Asher reddened and turned away. “She’s my mother.”
Garrett shook his head. “Biologically, yes.”
Asher looked at him and frowned. “Garrett, you can’t be so hard. She’s had a rough life. You could be a little more understanding you know.”
Garrett stared at him sadly, knowing in order for Asher to see the truth about their mother, he’d have to lose the part of himself that saw good in everyone and everything. He wasn’t sure he wanted that for his brother.
“Let’s just agree to disagree on our mother.”
Asher smiled in relief and turned toward him. “So what’s she doing here in Fircrest? Did she want to see me? Did she say anything about me?” he asked eagerly.
Garrett felt his heart break for his little brother and was taken back in time to all the nights after their mother left when he would ask every few seconds for their mom. Every time the phone rang he just knew it would be their mom calling for him. And it never was. Every time the mail man came he’d run to the mailbox expecting a letter from his mom. Not one letter ever came.
Garrett felt a helpless fury but tamped it down. Asher would just get defensive if he said anything negative so he kept his opinions to himself.
“No Ash, she didn’t. She was here to get more money though. She was wondering if we wouldn’t mind loaning her and her boyfriend the money they need for a down payment on a house they’re looking at.”
Asher’s eyes went wide at that and he looked down at his hands. “How much did she ask for?”
Garrett didn’t hesitate. “Ten thousand dollars.”
Asher swallowed hard and ran a hand over his hair. “I take it you said no.”
Garrett shook his head. “I went back in the bank and got them a thousand dollars from my account. So that’s a thousand from you and one from me. But I told her that was the end of it Asher. I told her that I’d give her the money with the understanding that she not ask you for any more money. Ever. She agreed.”
Asher sighed unhappily and studied his cuticles. “I thought maybe she came up here to see me, to thank me for all the money I’ve sent her this last year.”
Garrett nodded with a sad smile. “She left as soon as I handed her the cash. Asher, for your own sake man, you gotta let her go.”
Asher shook his head and stood up. “I gotta go. Tell the others that I uh, . . . that I had to leave,” he said and walked away.
Garrett knew better than to chase his brother down. He just needed some time to think. Garrett leaned his head back against the white wall and closed his eyes and thought about his mom. Because of her, he and Asher had grown up motherless and needy. Always needy. Always looking for love that was never coming. Asher, poor guy, was always trying to save every pretty face he came across in the hopes of someday being good enough to be loved.
He felt his heart ache and hoped that someday Asher would find a woman who could love him so much that every hole their mother had put in his heart would be filled.
He thought about Rayne and smiled. She was so completely different from the woman he’d handed money to this afternoon that it was almost comical. Rayne was honest and kind and so beautiful and loving.
Very loving
. She was so loving that it almost scared him. Garrett smiled and remembered when she’d stomped away from his truck and spit on his foot. Yeah, she loved him. But he’d pushed her away and all because of his mother.
Well no more. Allowing his mother to affect his life and his heart and his happiness was at an end. He’d finally found a woman who would love him as much as he loved her. How stupid would he be if he didn’t tell her how he felt?
Garrett stood up and walked quickly back to Rayne’s room and opened the door. Tate looked up as he said goodbye to Rayne and nodded to him on his way out.
“She’s a sweet lady, Garrett. Take good care of her.”
Garrett smiled and nodded his head. “I plan on it.”
He walked over to Rayne and sat down in the chair next to her bed before taking her hand. He looked at the bandages covering her palm and frowned as he ran a finger softly over the injury.
“I’m so sorry you were hurt,” he said and kissed her bandaged hand softly.
Rayne smiled at him and motioned with her finger for him to come closer. He leaned in and she motioned for him to come even closer. He smiled and stood up, leaning over her bed, bracing his arms on either side of her. She smiled up at him and pulled his face down to hers, kissing him with the lightest touch of her lips.
“Thanks for saving the day, Superman.”
Garrett grinned. “How did you know I have a Superman tattoo?”
Rayne’s eyes lit up and she laughed gleefully. “
Really
? I guessed it? Oh wow. That’s perfect. Where is it?” she asked eyeing him curiously.
Garrett laughed. “You’ll never know.
Unless you marry me
.”
Rayne’s smile faded as she stared at him in shock. “What did you just say?” she whispered.
Garrett smiled bigger and leaned down to kiss her again, careful of her hurt face. “You heard me.”
Rayne licked her lips and stared at his chest. “
Why?
Why would you want to marry
me
?”
Garrett sat down on the edge of her bed and took her hand in his. “Because I realized something today. I realized that I need to stop living my life based on someone else’s poor choices. I realized I can’t let someone who doesn’t love me, control who I love or how I love. I realized that I love you, Rayne.”
Rayne stared at him, her large green eyes now filled with tears as she smiled and reached for him. He carefully pulled her into his arms, worried about all of her bruises as she pulled him tighter and tighter.
“Oh, Garrett, I didn’t know if you’d ever be able to tell me you love me. I could see it in your eyes sometimes when you looked at me, but I thought you were too scared. Well then, I’m grateful for everything that happened today because it means you’re ready to hear how I feel about you.”
