“Okay, everyone, let’s do it,” he said.
Callie made a happy sound and the first gift she took was the one from Beau. His heart beat a little harder. He’d chosen her gift to open but left it lying in his lap as he watched her enthusiastically tear open the red wrapping. She was like a child, and a grin edged his lips. The tearing of wrapping paper was going on everywhere in the room. Beau looked around and saw that everyone else was as intent as Callie on opening their gifts! It had to be a family trait, he decided.
His ma was one of those people who very carefully unwrapped a gift, making sure she didn’t tear the paper because she’d save the wrappings and use them again. Not the McKinley family. He suppressed an affectionate laugh as he watched them.
Callie gasped as she opened the white tissue paper, and her eyes grew wide as she stared down at Beau’s gift.
“Oh!” she cried, lifting out a long purple chiffon scarf with small, shining silver coins along one edge of it.
“Do you like it?” Beau asked, holding his breath. Her eyes were bright with joy as she held it up.
“I love it! This is from Turkey! How did you get this, Beau?” She stood up and then wrapped the chiffon scarf around her shoulders, showing everyone in the room the belly-dancing gift he’d given her.
“Through Matt Culver,” he said, sitting back, watching her lovingly stroke the material with her fingers. “I won’t ever forget you wearing that purple belly dancing outfit,” he admitted, meeting her smile.
“But,” she said, “this is from Turkey. When did you get it through Matt?”
“Oh,” he drawled, “quite a while ago. Matt knew one of the famous seamstresses in Kuşadasi, Turkey, who makes belly-dancing outfits for the professionals in the country.”
Tilting her head, she whispered, “You knew long ago that you . . . you . . . ,” and she swallowed, not wanting to tell anyone yet about their secret.
Beau nodded. “I knew instantly, Callie. And what happened was that I asked Matt for his contact. She has a website, so I spent some time on the HQ computer and picked this scarf out for you. It’s one of a kind. Everything she does is by hand.”
Callie was so impressed, so charmed by his thoughtful gift, that she couldn’t stop sliding her fingers across the expensive material. And knowing the prices of belly-dancing outfits, she realized this one did not come cheap. The silver coins had been drilled individually and carefully placed in the material. It had taken hours and hours of handwork to place the coins that gleamed along one edge of the scarf. “It’s so well made!” She sighed. “Well, I’m going to have to find a new dance where I can wear this scarf.”
“I’m hoping so, and I want to see you wear it,” he told her, giving her a wolfish look. Clearly, Callie loved his gift, and inwardly Beau drew a sigh of relief.
“I will,” she promised, sitting down next to him, carefully folding it up and setting it on the coffee table. “Thank you, Beau. You have no idea how much it means to me!” She wanted to lean over and kiss him, but until they told the family tomorrow morning, Callie could only reach over and squeeze his large hand.
“Open my gift to you, please?” she asked breathlessly.
“You’re such a little girl over presents,” he chuckled, taking hers into his hands. It was a fairly big, bulky gift, and Beau carefully opened it. Callie was sitting there with an anxious look on her face.
“I wanted you to have something I knitted for you,” she said. The expression on Beau’s face was one of deep gratitude as he lifted the black knitted scarf that she had made for him.
“I’ll wear this a lot,” he told her, holding it up and then wrapping it around his neck and shoulders. “And it feels soft and warm.”
“Black is a good color on you,” she said, thrilled that he liked her gift.
“Goes with an operator’s territory,” he teased. The joy in Callie’s eyes lifted him as nothing else ever would. Lowering his voice, he said, “Tonight, I’m gonna thank you for this gift.” He saw her lips turn up into a wide grin.
“Oh, and I’m going to gift you for that beautiful scarf, believe me.”
“Well,” he drawled, sliding her a wicked look, “I guess we’ll make tonight a special present to one another.” And he felt his lower body respond hotly to that promise. Beau figured they weren’t going to get much sleep tonight. But who cared? It was Christmas, after all.
T
he next morning,
there was such an air of festivity, Beau had to smile. Christmas music played on the radio, and Maisy hummed along as she and Graham distributed all the gifts to the entire family. This time, the group sat on the two large leather couches, the gifts piled around their feet or on the glass and cedar coffee table. It was nearly ten a.m.; the day was cloudy and it was going to start snowing soon, Beau thought.
