Country Heaven (43 page)

Fry the meat and when cooked, add the garlic and Italian seasoning. Then add the tomato paste and crushed tomatoes. In another bowl, mix the eggs, ricotta, parsley, and Parmesan cheese. Boil the lasagna noodles in salt water until
al dente
. In an oil–coated pan, layer in two stages: noodles, meat mixture, creamy mixture, and then top with mozzarella. Bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes until golden brown.

Tory Simmons’ Simmering Family Cookbook

Chapter 26

S
he was reaching for the door when it was wrenched open. Rye stood there on the threshold, breathing hard. His face seemed to tighten as he looked at her.

“Do you believe me?” he whispered.

She had to fight a fresh onslaught of tears. “Yes,” she whispered.

“Thank God,” he cried. “Come inside. We can talk…” The he shook his head. “Screw this.”

He pulled her to him, his mouth swooping down and finding hers. The kiss was rough and untamed, but she didn’t care. Under the force of his embrace, there was an agony she understood.

She rubbed her fingers over his face, tracing the angles, as the kiss went deep and wild. He pressed his body into hers, cupped her bottom, and pulled her inside, slamming the door. Her hands ran over his shoulders and then reached under his shirt to caress the strong lines of his back, desperate to feel his naked skin.

He pulled back and shook his head as if to clear it. “We have some talking to do.”

Her heart was pounding in her chest, and it was almost impossible to hear past the buzzing in her ears. Her head bobbed a
yes
, and she let him take her hand and lead her into the main sitting area. Decorated in earth tones, it boasted an incredible view of the savannah.

When they stopped in the center of the family room, he raised her hand to his lips. The sweetness of the gesture made her eyes burn.

“I missed you, sweetheart. God, how I missed you. You finally listened to
Country Heaven
?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “Rye, it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.”

His eyes gleamed. “I meant it. Every word. You are an angel,
my
angel, and I came halfway around the world to tell you that I can’t live without you anymore.”

This,
this was everything she’d hoped for, but never thought possible.

“I need to hear you say it,” she said, and he gave her that special smile reserved just for her.

***

How long had he waited to tell her? He framed her delicate face in his big hands. “I love you, Tory Simmons. God, how I love you.”

She bit her lip as tears filled her beautiful green eyes. “I love you too, Rye Crenshaw.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for everything I did to you.” He pulled her close and rocked her, tunneling his hands into her hair.

“I’m sorry I hurt you, too. I didn’t know I broke your heart,” she said, her tears wetting his face.

“I broke it by acting like a prize ass. Don’t cry, love. You’re cutting me to pieces.” He kissed her eyelids. “I’m the one who should be saying I’m sorry for the rest of my life after everything I’ve done. I wasn’t ready for you, for what was between us. Will you forgive me?”

“Yes,” she said, putting her hand over his heart. “And you’re not scared anymore?”

“No, I was just afraid I’d come all this way and fail. And I wasn’t sure how I’d tell Rory…” His voice broke.

A tear slipped down her cheek. “I’m here,” she whispered. “I’m here.”

His whole body seemed to unwind with relief. “Thank God. Hang on a sec. I have something for you.” It was so hard to step away from her, but he left the room and headed into his bedroom.

When he came back, he stopped in the doorway and watched her for a moment. She wrapped her arms around her body like Annabelle did. She was a study of contrasts—black hair, green eyes, porcelain skin. He wanted to remember this moment forever.

“Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?” he said in a hoarse voice.

A blush spread across her cheeks. “Maybe.”

He sauntered forward. “Well, it bears repeating. You take my breath away and then you give it back.” He lowered to one knee.

When her face froze, he felt some of the pressure return to his chest. “Will you marry me, Tory?”

She blinked rapidly, like she had something in her eye. “You’re
serious?”

“Do you think I would have traveled all this way when I’m deathly afraid of flying if I didn’t have marriage in mind?”

“No.” Her hand clutched her throat. “Was it bad?”

“Not as bad as fearing I’d lost you,” he said, flicking open the black box he’d concealed in his hand. The square–cut emerald shone like her eyes, and the small diamonds clustered around it were radiant against the white gold setting. “My sisters helped me pick it out. I hope you like it.”

