Reclaiming His Past (26 page)

“Grant?”

He stopped short, startled, his head snapping up. His gloved hands fisted and opened, then fisted again. The glow behind her living room windows was enough to illuminate his beloved features. She'd recognize that mouth anywhere. The stubble along his jaw. And his eyes. They burned into her like twin blue flames.

“Is it really you?” The words tripping from her mouth were a few seconds behind her thoughts. “I thought it was but couldn't be sure. Until now. What are you doing here? It's almost Christmas. Aren't you spending the holidays in Arlington with your brother?”

Grant ascended the steps one at a time, his gaze never leaving hers. He stopped once they were on eye level.

One trembling hand gingerly cupped her cheek. The leather glove was soft and warm. “You're beautiful, you know that?” he murmured. “Far more than I remembered.”

Jessica didn't register the blankets slipping to the planks at her feet. She didn't register the cold. Inside, joy heated the blood fizzing through her veins. Anticipation chased the chill from her skin.

“Did you come back just to tell me that?” she whispered, her heart beating a drum tattoo against her rib cage.

One side of his mouth curved. “Not just that, no.”

Quickly divesting his hands of his gloves, he let them drop to the step and reclaimed her face. She shivered at how amazing his skin felt against hers. Needing to reassure herself this wasn't a dream, she curved her fingers about his wrists. The fine hairs tickled her skin.
He was real. He was here.

“What else did you come to tell me?”

“I'm sorry I left without telling you how I felt. I can't pinpoint exactly when I fell in love with you. All I know is that I do love you, and I'm desperate to know if you love me, too.”

Happiness filled her until she thought she might burst. “I've missed you so much I could hardly function.” With her fingertips, she traced the outline of his jaw. “Nothing cheered me.” Removing his hat, she tossed it aside, uncaring where it landed. She smoothed the lines creasing his forehead. “I lost count how many cakes I had to scrap because I forgot to put in an egg or substituted salt for sugar.”

“Jessica.”
His voice was a mix between a plea and a growl.

Smiling, she dipped into his hair, sighing at the soft strands threading through her fingers. He curved his arms about her and, pulling her against him, nuzzled the corner of her mouth.

“Keep talking,” he softly ordered.

“I thought my chance at happiness was gone forever. I thought I'd live the rest of my life alone.” Looking deep into his eyes, she stroked his cheek. “I shouldn't have let you leave without telling you how I felt.”

“And how, exactly, do you feel?” His fingers flexed on her waist. “I need to hear you say it.”

“I love you, Grant Parker. I have for a long time.”

His eyes blazed. He lowered his head and kissed her with such tenderness it brought tears to her eyes. Easing away, he gathered the forgotten blankets and patted the top step.

“Sit with me.”

When they were sitting side by side, he tucked the blankets around them, forming a cocoon of sorts. His arm was around her shoulders, mooring her to him. She snuggled into his chest.

“If I never moved from this spot, I'd be happy.”

“Me, too.” He kissed the top of her head. “I doubt the horses would be, though.”

“Tell me about your home. Did being there spark any memories?”

She reveled in his closeness, the rumbling of his voice in his chest as he described the city, the quarters where he lived, the offices where he worked.

“Just before I left, I remembered being with my grandmother. And during the trip here, I was drifting off to sleep one night when I was hit with an image of my father. He was in his office. Aaron and I had gone to see him after school.”

“Oh, Grant, that's wonderful!” she exclaimed. “I'm so happy for you.”

“I can't describe how it feels to finally be getting pieces of my past back. It's like I'm discovering more of my old self.”

“I pray you'll discover it all.”

He rubbed her shoulder, his expression peaceful.

“Arlington sounds like an exciting place.”

“I suppose.”

Her fingers fisted in his coat lapel. “Grant, when are you going back?”

He stilled. “I'm not.” Shifting, he gazed down at her. “I thought you understood. Jessica, I want to marry you. I want you to be my wife. I thought that's what you wanted, too.”

“I do.” Her brows pulled together even as his words thrilled her. “But what about your career? Aaron and Taylor? Your friends? I'm willing to move to Virginia. I don't know the first thing about being a marshal's wife—”

“Hold on. You'd uproot your life, leave your family, your business, for me?”

“I love you. I want to be where you are, whether that's in Arlington, some remote outpost or a deserted island.”

“What about in Gatlinburg? Would you be content as a farmer's wife?”

“Building a life with you here would be a dream come true.” Slipping her hand beneath his coat, she splayed her fingers over his heart. The steady beat was comforting. “But is that what you truly want?”

A thin layer of snow covered the steps, the flakes hitting their boots melting quickly away. The horses stamped and snorted. He'd have to leave her in a few minutes to care for them.

“Aaron and I spent a lot of time together these past weeks. He told me that I'd wanted to be a marshal ever since I was a kid. I was good at my job. I loved it. Couldn't imagine doing anything else until I got married. Apparently I couldn't reconcile the lifestyle with being a devoted husband and father. That's why I determined to remain single after her death. I knew I couldn't be successful at both.” He stroked her arm, a lazy smile brightening his features. “Then I got ambushed in these mountains, and a beautiful, feisty redhead rescued me. She made me see how meaningful and satisfying family life can be when you're with the right person.”