Garrett smiled tenderly down at Rayne and wondered again how such an amazing woman had fallen into his life right when he needed her.
“How do you feel about me?” he asked softly as he kissed the knuckles of her hand.
Rayne sighed happily and touched his face, tracing his cheek bone and then his lips. “I adore you,” she whispered. “I love you with my whole soul. I remember the exact moment when you turned around and looked at me that first day. It felt as if I was hit by a truck. You were too much for my eyes and I had to look away.”
Garrett laughed and kissed her again. “You made it so easy to fall in love. I just wish I’d met you a couple years ago. I’ve been so lonely waiting for you.”
Rayne’s face softened and she sat forward and put her arms around his neck, resting her cheek against his. “Pumpkin, you’ll never be alone again,” she promised.
Garrett laughed and held her gently as he whispered in her ear all of the things he’d been wanting to say. He told her of his dreams for them and she held him even tighter.
When she pulled back and looked into his face she smiled. “I know you’re a take charge kind of guy and you hate it when I try and pay for dinner but I hope you won’t mind if I just go ahead and ask you to . . .”
Garrett stared at Rayne with narrowed eyes as he placed a finger over her lips. “Yes I would mind. If you were getting ready to say what I think you were saying I would mind very much. Rayne sweetheart, let me do this part. Please?”
Rayne sighed and glared at him. “
Why
? When I’m willing to just go ahead and get it done right now?”
Garrett laughed and looked away. “Sweet Cakes, I love you. But just for me, allow me this small tradition.”
Rayne pursed her lips and looked irritated. “You and your traditions. You know, sometimes, I like to take charge.”
Garrett grinned and leaned in, kissing the side of her neck and nuzzling her ear. “Which I love. I’ll even promise to let you pay for lunch next week if you’ll grant me this one favor.”
Rayne gave up and smiled. “
Fine
. But just because I love you more than anything, more than anybody, more than I could have ever imagined,” she said as she ran a hand over his short hair.
Garrett sighed happily and touched his forehead to hers. “I love you, Rayne. I love you. I love you,” he whispered over and over and felt the holes in his heart heal every time he said it. It might take a lifetime of loving Rayne to fill every last hole in his heart but all he knew was that loving Rayne had been the greatest blessing of his life.
Two months later
Rayne was ushered into The Iron Skillet by Ivy and Cleo and glanced around suspiciously. “What’s going on you two? If you wanted clam chowder, all you had to do was say so. Honestly, I don’t know why you insisted I get dressed up for this. Wren and Rob don’t care what I look like.”
Ivy groaned. “Why are you being so stubborn? Just put a big smile on your face and behave.”
Rayne glared at her sister but then saw Cleo draw her finger over her neck in the universal symbol of
I’m going to Kill you if you don’t shut up
.
“Okay, now I’m worried. Seriously. I’m not taking another step if you don’t tell me what’s going on.”
Cleo and Ivy glanced at each other and then immediately bent over and picked her up. Rayne squawked in shock as they carried her to the back of the restaurant where a private banquet room was and pushed open the doors. As soon as they entered the room, a loud roar of yelling enveloped everyone and she scrambled out of her sister and Cleo’s arms. She stared in surprise at all the familiar faces and smiled and clapped her hands.
“Guys, this is lovely, but my birthday isn’t until next week. What a surprise though! I wasn’t even expecting a surprise birthday party.”
Garrett walked up to her frowning and shaking his head. “This isn’t a surprise birthday party, although now that you mention it, that’s not a bad idea.”
Rayne leaned up on her toes and kissed him automatically. “Pumpkin, if this isn’t my birthday party, what is all this for?” she asked looking at all of the balloons and streamers and people.
Garrett sighed and bit his lip as if he was trying not to smile, but she could see the excitement in his eyes. She gasped as he slowly went down on one knee and took a small box out of his pocket.
“Rayne, you’re the only woman in the world I could ever give my ring too. You’re my heart, and my faith and my hope. Like rain, you came into my life and brought my heart back to life. You’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met and I’d be grateful if you’d accept this ring and say you’ll be my wife.”
She lifted shaking hands to her mouth as she stared at the large diamond ring and shook her head. She’d been hoping and expecting but actually seeing Garrett on his knees in front of her, holding the most gorgeous ring she’d ever seen out to her was too much. She felt the tears slip down her cheek as she shook her head. She saw the way his eyes narrowed suspiciously and she grinned.
“No, you silly man, as if I’d ever turn you down. I’m just so humbled that out of all the women in the world, you chose me. You already know I love you, but I want you to know that I’m going to love you forever. I’ll never leave you.
Never
. I’ll treasure your heart and protect it as long as I Iive. Yes I’ll marry you, since it’s the only way I’ll ever get to see your tattoos.”
The crowd of people roared with laughter as Garrett reddened and stood up, slipping the ring on her finger before pulling her into his arms and kissing her slowly with so much tenderness that she began crying again.
He leaned back and kissed her tears away as he stared down into her face. “I lied. I don’t have any tattoos. I was just tempting you so you’d agree to marry me.”
