Page 81 of Sweet Surprises

“I feel like he knows,” she said, shaking her head slowly. “And he would have loved you and the kids and your whole family. I don’t have to worry about that.”

Tag pressed his lips to the top of her head.

She didn’t want to ask the question that was on her mind now. But it had to be asked.

“Is this hard for you?”

She had asked as lightly as she could, but she could feel the weight of her question in the pause he took before answering.

“Because of you, and everything you brought to light, I don’t really feel so guilty anymore about Iris,” he said quietly. “Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot more about all the good times we had, the happy memories from when the kids were little, all the things I didn’t let myself think about for so long while I was busy punishing myself over what I thought were her forgotten dreams, only to find out she was living her dream the whole time.”

Charlotte nodded, emotions flooding her chest.

“I hope it doesn’t hurt you for me to say these things about her,” he said, pulling back to look into her eyes with concern.

“I hope her memory will always make you happy,” she told him honestly. “I would never want you or the children to try and cut out a part of your lives, especially thinking you had to do it to make room for me. There’s more than enough love to go around in this family. I only hope I can fit into your lives in a way she would have been proud of. Because I know she would want only the best for you three.”

“Youarethe best for us,” Tag said, pulling her closer. “And I’m… amazed, and I’m grateful that you found us, and that we can make new memories together.”

She gazed up into his blue eyes, knowing for certain that whatever bad luck had pursued her last year, the trial had only prepared her to appreciate the happiness she found in this tiny town, in a simple barn, in a crowd of friendly faces, and in the arms and heart of this man who worked and loved with everything he had.

When he bent to kiss her again, she forgot all about the people around them and let him capture her mouth with his and kiss her passionately, sliding his hands up from her waist to holdher face in his hands like he thought she might try to get away from him.

When he pulled back to cheers from their audience, his eyes were sparkling and Charlotte was breathless.

“We’d better keep dancing,” Tag murmured to her, pulling her back into his arms. “But as soon as we can, I’m whisking you away. I’m tired of sharing you with everyone else.”

She found her breath and laughed, loving his passion.

“Don’t laugh at me, woman,” he growled.

“It’s just that you forgot about the cake,” she reminded him.

He scowled and it had her giggling all over again.

“What?” he demanded.

“Sorry, it’s just that I’ve never seen anyone so angry about cake before,” she teased him. “I’m sure we can eat it quickly.”

“No one rushes my bride,” he decided. “But after the cake, that’s it—we’re going home.”

Home.

“I like the sound of that,” she told him softly.

The music swelled and he swept her across the barn floor, smiling down at her with so much love in his eyes that her heart was full to overflowing.

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