’s all,” Taylor cried out, pulling Christy’s attention away from her future husband .

“Understand what?” Christy asked.

“Why Justine isn’t interested in asking out Blake,” Taylor replied.

“The new sheriff?” Dean called over his shoulder.

“He’s just not my type, how many times do I have to tell you?

” Justine replied, exasperation in her tone.

As they bickered back and forth, Christy watched Justine closely, Justine avoiding her stare.

Christy didn’t believe for a second he wasn’t her type, there was definitely something more there.

But then Dean came over and dropped a kiss on her mouth, distracting her.

Later that night when everyone had gone home, Christy was back in her study.

She was looking at the photos on her desk: one of her and the girls, one of her and Dean, and the one of her parents.

Now when she thought of them, she felt nothing but love.

She had chosen to let go of the past and embrace her future.

She looked at the photo frame she’d added to the collection this afternoon.

A black wooden frame with a slip of paper inside.

She had been furiously writing away earlier that day when she turned to the next page in her notebook, and her heart had stopped dead.

Will you marry me?

Four simple words. The promise of forever. The best thing anyone had ever written and the easiest decision she ever had to make. She felt him come up behind her now, wrapping his arms around her and trailing kisses down her neck.

“It’s time for bed, my future wife,” he murmured against her skin.

“Mrs. Campbell...has a nice ring to it doesn’t it?” she replied.

He moaned against her skin. “Say it again.”

She laughed, dropping her voice seductively, “Mrs. Campbell.”

“That’s it!” he shouted and lifted her into his arms. She shrieked with laughter as he ran out of the study and into the bedroom where he gently placed her on the bed and then began loving her in that way of his that promised her forever.

THE END

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