Page 44 of Sweet Surprise

“I savored every minute we spent together for the next few weeks.” He raked his hand through his hair. “I had dreams. Hopes. Plans.”

“Oh, Carson,” the words slipped out.

“I know we made a deal.”

Again, she nodded.

“But I don’t think I can go through with it.” His eyes closed an he heaved a deep sigh. “I’m in love with you, Jess. I always have been. I just can’t continue this pretense. If I do, I won’t be able to watch you leave me. Not again.”

Tears built up in her eyes. Frantically trying to blink them back, she reached for his hand, the one he’d pulled away moments ago. “That night, I learned something too. I learned that until you laughed with me, sat with me, held me, I didn’t have a clue what love was. When you spent the next few weeks building a new relationship level, I learned what it was like to be cherished, respected, and loved. And I discovered that I’d fallen in love with my best friend.”

Carson’s mouth dropped slightly open then snapped shut as he swallowed hard. “I can only pray that somewhere in your heart, enough of that love is still there that I can win your over once again.”

This time she actually chuckled. “Silly man. You don’t have to win anything. I know now. I’ve never stopped loving you.”

To her surprise, Carson pulled a small velvet box from his pocket. “The week before you left, I bought this. I’ve been carrying it around since you agreed to our deal, but it didn’t feel right for a charade. In college I didn’t have a lot of money. I know it’s not much, but I couldn’t bring myself to sell it or give it away. I guess you could say, no matter how hard I tried to move on, I couldn’t let go of my only connection to you and what we had.” Suddenly, he dropped to one knee, the closed box still in his hand. “Jess, I love you today more than yesterday, and I know that love will continue to grow if you’ll give me the chance. Will you be my wife, my life partner, for real?”

She had no idea what the proper protocol was for the happiest moment of your life, but before he could open the box, she dropped to her knees and threw her arms around his neck. “It’s perfect. I love you. Yes, yes, and yes.”

Laughter in his voice, he wrapped his good arm around her waist. “But you haven’t seen it yet.”

“It doesn’t matter.” She kissed his lips and pulled back. “It’s perfect. You’re perfect.”

“We’re perfect,” he corrected.

Peace filling her for the first time in too long, she smiled even wider. “Yeah, we are.”

Chapter Eighteen– Epilogue

“I just love parades.” Alice Sweet stood at her grandson’s side.

Cotton candy in hand, Mason grinned up at his Nonnie. “Me too.”

Ever since that terrifying moment with Mason and the wild mare, things had shifted at the Sweet Ranch. Garret wasn’t a man of the world by any means, but even he could feel the difference. They were all truly a family. Heck, Mason had come barreling down the stairs one day, a new picture of Brady in his hand, calling at the top of his lungs forDad. Garret thought for sure Carson was going to break down and cry in front of the kid.

“Do you see them?” Alice scanned over the top of the crowd.

“Do I see who?” Garret followed his mother’s gaze even though he didn’t have a clue who he was looking for.

“Carson and Jess. They’re helping Aunt Liz and Aunt Vicki with some last minute decorations on their float and are supposed to meet up with us, but I don’t see them yet and the floats are starting down Main Street.”

Well, his mother was right about that much, the first float—covered in enough crepe paper to cover the whole town—had begun lumbering down the street.

“Look, Nonnie. It’s purple.”

“Yes, it is, dear.”

Apparently, taking on the colors of Mardi Gras, even though National Corn Hole day had nothing to do with Mardi Gras, the new quilt shop in town was tossing purple and gold colored beads from their float and the spectators were loving it.

Garret shifted his weight, scanning the crowd again.

“There they are!” Mason pointed excitedly, jumping up and down for a better view.

Garret followed his nephew’s finger and spotted Carson and Jess, every few seconds glancing at each other and smiling, making their way through the crowd. From what he could see, there were now two happy couples in the Sweet family. He had no clue how his brothers had gotten so lucky as to strike a match of convenience, and wind up so deeply in love. For years, Garret doubted anyone could be as happy as his mom and dad had been, and yet, first Preston and now Carson had proved him wrong.

They moved in sync, Carson’s hand resting lightly at the small of Jess’s back, guiding her through the throng. When someone jostled them, Carson pulled her closer, and the beaming smile she gave him in return was like a secret language only they understood.

“Sorry we’re late.” Carson eased closer to his son. “Aunt Vicki and Aunt Liz had words over Mildred McEntire wearing all the bling on their float.”

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