Page 37 of Pick Yourself Up (Heroes to the Core #3)

He’d have to study up on the climate zone and figure out when to start the seedlings indoors.

The kitchen had wide sills on the south-facing windows.

He could start all kinds of plants. He’d also order some grow lights.

With the growing season being so short, he’d get as many started early as he could.

Extend the growing season by at least a few weeks.

Their roots would be strong enough to transplant when the weather warmed.

Kind of like him. Putting down roots here felt right on so many levels.

It was going to be amazing to see the gardens take on life in the spring. In his mind’s eye, he imagined each area. It was somehow easier to imagine with the white covering providing a clean slate. He could see the pathways and the full blooms, the butterflies and bees.

Even without Amber in his life, this had been the right move. Adding in Amber, he was happier than he could have ever imagined.

Time to lock it in.

The only questions were how and when.

Amber was a private person, even with her family. He knew she wouldn’t want a public display. But he wanted it to be special. Wanted her to feel desired and loved. He wanted it to be the perfect start to the rest of their lives.

And that was a lot of pressure.

He’d been walking around with the ring in his pocket for days and still hadn’t figured it out.

Instead of worrying about it, he headed to the inn. Stan Phail had dropped off more boxes of items from his friends and probably from his garage. The man was having a blast finding treasures for Amber to use.

He’d had an apple farm once and was excited about the progress Thea and the rest were making with the composting and the farm in general. He’d sent dozens of people their way to buy crates of the apples they’d picked.

They’d sold way more than Gray had expected, with people coming from other nearby towns as well. In the end, they’d spent a few more days picking and stocking up the climate-controlled room in the barn.

That way, they could play with recipes over the winter. He’d put in another couple of calls to Nash and he thought his buddy might be caving. Especially when Knox added calls of his own.

Nash’s boy would love this place. He could see the gardens covered with snowmen.

Which sounded like a good idea.

Gray unlocked the inn’s doors and dealt with the security system. He switched out his boots for the moccasins they kept there, then went in search of Amber. He found her sitting on the floor in their back living space, surrounded by boxes and picture frames and more.

Boomer woofed his welcome and Amber looked up with a smile. And a wince.

She stretched, and he rushed to help her clamber to her feet. She kissed him before she laughed. “I feel like I’m a hundred and two. I think I’ve been sitting in one spot too long.”

“More treasures?”

“So many. I’ve got photos, notes, and stories. I think I’m going to make cards for the rooms detailing some of the stories. There are even letters from people’s grandparents that could be framed and used.”

Her eyes lit up as she talked. His woman loved her own family, of course, but she also loved the idea of family. Her joy in hearing other people’s stories was part of what made her an asset in the world of hospitality.

And in life. “Ready for a break?”

Her eyes sparkled. “With you? Always?”

He laughed and tugged her back to the front door. “Come on.”

Soon they were dressed in their boots and jackets with mittens. They locked up the inn, and Gray took her hand and pointed to Boomer. “To the gardens, Boomer. We’re making a snowman.”

Amber’s laugh was full of delight. “Great idea. I haven’t made a snowman since we lived with Fox.”

“You’ll have to show me how.”

“You’ve never made a snowman?”

The shock on her face had him grinning again. “Not even once. Show me the way, boss.”

The snow wasn’t thick, but they were soon rolling small snowballs into long pathways, making them larger as they gathered more and more of the snow.

“Start farther away from where you want to end up. That way, we don’t have to heft the snowballs too far when they’re ready to stack.”

He was shoving a large snowball towards Amber when a snowball thwacked him in the head.

He looked up to find Amber laughing, and Boomer bouncing like it was the best game.

“You’re going down, lady.”

She grinned and tossed another snowball his way. He realized she’d made a small stack in preparation before her attack.

Laughing, he dodged the snow and gathered some of his own.

She was faster, and another one tagged his shoulder, making her laugh as loudly as he’d ever heard. He’d be thrilled to be her target forever if she could be this happy and relaxed.

Finally, he caught her arm with one, making her laugh louder. Boomer raced between them, leaping at the snowballs and snagging them when they were low enough.

She must have stacked a whole pile because she got in two or three throws for every one of his.

When she was out, she reached down to scoop up more snow, and he took advantage, racing her way with a pile of snow he tried to pack as he moved.