He was bone-tired, but he didn’t care. Callie and he had made love two times the night before, and they’d finally fallen exhausted into one another’s arms near 0400. If not for the clock on the dresser beeping at 0700, they’d have missed Christmas breakfast with the McKinley family at 0830.
Callie had loved her purple scarf with the silver coins so much, she’d chosen a bright red, long-sleeved silk scoop-necked tee and a long black wool skirt to wear with it. Not only that, she’d allowed her hair down, a crimson cape of its own around her shoulders, put on makeup that made those glorious green eyes look even more like emeralds, and worn her dark brown leather boots. She looked sexy as hell in that long scarf, the tiny silver coins flashing and tinkling against one another as she moved. She’d even worn her only pair of silver Turkish earrings, the same ones she’d worn the night she danced at Bagram. Beau almost didn’t let her out of the cabin, fantasizing about slowly undressing her in their bedroom. Callie had seen that look in his eyes and, laughing, waved her finger at him. There was no way they were missing the family gathering on Christmas morning!
Beau found himself with another five gifts from the McKinley family. He had gotten each of them one gift. Callie had two, but the second one was special, and he tucked it on the other side of his body where she couldn’t see it. More than once, Callie looked through all the gifts, trying to find one from him. Beau suppressed a smile. Damn, but his woman was a fox on the hunt! Madly in love, he’d never felt happier. Her long red hair was mussed, long tendrils on each side of her face giving her the look of a wild, uninhibited woman. He ached to take her in his arms and kiss her into oblivion.
Amid the ripping, tearing sounds of wrapping and ribbon flying all over the place, Beau watched and grinned. There was a surprised yelp from Callie, and she jumped up to hug her parents and grandparents for their gift, a new red Ford pickup. When Callie had left at eighteen, she’d sold her truck. Beau hid his smile, observing how much her family loved her. Callie was effusive, open, all heart and love. Beau had seen the same open quality at the orphanage in the way she’d loved all those little tykes just starving for a bit of attention. Callie might not have been their mother, but she’d mothered each and every one of them. Beau knew she missed them and he could, at times, feel her aching for them, worrying about them. She was a natural mother. As he sat there, he imagined Callie pregnant with his child. The thought was like an earthquake through him, tearing down what he thought he wanted out of his life. Since meeting her, everything in his life was changing, different, better.
When everyone had opened their gifts, the wrapping, ribbons, and boxes lying scattered around the living room, Beau stood up. All eyes moved to him. Graham was in his large leather rocking chair and he lifted his chin, his blue eyes glinting. Beau held out his hand toward Callie.
She looked up at him, at his hand, and then took it, confusion in her expression. The only thing Beau could hear right now was the snapping and crackling of the fire in the huge fireplace across the room. He gave Callie a tender look, pulling her to her feet.
“I have one last Christmas gift for you,” he said, leading her out to the center of the room. His throat tightened as he looked at the McKinleys, his heart beating harder for a moment. He continued to hold Callie’s left hand.
“Callie and I have gone through an awful lot in a very short amount of time. Sometimes, experiences either draw you together faster, or they tear you apart at the same speed.” He swallowed and glanced down at her upturned face. She stood close to him. Beau could feel her heat, feel her concern, because she didn’t know what he had planned for her. Or them.
He turned, his gaze sweeping her family, his gaze on the parents. “I love your daughter and you need to know that. I suspect some of you already know it.” His mouth pulled upward a little. His gaze moved to Graham, who remained still in his rocker, his gaze soft now, resting on Callie.
“What Callie and I experienced, and by the skin of our teeth survived, changed both of us. I’m sure she can tell you how it affected her. It changed me, too. It also made me know without any doubt that Callie is the woman I want forever. I want to wake up with her every morning, in our bed, at my side. I want to share her laughter, how she sees her world, and share her incredibly generous heart.” His voice grew strained and he faced Callie, touching her cheek. “I know this is too soon, gal, but I wanted to give you a gift from my heart to yours. And you just let me know when you’re ready, okay?”
