Page 43 of Nica (Texas Boudreau Brotherhood #17)

Six weeks later

N ica stood at the edge of the dance floor, her eyes sweeping across the sea of familiar faces that filled the community center.

Fortunately, the building’s construction had been finished in time for tonight’s celebration.

She smiled, thinking about her momma making sure things were completed, especially since her dad’s construction company was building the town’s newest addition to downtown.

String lights twinkled overhead like captured stars, and the sound of laughter mixed with the gentle strumming of the local band, the music filling the warm Texas evening air.

They’d left the doors thrown open wide, since the weather had cooperated with a lovely warm front moving in, as if even the weather wanted to celebrate with Nica and Gabe.

She couldn’t remember the last time Shiloh Springs had seen a celebration quite like this one.

It had taken two full weeks for the antibiotics to completely knock out the infection that had plagued her surgical wound—an infection that had worsened during those terrifying hours when Julian Banner had taken her from the hospital.

The memory still sent a chill down her spine, but she pushed it away.

Tonight wasn’t for dwelling in the darkness.

Fortunately, she’d been rescued before Banner could do any more damage, thanks to Gabe and the friends and family who moved heaven and earth to find her.

For the first two days after she’d been rescued, she’d been pretty much in and out of consciousness, but Gabe had filled her in on what they’d done, all the steps they took to find her.

Banner had eventually cut a deal on the kidnapping charges, and while he’d probably do prison time, she had the feeling he’d be out early on good behavior.

Add in the fact he was stinking rich, and he’d probably end up in one of those cushy white-collar prisons that were more like country clubs than correctional facilities.

A part of her—a small part—felt sorry for him.

She understood the kind of pain that losing someone you loved could bring, and she knew that Melissa Carpenter’s death had broken something fundamental inside Banner.

But sympathy only went so far. What he’d done to Gabe was inexcusable, and she wouldn’t shed any tears for whatever consequences he faced.

But tonight wasn’t a time to dwell on the past. Tonight was pure celebration—of her marriage to Gabe, of her recovery, and of her love for the man who had literally risked everything to protect her and keep her safe.

True, they’d had their rocky moments, because her husband tried to shoulder all the guilt and responsibility for Banner’s actions, but she also knew the weight of his actions in California still ate at him.

She knew he was still struggling to forgive himself for what happened, even though she’d told him a hundred times that it wasn’t his fault.

Banner’s actions were his own, and his alone.

When her parents announced Nica and Gabe’s marriage, the town of Shiloh Springs was rocked to its foundation.

Not only had they kept their wedding a secret—nobody knew they’d been dating—their relationship having blossomed into an everlasting love in a different city while she was in college.

The revelation had proved to be quite the bombshell for the small Texas town.

But nobody seemed to care about the surprise once they saw how happy she was.

As far as Shiloh Springs was concerned, their precious Boudreau princess had found her prince, and that was all that mattered.

The newspaper had run an article explaining what had happened at the hospital and at Gracie’s Grounds, the fact that it had been an act, his meltdown at the board meeting and in the coffee shop a trap to catch the man who’d kidnapped Nica.

Rafe corroborated his story, that the arrest had all been for show, to draw Julian Banner out so they could arrest him.

But, he’d added that if Gabe didn’t make his sister happy, he might actually find himself behind bars.

Fortunately, the people of Shiloh Springs were a forgiving bunch, and Gabe’s medical practice had returned to normal.

In fact, it was growing by leaps and bounds.

Tonight was the big night. Her momma and daddy had thrown them the biggest party possible, just as they’d promised.

Even though Ms. Patti and Nica had agreed to a small affair with only family and friends, somehow it had blossomed to one of the biggest celebrations the county had seen in years.

The entire town had turned out to laugh, dance, sing, and celebrate life and love.

The community center had been transformed into something magical, with flowers from every garden in town and enough food to feed an army.

It was everything Nica had dreamed of and more.

She spotted Gabe making his way through the crowd toward her, two glasses of champagne balanced carefully in his hands.

Even in the dim lighting, she could see the way his eyes sought hers, the way his face lit up when their gazes met.

Her heart still fluttered every time she looked at him, just like it had that very first day they’d met.

“Mrs. Boudreau-Summers,” he said when he reached her, offering one of the champagne flutes with a smile that made her knees weak. “You look absolutely radiant tonight.”

“Dr. Summers,” she replied, accepting the glass and letting her fingers brush against his. “You clean up pretty well yourself.”