“What if your memory returns completely and you have a change of heart? I wouldn't want to be the reason for your regret.”

“I will never regret being with you. We can't know what the future holds. Whatever happens, we'll work through it together, all right?”

Caressing her cheek, he captured her lips in a kiss full of promise. His heat enveloped her, making her oblivious to the falling snow just beyond the overhang. This was her beloved. The man who'd crashed into her life when love was the last thing on her horizon. The one who'd restored her faith in love and trust and commitment.

“So what do you say, Jess?” he breathed, his arms going even tighter about her. “Marry me?”

“Jessica Parker... I'm not sure if I like the sound of that.” She grinned, teasing.

His smile turned impish. “Let me set about convincing you, then.”

Grant pulled her close, and she lost herself in his kiss.

Epilogue

Valentine's Day, 1886

G
rant rapped on Jessica's front door and hid his hands behind his back. The curtain at the nearest window wavered and suddenly she was there before him, hurriedly shutting the door behind her.

Bewilderment formed a pleat between her brows. “Grant, what are you doing here?” she admonished. “You're not supposed to see the bride before the ceremony. Ma would have a conniption if she knew.”

“I know. But I had to see you.”

Trepidation flared in her lovely green eyes. “Is something wrong? Are you having second thoughts?”

“No, of course not!” Going closer, he bent at the waist to kiss her lightly on the mouth. “I had to see you to give you these. I missed you yesterday.” They'd been deliberately kept apart by her romantic-minded sisters. Apparently there had been last-minute wedding preparations to tend to. Presenting her with his gifts, he said, “Happy Valentine's, my love.”

Her eyes lit up when she saw the box of chocolate creams and beribboned card. “How thoughtful, Grant. Did you make this?”

As usual, her smile made his heart sing. He enjoyed seeing her happy. “Nicole helped me gather the supplies.”

“You're very creative. My first Valentine. I'll put it in a frame to keep for always.”

“As long as I'm able, I'll present you with one every Valentine's Day for the next seventy-plus years.”

Laughing softly, she encircled his neck and hugged him, landing a quick kiss above his collar that made his skin tingle and his pulse speed up.

While they'd wanted to get married in December, they'd decided to postpone the wedding until they could figure out living arrangements and make proper plans for the future. His future mother-in-law came up with the perfect solution. He and Jessica would live in the cabin—plenty of rooms for any children that came along, she'd pointed out—while she would reside in a smaller cabin on the property. The community had come together during a mild week in January to construct her new home. She'd slowly transferred her belongings and would spend her first night there tonight.

He'd enjoyed courting his bride-to-be, but he was eager for their relationship to be official. Permanent. He wanted to proclaim his love for her in front of the entire town.

“Just think,” he said, “this time tomorrow, you'll be mine.”

A pretty blush climbed into her cheeks. Her eyes sparkled like jewels.

“One last kiss as an engaged couple,” he cajoled.

Her sisters would soon be arriving to help her prepare. And any minute now, her mother would notice she wasn't in the house. They'd all be outraged at his flaunting of tradition.

“Just one,” she agreed and, depositing her gifts on the rocking chair, turned to envelop him in her embrace.

Minutes later, he forced himself to retreat to the yard. “See you at the altar, Jessica O'Malley.”

“You'd better not be late, Grant Parker.”

With a wink and a wave, she disappeared into the house. And he went away whistling.

* * *

“You're not supposed to be crying, Jane,” Jessica gently chided. “The ceremony is over.”

“I know.” She sniffed. “It's just that I've never seen you look so at peace. So content.”

Jessica smiled and hugged her twin. “God has truly blessed me.”

After a poignant, tear-inducing ceremony at the church, their wedding guests had assembled in Lucian and Megan's spacious Victorian home for refreshments and the opening of gifts. The garden-themed parlor was Jessica's favorite room in the house, the floral prints and bright furnishings keeping at bay the cold February weather beyond the large windows.

“I'm glad you agreed to wear your hair up,” Jane said. “For a moment there, I thought Grant was going to faint when he first saw you.”

Nothing could describe the way his awe-filled expression had made her feel. Nicole had fashioned her wedding dress out of the finest fabrics. Constructed of creamy satin, the bodice hugged her upper body. The hems of her three-quarter-inch sleeves were ringed in silk tulle to mimic her full skirts of the same material. The tulle gave the dress a floaty, romantic appearance. Juliana and Jane had arranged her long locks into a formal chignon and stuck sparkly pins in her hair. Megan had lent her a pearl necklace and pearl-and-emerald ear bobs. Clara had taken one look at her and pronounced her a queen. Indeed, Jessica felt as if she were royalty. She'd married a prince of a man.

Juliana joined them. “The cake is gorgeous,” she told Jane. “Tasty, too. You outdid yourself.”

