Page 151 of Traces Of You

Lexi had made that choice to hide her feelings, then let them overcome her.

Something Reenie would never do again.

She wouldn’t lie. She wouldn’t keep secrets.

“Are you happy?” he asked.

“I’m so happy that my body wants to burst with joy.”

“Are you sure it’s not all the turkey you ate tonight?” he asked.

“There is that too. How sad is it I’ve never experienced a big family Thanksgiving?”

“Not sad,” he said. “It just took time for the right one. You got it today.”

“I did,” she said. “I got you too.” She was looking at his face, a day’s growth of beard on it.

He leaned down to kiss her. “I got my first kiss from you right here.”

“I remember,” she said.

“Your first kiss ever?” He tapped her on the nose.

“Yes. I told you that.”

“I hope I’m the last man to give you one like that,” he said. He slid off the swing and got on his knee. From somewhere a ring box appeared, the lid flipped back.

“Oh wow,” she said.

“Reenie Dupree, the first and last love of my life. Will you marry me?”

“Ford Ridgeway. The first and last love of my life. Yes, I’ll marry you!” Her hand moved in front of her, shaking some as she held it out for that gorgeous ring.

Ford slid a gold band with a heart-shaped diamond in the center on her finger. To match the necklace that she was never without.

A memory of their first love decades ago. Two kids who didn’t know what life was going to dish out for them.

But look at what they were serving now!

The End!

Check OutBound By You…ClayRidgeway’s story

He holdsher life in his hands. She holds his heart in hers.

Clay Ridgeway doesn’t do happy. He doesn’t do peppy. And he sure as hell doesn’t do high maintenance. A former Navy SEAL turned cider-brewer, Clay is used to quiet, control, and shutting out the world. So when his family orchard needs a part-time wedding planner, he hires Meredith Banks and walksaway…after catching her when she nearly takes a spill in those ridiculous heels.

Meredith Banks would do anything to impress Clay Ridgeway, the older brother of her childhood best friend she once secretly adored. Too bad he doesn’t even recognize her when she shows up for the job. Not even after he steadies her in his arms, the brief touch sparking the feelings she’s tried to bury.

But when threatening notes appear, her property is vandalized, and the danger escalates, Clay refuses to leave her unprotected. He becomes her shield, her strength and her safe place. Each rescue pulls them closer, each stolen glance makes it harder to fight what’s building between them.

Yet Clay can’t shake the ghosts of his past, and Meredith can’t outrun the stalker who seems determined to break her. With time running out, the only question is—will Clay risk his heart before he loses her for good?

Prologue

“Are you sitting down, Meredith?”

Meredith Banks looked at her phone to make sure it was Cassidy calling. A friend and colleague at Lake George Elementary where they were both teachers. It wasn’t like Cassidy to be this rude. Her friend didn’t even say hi when she answered.