They moved slightly away from the crowd, finding a quieter corner where they could talk without shouting over the music and laughter. Gabe’s free hand found hers, their fingers intertwining naturally.

“I still can’t believe all of this,” she said, gesturing toward the partygoers with her champagne glass. “Sometimes I feel like I’m going to wake up and find out it’s all a dream. I’ve never been so happy.”

“If it is a dream, then I never want to wake up,” Gabe said softly, his thumb tracing gentle circles on her hand, before lifting it and placing a gentle kiss against her palm.

“Nica, I love you more than I ever thought it was possible to love another person. These past few months…when I thought I might lose you…”

“Hey,” she interrupted, setting down her champagne and reaching up to cup his face with her free hand. “You didn’t lose me. You are never going to lose me. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere. Ever.”

“I should have protected you better. I should have—”

“Gabriel Summers, you listen to me,” she said firmly but gently. “What Julian Banner did was not your fault. You saved me. You and everyone who helped find me—you brought me home. That’s what matters.”

He leaned into her touch, his eyes closing briefly. “I love you so much, Nica. More than my own life.”

“And I love you,” she whispered, standing on her tiptoes to press her forehead against his. “No matter what’s happened, no matter what the world tries to throw at us, we’re going to face it together. We’re going to overcome anything, because that’s what we do. That’s who we are.”

“Together,” he agreed, his voice raw with emotion.

“Together,” she confirmed, sealing the promise with a soft kiss. “I’m sorry about the WHO job. You would have been an amazing addition to their group.”

“I don’t care about that anymore. It was something I thought I needed.

An opportunity to prove that everything that happened in California could be put behind me, that my being a world-renowned surgeon would make everything somehow better.

” He leaned forward and brushed a soft kiss against her forehead.

“But I’ve found something far more important than prestige or validation, bigger than any job.

You, your family, this town—you’ve made me realize that I’ve found where I belong, here in Shiloh Springs.

Helping people, fixing things, it’s what I’m meant to do, where I’m meant to be. ”

Nica felt tears building behind her lids and blinked rapidly. Tonight wasn’t a night for what might have been or regrets. Her heart overflowed with so much love she felt like she might float away on a cloud of happiness.

“You belong here. Now that there are no more secrets, no more lies or threats, we can build our future together and make Shiloh Springs our home.”

“Did I tell you how happy I am that you’re taking over responsibility for managing the clinic?

We’ve needed somebody who understands business, not just running things, but has organizational skills, bookkeeping savvy, and how to help it grow and bring it into the twenty-first century.

I have so many plans, ways to improve healthcare, and with you by my side, able to use the degrees you worked so hard for, there’s nothing we can’t do to help the people in our town be healthy and happy. ”

Nica moved to lean against Gabe, placing her head against his shoulder.

When she’d been in the hospital, they’d had a long talk about what they were going to do, where they’d work, where they’d live, even whether they’d stay in Shiloh Springs or move someplace where Gabe could use his cardiovascular surgeon skills.

The best part—they’d decided things together this time, with neither of them making arbitrary decisions without discussion as partners.

They’d decided they could make a big difference in the health and welfare of their small-town community, with Gabe continuing to treat patients at the clinic and at the hospital.

He’d also travel to other places when his specialized skills were needed, like he’d done when he’d come to College Station.

She’d take over everything else pertaining to the clinic.

A thrill of excitement coursed through her at the thought of taking their small medical practice and building it, honing it into something that could help every person in their county.

They’d build outpatient programs, as well as set up additional physicians who could do house calls for those who couldn’t manage to get into the clinic.

They’d be expanding their space, possibly moving into a new location once things were more organized.

Nica had discovered there was a lot that had fallen through the cracks as Doc Jenkins had gotten older.

It was a big job, but she and Gabe were up for the challenge.

Around them, the celebration continued, but for that moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the world. They had survived the storm, and now they were ready to embrace whatever lay ahead—hand in hand, heart to heart, for the rest of their lives.

Nica glanced across the room, meeting her momma’s tear-filled gaze and her million-watt smile, and knew from this day forward life would be okay, because she had everything she’d ever dreamed of. The man she adored, a family who loved her, and the promise of a future bright and filled with hope.

As one of the caterers walked past, Gabe placed their empty glasses on the tray and grabbed two more glasses of champagne, handing Nica one.

“Here’s to our new beginning, my love. My wife. My everything.”

“And to you. My joy. My husband. May today be the beginning of our life together, our turning point to the greatest adventure of all, our happily ever after.”