Burning Barriers (Barriers Series Book 3) (23 page)

I pour a glass of Zinfandel as she stops next to me at the kitchen island. As I hand her the glass of wine, her bright blue eyes twinkle as they gaze back up at me. When she tilts her head to the side, a soft giggle escapes her lips, and I know I love her more than anything else. I’ve told her a million times how much I love her and what having her in my life means to me. My heart races at the thought of how she makes me the happiest man alive. I know her coming back to live here with me was worth it.

After everything went down with Laurel that night in the barn, I knew I couldn’t leave Breckenridge. But, I never thought Lucy would leave without giving me the opportunity to convince her one last time to stay with me. I was ready to hit the road when I heard she had left. I nearly did when Mom told me I was being the biggest idiot for not fighting for her, let alone going after her. And here I thought I was doing the right thing by staying with Mom after the fire. Who knew SJ would be the one to man up and take on the responsibilities of the ranch with me? I never imagined after the fire that he’d still want to be around the ranch. Even with Laurel gone, he found solace in working around the rebuilding project. In the end, our debts were paid off. He helped me get through my toughest days after high school, and here I was doing the same thing for him. It helped strengthen our friendship even more than before. He has and always will be family.

No sooner was I back at the house, getting ready to see Ellen about finding out how to track down Luce since she wasn’t answering my calls, did my phone start ringing in the kitchen. The caller ID floored me. When I read
Luce’s Cell
, I couldn’t move. Nervously, I answered the call, and her voice spoke through the other end.

The moment I heard her voice crack as she apologized for thinking that leaving me was the right choice, I knew I needed to choose my words carefully. She was vulnerable after everything she had gone through, and I couldn’t take back what Laurel tried to do to us at first, but I could offer her the chance to live a life in which she could truly love and be happy.

I knew Mom would never say no to me, and I also knew that with Laurel no longer at the ranch, Luce would be a welcome addition to the group. Lucy loved the kids as much as the horses, and Mom would be able to handle showing her the ropes around the office. Convincing Lucy that working the ranch was a better option than working at a posh salon on the East Coast would be tough, but after a few weeks and a few calls from my mom, Lucy appeared at my doorstep, and the rest you could say is history.

After trying to help her friend Sam through a tough few years, it was Sam who ultimately convinced her that being back here was the best thing for her. Lucy said Sam gave her one of her own lines about never hiding from true love if it’s right there in front of you. She spent those final weeks with Sam cleaning up any loose ends with the roller derby team and clients she had to let go at the salon.

After Sam was married and her old derby roommates had parted ways, she knew what she wanted in her future. As painful as it was for her to leave all that she had learned to love over the years, her heart knew where it belonged.

She still remains in touch with them, though. She video chats with the other derby chicks at least twice a week, and I’m not going to lie, even I’m afraid of a couple of them. Sam and Josh came out to visit for Thanksgiving, and I believe Sam’s first words to me were something along the lines of ‘Mother of all things holy, I’d ride that too if he was in my bed’.

Just saying.

Now, after being back here for nearly four months, Lucy and I have grown into the couple we were always meant to be. Through all the separation, pain, and heartache, I know it helped get us here.

Staring into her eyes, I grab her wine glass and place it onto the counter. I reach for her hand as she curiously watches me pull her behind me into the living room. I turn to face her and softly wrap my hands around her neck to pull her into my lips. I kiss her as if she were my last breath. I love her and only her. When I pull away, her tongue glides over her glossed lips as she wraps her arms around my waist. A small grin and raised eyebrow tell me she thinks I’m up to no good. Perhaps I am. She knows me too well, except I don’t think she has any idea about me asking her to marry me tonight. I’ve kept this secret under wraps.

“I love you, Lucy Wyatt. Did you remember to ask Santa for your gift this year?” I graze my hands along her soft, bare arms that are wrapped gently around my neck.

“Of course, but if this is some ploy to get me to have kinky Christmas sex with you later, you can cut all the talk ‘cuz you know I’m already down for being your sexy Santa’s helper.”

I laugh so hard my face hurts from smiling. “You certainly know how to take the romance out of any conversation. Don’t you?”

“Wait. You were being serious?” A sense of confusion settles on her face as the doorbell rings. I make my way back to the front door but turn around to face her. “I will, however, take you up on that ‘sexy Santa’s helper’ thing later, though.” Something tells me she won’t be saying no anytime tonight. As I pass her old cowboy hat on the hook that hasn’t moved since the night of the fire, I smile to myself before opening the door to let the family inside.

Lucy’s hat never gets touched and hangs on the hook as a symbol that life can be taken from you at any moment. Laurel may not be with us any longer, but her death is a reminder that everyone lives and loves in their own way. Inside the hat is my reason for happiness and a future filled with enough love that only Lucy could give me. Before I open the door, I quickly glance back to make sure Lucy isn’t watching me. Sure enough, she’s facing the mantle trying to sneak a peek in her stocking hanging there. My hand reaches inside the hat as she moves to play with Summit in the living room. I feel around for the box that has held her ring for a month, knowing she’d never look there for any Christmas present she thinks I’ve been hiding.