She looked up and, with a shrieking laugh, she abandoned her snow and ducked behind one of the large snowballs they’d made for the snowman.

He raced around and scooped her up, then ran toward the largest stack of snow he could find.

He tossed her lightly into the pile and then followed her down, Boomer racing around them, tail wagging.

Amber tried to scoop up more snow, but he snagged her hands and yanked them above her head.

Laughing, she reached up to kiss him.

The kiss should have melted the snow in the entire orchard. “Marry me, Amber.”

Her eyes widened, and she laughed. “Is that an order?”

He grinned. “If it has to be. I don’t want to ever live without you. I want us to live here for the rest of our lives. Taking care of the inn, growing our gardens, helping our friends. I want it all, Amber. I want you. Marry me.”

Her eyes misted as he spoke, and her smile widened with every word. “Still not a question, but the answer is yes. I’ll marry you. I want it all with you. The inn, the gardens, the life. I love you, Gray, and we’re going to have the best life.”

Heart full, he captured her lips again. When they were both panting for breath, he changed his balance so he could reach into his pocket for the little box. “We are. I think you need to start wearing this. I love you, Amber.”

Her eyes sparkled as she blinked away more tears. They were still smashed together on the ground, but he managed to open the ring box and show it to her.

The soft gasp and more sparkling tears showed him he’d chosen well. “I thought it matched you, but if you want to exchange it or tweak it, that’s fine. We can do it together.”

She shook her head, and when she spoke, her voice was shaky. “I don’t want to change a thing, Gray. The ring is perfect, just like you.”

He laughed. “I’ve been carrying it for days, trying to find the most romantic way to ask you.”

She grinned. “And you did. Even though you didn’t actually ask.”

He kissed her. “Didn’t want to let you think you had an option. I love you.”

“I love you so much, Gray.”

Then they were kissing again.

Until Boomer let out a happy bark, and he heard Hemsworth and Fox barking back.

He broke the kiss to see Knox, Thea, Ford, and Jolie heading their way. All dressed for the weather.

He slipped the ring on Amber’s finger, kissed her again, and they helped each other pick themselves up.

Amber immediately started making snowballs, and he did the same. She pointed at the half-made snowmen. “We can use these for cover. You think we can take them?”

He laughed. “Together, I believe we can do anything.”

He was the luckiest man in the world.

B onus Scene

Nash Cooper

Nash Cooper watched his entire world walk off the school bus as if the ten-year-old carried the weight of that world on his shoulders.

Charlie was a great kid. Smart and kind. Loved nature and sports and books. Wanted to be a firefighter and an astronaut. Maybe a rancher. Or a dragon rider.

But he wasn’t happy.

His best buddy, Maribel, had moved to Europe, leaving Charlie bereft.

He had other friends, but no besties. And he didn’t appear inclined to search any out. Instead, he moved through the days without many smiles.

The kid didn’t whine or complain, but he wasn’t happy.

He deserved to be happy.

Which had Nash sighing. He wasn’t happy much himself. The bar where he’d worked had cut staff hours. As the bar manager and head bartender, Nash didn’t have to worry about the hours, but he did have to cover more of the bartending now. Leaving him less time with Charlie.

Maybe it was time to find something new. Pull out his brewmaster credentials and put them to work.

Or maybe it was time to pick up stakes and head up north to Vermont. To an apple farm run by friends. Friends who’d offered him and Charlie a spot.

Should he leave?

Could he?

All of his memories with Charlie’s mom were here. Nash and Charlotte had dated here. They’d had their first kiss in a nearby park. Snuck in a few more kisses in the local movie theatre.

Made love for the first time in her parents’ house when they’d been out at an event of some kind.

They’d grown up together. Their love had grown with them.

But Charlotte had died in childbirth, leaving Charlie with no memories of his mom.

Nash tried to fill in the blanks, tell his boy stories of how much she loved him. From the moment she’d realized she was pregnant, Charlotte had glowed with joy and love.

This was where she’d grown up, where she’d always lived. How could he take his son away from all that?

As Nash watched, Charlie adjusted his backpack and lifted his head, pasting on a smile.

Holy shit. Was Charlie putting on a brave face for Nash?

Time to fix that.

If he only knew how.