Rayne laughed and threw her arms around his neck. “You, Garrett Murphy are a stinker. And just for that, you have to get one now.”
Garrett lifted an eyebrow. “Did your parents know how wild you are?”
Rayne grinned and looked at the large diamond on her finger. “They didn’t have a clue.”
Garrett picked her up and swung her around before letting her down and allowing everyone else to crowd around to see her ring. He stepped back before he was trampled and bumped into Tate Matafeo.
“Nicely done, Garrett.”
Garrett grinned and pounded Tate on the back. “So glad you could come. Rayne adores Jane and she thinks you’re amazing. We owe you for all the hard work you did on her case.”
Tate frowned and shrugged. “I just wish I could have done more. Tying Derek Green to her parents’ murders would have been ideal.”
Garrett frowned. “He’s going to trial next month. We still have time.”
Tate frowned and ran a hand up the back of his neck. “He’s holding back Garrett. He knows something. And he hasn’t given up who hired him yet. If we can’t get that during the trial, then I worry . . .”
Garrett glared and looked away. “You worry that Rayne and her sister will still be in danger.”
Tate nodded. “I won’t lie to you. Graham has an alibi and no motive. He doesn’t want or need their money. He comes back clean every time and honestly, I believe him.”
Garrett sighed and felt a shiver of dread run down his back. “If anyone tries to hurt my wife, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
Tate shook his head. “I understand, Garrett. And I’ll do everything I can to find out who hired this guy. But until then . . .” Tate paused. “I suggest you take a long honeymoon and not tell anyone where you’re going.”
Garrett blinked and nodded his head. “Excellent advice,” he said grimly and clapped Tate on his back. “You’re going to be one of my groomsmen, right?”
Tate laughed in surprise. “
Me?
You’re kidding right? You’ve hated my guts for as long as I’ve known you.”
Garrett grinned. “It’s amazing what can happen when a person does everything they can to help protect the woman I love.”
Tate grinned and nodded his head. “That and we’re friends now.”
Garrett smiled. “That and we’re friends. Good friends and I’m grateful for it.”
Tate shook his hand and motioned toward Rayne who was laughing and smiling and showing off her ring to Wren and Taryn.
“Congratulations, Garrett. I’m glad you found Rayne. I never have to feel guilty about stealing Jane from you ever again.”
Garrett laughed and nodded his head. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m so grateful you stole Jane from me. She was always meant for you and Rayne was always meant for me.”
“You’re welcome,” Tate said with a smile before patting his shoulder and walking away.
Garrett stared at Rayne and felt his heart burn with love and knew that as hard and painful as his life had been, loving Rayne and being loved in return had made up for all of it.
Garrett made his way through the crowd and pulled Rayne into his arms. “Ivy and the band want to sing a song in our honor. Let’s go sit down over there.”
Rayne looked around in surprise and noticed the band was already set up and looking at them expectantly. Ivy took the microphone in her hands and nodded at her.
“Here’s a little song I wrote for my sister and Garrett. It’s called,
Falling for Rayne
.”
Rayne and Garrett sat back and listened to Ivy sing a slow, haunting song that made her want to hold onto Garrett and never let go. At the end, the applause was so loud that Rob had to ask everyone to calm down a little.
Rayne ran up to Ivy and hugged her tightly as Cleo joined them, taking pictures with her phone.
“Brilliant, Ivy. Gorgeous and beautiful and achingly brilliant. I love my song,” Rayne said, grinning at her sister.
Ivy blushed as Asher came to stand next to her. “She’s the best singer we’ve ever had. But she’s an even better songwriter. She’s a true artist,” he said, staring at Ivy as if he was enthralled.
Becket took that moment to walk up. He ignored everyone but Ivy and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. “You make me feel too much when you sing,” he said softly and stared down into Ivy’s face before turning to Rayne and touching her on the shoulder. “Congrats, Rayne. You make my friend happy and that makes me happy. You’ll be a good sister-in-law.”
Rayne smiled her thanks and then he was gone. She stared at Ivy’s stunned expression and then noticed Asher looking unhappily after Becket. Cleo stared at Asher with yearning in her eyes but then quickly hid it with a bright grin.
“Well on that note, let’s get this party started!” Cleo yelled and disappeared into the crowd of people.
Ivy hugged her hard and pulled back. “Seeing you happy and in love gives me hope. I’m so excited for you.”
Rayne sighed happily. “Thanks Ivy. Last year if someone had told me that I would be living in Fircrest and getting married to a landscaper I wouldn’t have believed it. But standing here with this ring on my finger and seeing you happy and healthy and hopeful, it’s better than a dream come true. It’s a dream I never even hoped to dream. Someone with a much better imagination dreamed this for me and I’m loving every second of it.”
Ivy hugged her again. “Me too, Rayne. Me too.”
Rayne spent the next two hours talking and laughing and dancing as she and Garrett celebrated their love and their decision to get married. But in the back of her mind was a small worry.
Someone was still trying to kill her and her sister.
And she didn’t know who it was.
Out Now
–
Dreaming of Ivy
, Book 2 in the Love and Flowers Trilogy