“It was my gift to Jessica and Grant. I knew she'd be preoccupied with other details. Anyway, a bride shouldn't have to bake her own cake.”

Megan descended on them and, linking arms with Juliana, bounced on her tiptoes. “Have I told you lately I'm over-the-moon excited that you're living here now?”

Juliana laughed. “Only about a hundred times. I still can hardly believe it myself.”

“Believe what?” Nicole sipped her ginger water and grimaced.

Jessica noticed how her lavender dress, normally a perfect foil for her inky-black hair and violet eyes, highlighted her wan complexion. “Nicole, darling, are you expecting again?”

All the sisters gaped, their gazes shooting to her middle. Nicole managed to look simultaneously sheepish and elated. “Quinn and I hadn't planned on sharing the news this early.”

Their squeals drawing attention, they took turns hugging and congratulating her. For someone who'd disdained the idea of motherhood, Nicole had surprised them all with her strong maternal instincts. It was nice to see her nurturing side. Having Quinn for a husband had changed her life for the better.

Taking in the room's occupants, comprising mostly family members, Jessica silently thanked God for providing loving, faithful spouses for each of her cousins and sisters. And now, at long last, for herself.

Josh and Kate, hands clasped, approached to congratulate Jessica. Kate pointed to the long sofa. “Looks like your new husband has been bitten by the baby bug.”

Grant sat at one end, his tailored navy suit the perfect complement to his golden-blond hair, tanned skin and intense blue eyes, his attention on the twin babies tucked in his arms. Swaddled in matching blue blankets, Nathan and Sophie's one-month-old sons were oblivious to their surroundings.

Jessica's heart melted. “He looks perfectly natural, doesn't he?”

In the months since his return, Grant had recalled more segments of his past, not all of it pleasant. His memories of Susannah, their courtship and brief, tumultuous marriage had filled him with sorrow and regret. Jessica had comforted him as he relived the loss of a child he'd never known.

Unaware of her thoughts, Josh teased, “Who knows, cuz? You may be next.”

“That's my prayer,” she replied truthfully.

“Don't rush her.” A smiling Kate kissed Josh's cheek. “Let them enjoy each other for a little while first.”

On the cushions beside Grant, Nathan cuddled Sophie close. Whatever he was whispering in her ear brought a charming blush to her cheeks. Caring for twins was a demanding job for any young mother, but Nathan had pitched in and made sure Sophie was getting the proper rest. Her brother, Will, was enchanted by his new nephews and volunteered to rock them to sleep and even change their diapers.

Close by, Tom propped his baby girl against his shoulder, patting her lovingly as he chatted with Caleb and Rebecca. Quinn and Lucian, whose similar upbringings and business interests had led to a firm friendship, spoke together near the arched entryway. Jessica noticed that both men periodically searched the room to locate their wives, relaxing into the conversation again once they'd done so.

Jessica's gaze returned to Grant, who was now focused on her, his expression saying a multitude of things...pride in her as his wife, relief that the wedding was behind them, impatience to be alone with her.

He said something to Nathan, who passed one of his sons to Sophie and took the other for himself. Grant rose and crossed to her. To her sisters, he said, “If you'll excuse me, ladies, I'd like a word with my wife.”

They exchanged significant glances and, with knowing smiles, waved them away. His hand pressed low against her spine, he guided her to the nearest exit. Aaron met them in the hallway.

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he said, “Whoa. Where are you off to? I haven't had a chance to chat with my new sister-in-law.”

“You'll have plenty of time to do that before you return to Virginia next week,” Grant said smoothly. “But right now, she's all mine, brother.”

With an exaggerated smile, Aaron bowed and waved them on. “Fine. I guess you're allowed to be selfish just this once.”

Shaking his head, Grant smiled and led her to the deserted library. He closed the door. Sighing, he turned to her. “Remind me why we decided to invite so many people.”

“Because we wanted to celebrate our union with our dearest loved ones.”

“Right. And why are we required to stay?”

“Because...” She lost her train of thought as he planted his hands on either side of her waist and urged her closer. He kissed her jaw. “Um, I can't recall right this minute.”

“Mrs. Grant Parker,” he murmured, taking her left hand and examining the way his ring sparkled on her finger. “I'll never tire of saying that.”

Jessica curled her arms around his neck. “I'll never tire of hearing it.”

“You know what's been going through my mind the last couple of days? The verse from Genesis. ‘But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.' Like Joseph's brothers, Thacker's gang meant me harm. God turned the situation around and allowed good to come from it.”

“He brought you here, to me, even though I didn't deserve such a gift.”

“None of us deserves His goodness. He chooses to bless us because of His love and grace.”

“How did you get to be so wise?”

“Marrying you is the smartest thing I've ever done.”

“Happy Valentine's Day, Grant. Out of all the gifts you've given me today—the chocolates, the card and the ring—my most prized gift is you.”

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from THE TEXAN'S ENGAGEMENT AGREEMENT by Noelle Marchand.