Beau slipped the purple-foil-wrapped gift into her hand and took a step back, watching her expression. Tears glimmered in Callie’s eyes and she sniffed, giving her family a look of apology. Her fingers trembled as she untied the pretty silver bow. Holding on to it, she opened the paper. Inside was a purple velvet box. Beau took the paper and bow from her hands so she could open it.
Callie gasped as she stared down at the opened box. Inside was a platinum wedding ring, and with it a solitaire engagement ring of purple tanzanite from Africa, the same deep purple color that she loved so much.
Her hand flew to her throat and she gulped. “Oh . . . Beau . . . ,” she whispered brokenly.
He smiled nervously. “Do you like them, Callie?” Because as God was his witness, he’d never wanted her to like anything more than those rings. His hands grew damp as she swallowed, tears running down her flushed cheeks, grasping the box between her breasts, over her heart.
“Like them?” she managed in a choked whisper. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.”
“Will you marry me, gal? When the time’s right?” he rasped, leaning down, claiming her lips, tasting the salt of her tears on them.
Callie sobbed as she drew away and threw her arms around his neck. Beau smiled, burying his face into her hair, holding her tightly against him. He heard movement around him but was focused only on Callie and how she felt against him, the joy he’d seen leap to her green eyes, that expression of pure love on her face for him. Just for him.
He released her just enough to stare down into her eyes. “Tell me.”
“Yes, yes, I love you. And I do want to marry you, Beau Gardner. More than anything in the world.”
For a moment, Beau was so lightheaded with the joy shearing through him, he thought he might pass out. Then he felt the same joy stabilizing him. He had no more reason to doubt or fear her feelings. Just looking at Callie and the deeply loving gaze she shone on him, he knew she was all his.
“Congratulations, son,” Graham said, walking over to them, clapping Beau on the back. “Welcome into our family. We couldn’t want a better grandson-in-law.” He held out his hand to him.
Beau released Callie but kept her at his side. He shook Graham’s roughened hand. “Thank you, sir. My only aim in my life is to make Callie happy. She deserves only good things to happen to her from now on.”
Maisy came up next, hugging Callie. She was crying, too. Then she turned and hugged Beau. “You’re going to make Callie a fine husband, Beau. You’re the best of friends, and that’s such a great foundation to start from.”
Stacy and Connor came up next. Stacy gave her daughter a happy look, hugging her, kissing her hair and cheek. She was crying, too. Connor shook Beau’s hand, his voice wobbling with emotion, welcoming him into their family. And then Connor held his daughter gently, for a long time, kissing her cheek. When he released her, he said, “You’ve got impeccable taste, Callie. Beau already fits in here with all of us.”
“Yes,” Stacy sighed, sliding her arm around Connor’s waist. “You make such a beautiful couple. From the very first moment you arrived, Beau, we saw such a positive difference in Callie. Before, she was depressed and lost. But as soon as you showed up, she started rallying. She made the decision to fight the shock and get better.” She reached out, touching Beau’s arm. “You’re her sunlight.”
Beau nodded, deeply touched by everyone’s emotional welcome and congratulations. “Well, if I’m Callie’s sunlight, she’s my heart’s compass.”
Callie looked up at him, dazed by his eloquence, and kissed his cheek. “You always say the most beautiful things, Beau,” she whispered, giving him a tender look.
“Come on,” Graham coaxed the couple. “Sit down on the couch here. Callie, wouldn’t you like to look at that pretty engagement ring of yours a little more closely?”
Callie stared down at the box she had clutched in her hand. “Very much so, Grandpa.”
Beau led her to the couch. This time, Beau sat down in the corner of the couch, his arm going around Callie. From now on, they could show their affection for one another with the rest of her family. “Going to try it on, gal?” he teased her.
Callie nodded, overwhelmed by so many emotions. She carefully pulled the engagement ring from the plush box. “Tell me more about it, Beau. What gemstone is it? It’s truly beautiful.”
“Well,” he drawled, “that gemstone comes from Africa. It’s called tanzanite, and it’s a very rare stone. In fact, the deposit of this mineral in the magnesium mines where a seam of this gemstone was found has run out, so whoever has the gem now has something no one else will ever have again.” He picked the ring from her fingers and then eased his arm from around her waist. Gently lifting Callie’s left hand, he said, “Want to try it on for size?”