She sank to both knees and stared at the ring. “Oh, Rye.”

“I love you. I want to marry you, and for us to be a family.” And for some reason, Rory’s promise popped into his head. “I don’t want you to be alone any more. And I don’t want to be alone any more, either.”

A tear stole down her ashen face.

“Are you going to answer? My knees are starting to hurt here.” They weren’t, but he was dying for her to say the words.

“Yes, Rye, I’ll marry you.”

He reached for her hand and slid the ring on her finger. Damn, if Tammy hadn’t been spot on about the size. “That’s better. Tammy thought you might like something less traditional, something with color. But if you don’t like it—”

“She’s right. I love it.” She ran delicate fingers over the setting.

“I love you,” he said, pulling her close. “No, there’s more to say. We have some things to talk about.”

“Like what?”

“Well, for one thing, you’re currently living in a tent in Africa.”

Her brow wrinkled. “But I’m coming back next month. I won’t be gone much longer.”

But any time apart seemed like too much after everything they’d been through, though he didn’t see any way around it, since he couldn’t stay in Kenya for that long. She had her work, and he had his, not to mention his family.

“Okay, what about when we’re married?” Rye asked.

In response to her blank stare, he pointed. “Aha! Well, I have two options for you to consider. We can live in your house in Lawrence until you graduate, or you can come live at my house in Dare River, and we’ll travel to Kansas when you need to go up for school. You’re mostly finishing up your dissertation, right? I’ll keep my performances and events to a minimum until you’re done. Of course, Rory and Annabelle are hoping you’ll choose option number two. They miss you. We all do.”

“You’d move to Lawrence to be with me?” And even he could hear the surprise in her voice.

“Of course! I want to be with you. I
need
to be with you.”

She threw her arms around him and tackled him to the floor. “You really
do
love me.”

“Of course I do. Haven’t we established that?”

“Yeah, but I didn’t really get it until just now. I’m a slow learner.”

“Hell, you’re about as slow as a rocket. Sweetheart, you’re going to be the more educated one in this marriage. Aren’t you lucky that I’m not the type of man who cares?”

“That’s because under that ‘good ole boy, aw shucks’ routine, you’re actually pretty damn smart.”

“Picked you, didn’t I?”

She punched him in the ribs. “Took you long enough. You were beastly.”

“Yes, I was, and I’m sorrier than you can imagine.” And still was, thinking of how much he’d hurt her and all the time they’d lost.

“Stop,” she whispered. “You’re forgiven.”

And he wrapped his arms around her and held on tight.

“I figured out some things here about my career,” she said, “and you were right.”

“Music to my ears,” he tried to joke, easing up on his grip. “About what?”

“That I don’t like anthropology as much as I do cooking. That I was only doing it for Grandma. I miss cooking for people, Rye, especially you. Perhaps I can be your ongoing tour cook, and do some catering in the downtime. I’m open to all sorts of possibilities, so long as I can create incredible meals for people to appreciate.” She leaned back and touched his face. “I still want to finish my degree, though. I want to feel like I honored my promise to her.”

His hands stroked her face. “I’m glad for you sweetheart.” She’d changed, too, in their time apart, and finally seemed ready to leave the past behind.

“Oh Rye, I wish you could have met my family. They would have really liked you.”

He thought of his own family. Not too long ago, he’d been like her—alone—but by choice. He hated that she didn’t have a choice. But at least he could give her a family, exactly as Rory had promised.

He put his arms around her again. “I know, sweetheart, but I feel like I know your Grandma every time you cook for me. She lives on through her recipes, Tory. And through your cooking.”

“I want to publish the cookbook, Rye,” she confessed.

“I think that’s a great idea,” he said. “I couldn’t eat anything after you left, you know. It was like my taste buds had broken. Just like my heart.”

She made a moue with her lips. “No wonder you look like you lost weight.”

“Christ, you make me sound like a girl.” He framed her waist with his hands. “Seems like you did, too.”

“Haven’t cared too much for food lately either. But I promise to cook for you when I come back to the States. You haven’t had my famous lasagna. It’s the perfect meal to kick off our first family dinner.”