I pull open the door, and within seconds, the house is flooded with everyone who means so much to me, but no one more so than the stunning blonde who brought life back to me when I thought it was gone forever. Our love will continue to burn for years to come, and I can’t wait to have her by my side for it all.

The End.

Set Fire to the Rain – Adele

I See Fire – Ed Shereen

Goodbye My Lover – James Blunt

Clumsy - Fergie

In the Air Tonight – Nonpoint

Bad Company – Five Finger Death Punch

Careless Whisper – Seether

Broken - Seether

Landslide – Dixie Chicks

With Arms wide Open – Creed

(Everything I do) I do it for you – Bryan Adams

Heaven – Depeche Mode

Here Without You - 3 Doors Down

I Think it’s Going to Rain Today – Norah Jones

What About Now – Daughtry

Blackbird – Sarah McLachlan

Try – Colbie Caillat

Wild Horses – Indigo Girls

With Me – Sum 41

Breathe In, Breathe Out – Matt Nathanson

SEX – Nickelback

Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran

Desperation – Eminem, Jamie N Commons

I’ll Be Home for Christmas – Sarah McLachlan

For other books by Sara Shirley, you can find them on Amazon.com and B&N.

Frozen Barriers (Barriers Book 1) – Emily & Jeremy’s story

Hidden Barriers (Barriers Book 2) – Sam & Josh’s story

Coming Soon: Broken Barriers (Barriers Book 3) – Drew’s story

Sara Shirley currently resides just outside of Boston. There she lives with her husband and one cat.

A few questions that always seem to come up at takeovers and signings will be answered here.

Ten Random Facts You Didn’t Know About Sara

1. She figure skated for nearly 12 years

2. She does own crazy underwear (Yes, the Minion panties do exist)

3. She loves wine and coffee

4. She did dress as Alice in Wonderland for Halloween once

5. She multitasks at the gym while working out (reading, listening to music, and updating FB all at once)

6. She loves blueberry pancakes

7. She majored in Geography – Travel & Tourism in college and travels a lot

8. She hates the smell of bacon cooking

9. She is a candy junkie

10. She does admit some parts of her books are based on real life experiences.

I have said it before and I’ll say it again. I FLOVE all of my friends, blogs, readers and authors! Your support means the world to me. I’m sure I could spend countless hours naming off the people who I’ve met over the course of the past few years who have helped me. However you all know who you are and you know I love you to death. During the writing process of this book I found some new friends who swooped in and made my days that much better and gave me inspiration in ways I never knew existed.

Kiki Amit, Stacia Newbill and Tracey Murphy
…I’ve loved having you by my side beta reading since day one. <3 You’re supports means the world to me.

My D.F. Girls
…Antoinette Candela, Dawn Costiera, Frances Rosa, Kristine Marie, Jillian Estrella, Kiki and Joelle Mendes. You girls never cease to amaze me and I love our little family.

Leanne Hauser-Mertz
- thank goodness one of us knows about horses. Thank you for all the help and support you’ve given me.

Daltrey’s Divas & the JFL Vixens
thank you for supporting me and allowing me the time to finish this book by helping pick up my slack on the pimping. You girls are there for me 24 hours a day and I cannot tell you how much that means to me. Thank you for pimping not only the boys but also for helping share Sara’s teasers as well.

Rae Bradford
. My sleuth and PI…what would I do without you there to chat with me? For one thing I would have never found the infamous pDb without you. I am forever grateful for that one. We certainly know how to eat cheap in Cinci. We can also make a night of Barefoot Refresher wine and Tootsie Pops classy.

Nicholas Ryan
. Your insight to the world of writing has been such a valuable asset I cannot even begin to thank you. Who knew one book would turn me into a Zombie Slayer?! Chickens are your friend do not harm them. Thank you for all your help and support. I promise I will never be mad at you for giving me an honest opinion. It only pushes me to be a better writer in the next book. <3

Al Daltrey
. Thank you for allowing me to share TtS with my world of readers. And thank you for allowing “Chloe” to read my book. I wish you nothing but success with all of your books. I will continue to look for you lurking over my takeovers and signings in the future. Your support means the world to me and one day I will repay you for all you have done for me. Ciao!

Jake Furie Lapin
. For allowing my mind to venture off into a world of symbolism that made me realize that books can be so much more than just words on a page. I wish you nothing but success in your future. #TSOL

Jack Gallow
. Can I use The Humping Games in my book? No. Too friggin bad Rhino, I did it anyway.

Paige Smith
. My rock star editor who loves to give me big yellow blobs that are NOT fun. As much as I hate those things I wouldn’t know where I need to be pushed to do my best without them. You allow me to get better with each story and you make it fun to fix things. I love how you love my boys. Fingers crossed Drew turns out just as swoon-worthy as the 3-J’s.