“Everybody will love that,” he said, and he could already see her cooking in his kitchen, letting Annabelle and Rory help. It would be a dream come true.

“Tell me everything that’s happened with your family.”

And while the night broadcast its savannah melody, he held her in his arms and filled her in on the past few months.

“I’m so glad everything’s worked out for them, Rye,” she whispered when he finally finished. “I’m so proud of you.”

Her praise meant the world, so he kissed her hair.

“Rye, I hesitate to bring this up, but did you ever find out who fed the tabloids the information about Tammy’s divorce?” she asked quietly, her eyes darkening.

How had he ever thought she could hurt his family? God, he’d been such a fool. “No, we’re still looking into it, but we’ll find out. That I promise.” He still had his brother–in–law pegged, but there was no evidence. Rye was a patient man, though, and someway they’d pay back Sterling for what he’d done to Tammy.

“You seem to be making a lot of promises lately,” she mused.

“I’m a new man.”

Her mouth tipped up. “That you are.”

He ran a hand over her curves. “I’m also a man who’s missed you terribly. Tory, I need to tell you…there…haven’t been any women since you.”

“Oh, Rye,” she whispered, tears filling her eyes again.

“I didn’t want anyone else.”

“Me, neither.”

When she slid a hand tentatively across his chest, he covered it with his. “I want to make love to you,” he whispered, and the desire he felt for her was as great as his love.

“I want that, too,” she said quietly. “It’s been so long.”

Didn’t he know it? “Great minds think alike,” he said and swung her up like she was a princess, which she was to him.

“And where might you be taking me?” she asked, her eyes locking with his.

“Didn’t I promise to take you to country heaven?”

Her hands caressed his cheek. “Indeed you did, love. Indeed you did.”

And as the African night reigned, they found their country heaven in each other’s arms.  

Home.
There’s no other place I want to be.
Home.
Never imagined it was for me.
I have it again.
I am reborn.
Home.
There’s no other place I want to be.

Tory Simmons’ suggested lyrics to her fiancé, Rye Crenshaw, for his new song, “Home”

Epilogue

T
ory’s first sight of Rye’s house in Dare River made her heart burst in her chest. As they passed through the wrought iron gates and drove down the road lined with towering trees, she squeezed his hand. It was her first visit to his home, just in time to spend Christmas with him and his family. Her engagement ring winked on her finger, and everything felt right in the world.

The red brick house with the black plantation shutters and massive white columns reminded her of the houses she’d seen in Meade, and she wondered if Rye knew he’d chosen a place that looked like home. The Christmas decorations, carefully chosen by Tammy, no doubt, made it even more inviting, from the gigantic toy soldiers flanking the door to Santa’s sleigh, eight reindeer and all, angled across the black–shingled roof. White lights blinked in the bushes, and a gigantic inflatable snowman swayed in the front yard.

But what enchanted her most was Dare River, sparkling across acres of manicured lawn dotted with garden beds. She couldn’t wait to walk along the bank of the river later, hand in hand with Rye.

“Welcome home, Tory,” Rye said, pulling the car to a stop, and leaning over to kiss her.

Home.
This was going to be her home? She could scarcely believe it.

The massive double doors opened then and out streaked Rory and Annabelle, running straight to the SUV, followed by Tammy and Amelia Ann. Tory opened her door, and Annabelle plowed into her immediately, talking a mile a minute as she threw her arms around her.

Rory waited for his turn, and when his sister stepped aside, he smiled up at her. “Uncle Rye promised me he’d bring you home to us.”

When his little arms tunneled around her, she crouched down and hugged him with all her might. “Oh, I missed you,” she said. “Thank you, Rory. Thank you for keeping your promise to me.”

“You’re family now,” he announced, pulling back. “Isn’t she, Uncle Rye?”

Rye swung the boy up into his arms, making him laugh. “She sure is, son.”

Next, she hugged Amelia Ann, who commented on how long her hair had gotten and how happy they were to have her here. Then Tammy came forward and wrapped her into a warm embrace, and the change in her was remarkable.