Crushing on Love (The Bradens of Peaceful Harbor, Book Four) (30 page)

“I love you, baby.” He guided her toward the Jetway. “Call me when you get in so I know you’ve arrived safely.” He hugged her again, speaking into her ear. “You’ve changed my world, Butterfly. I don’t know how I existed without you for so long, and I’ll count down the minutes until you’re in my arms again.”

And then she was in the line, following strangers through the narrow Jetway.

“There you are.” Tempest was pressed up against the side of the Jetway, waiting for her. “Are you okay?”

No
. Did she say it? She looked over her shoulder, staring into a sea of people. “I can’t,” she said. Her feet stopped moving. People bumped into her, pushing her farther away from Steve.

“What?” Tempest asked. “Did you forget something?”

She spun around and pushed through the crowd. “Grizz!” she yelled. “Grizz!”

“Shannon!” Tempest called after her.

She kept going, bumping into shoulders, saying
sorry
as she pushed between families and couples. She saw the entrance to the Jetway. “Sorry. Sorry. Sorry,” she said, pushing through. Her heart thundered against her ribs as she ran out of the narrow tunnel.

“Grizz!” she hollered, scanning the waiting area. Her stomach plummeted.

And then she saw him standing by a bank of windows outside the gate, looking at something in his hand. Tears sprang from her eyes, and she grabbed her chest, sure it was going to explode.

“Grizz!”

He turned, his eyes full of sorrow. She ran toward him and he came for her. And then she was in his arms, and he was kissing her, holding her, asking her what was wrong and kissing her again.

“Did you forget something?”

“Yes,” she said through her tears. “I forgot that this was
my
life.
My
choice. And my life is here, with you. I choose you, Grizz. I choose you.”

He spun her around as he kissed her, both of them laughing.

“You’re sure, baby?”

“Yes! I want today and tomorrow. I want
forever
with
you
, Steven Johnson. You may have to buy me a snowmobile so I don’t go stir crazy in the winter, but yes, I’m sure.”

“We won’t be needing that snowmobile, Butterfly.” He opened his fisted hand.

She stared at the silver key in his hand, unsure of its meaning. “What’s that?”

“A key to Mack’s house. Walking distance to town. I rented it for us. I can commute, and we can stay in the cabin when you feel like it.”

Sobs bubbled up from her lungs. “You rented a house? Near town? You love living on the mountain.”

He shrugged like it was no big deal, but she knew exactly how much living on the mountain meant to him and she wasn’t about to let him give up all that he loved for her. She knew he, like everyone else, probably thought she was giving up everything for him, but the truth was,
he
was her everything. A life without Steve, even for just three weeks at a time, would be a miserable life. She loved him, and she loved the man he was, which included his love of all things natural. No, she couldn’t let him walk away from that.

“You need people, baby. And I need you.”

“And I love you too much to let you give up living on the mountain. We’ll compromise, maybe stay on the mountain during the week and in town on the weekends. Or on the mountain in the summer and in town in the winter. Or—”

His mouth came lovingly down over hers. Standing within his strong embrace, feeling his heart beating steadily against hers—knowing her family was on the plane toward her
other
home, probably toasting her last-minute decision—Shannon finally understood the meaning of what her father had said at the rally.

Roots run deep, darlin’, and they don’t come unearthed because of a little distance
.

At the time she’d thought he meant her relationship with Steve could survive a little distance. But she’d been wrong. He meant that everything she knew and loved wouldn’t disappear just because she moved away.

Steve gazed into her eyes and said, “It doesn’t matter where I lay my head at night as long as it’s next to yours. Let’s go home, baby.”

Home
. She took his hand and said, “Grizz, can we make one stop on the way?”

He flashed a sexy smile, and she could tell he knew exactly what she needed. Didn’t he always?

“Pop-Tarts or bakery items?”

“Bakery, of course. I have an urge for pink frosting.”

THERE WAS A time when Steve couldn’t imagine swaying to the beat of any music, much less a Jimmy Buffet melody like Sam and Ty were playing on their guitars. Then again, he never imagined himself sitting on a beach in Peaceful Harbor, Maryland, hundreds of miles from his beloved mountains. Shannon had not only changed his life, but she’d become his world. Spending this cool September evening with the woman he loved, after watching her brother Nate and his new wife, Jewel, standing barefoot on a bed of rose petals, exchange vows on the beach at sunset, Steve wanted that, too. He wanted Shannon to become his wife, and he to become her husband, in front of all the people they loved most.

The bonfire crackled and sparked, lighting up the faces of Shannon’s family. Her mother, Maisy, rested her head on Ace’s shoulder, smiling as she looked at each of her children. The pride and love in her eyes was palpable. On a blanket across from them, Cole and Leesa held hands beside Anita, Jewel’s mother. Tempest and Faith shared a blanket with Sam and Ty, while Jewel’s younger siblings, Patrick, Krissy, and Taylor, played with a lighted ball near the water’s edge a few feet away. A cool breeze rolled off the ocean, bringing the salty scents of the sea and sweeping red rose petals over the beach. They fluttered to the sand beside Steve and Shannon’s bare feet like gifts from the wind.

“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” everyone cheered.

After the sun had gone down and the breeze picked up, the rose petals began to take flight—and the wine Steve and the others were drinking began to take effect—inciting the
kiss
chant, along with sharing tales of embarrassing family stories.

Steve wanted more of
this
, too. Shannon had opened his eyes to how much he’d been missing out on while living his peaceful solitary life on the mountain.

He set his wineglass down beside him and took Shannon’s beautiful face between his hands. Gazing into her hazel eyes, which were alit with amusement, he said, “I love you, Butterfly,” before planting a sloppy, loud kiss on her warm mouth.

Everyone cheered. Shannon giggled.

“Remind me to invest in rose petals,” Steve said, causing another uproar of laughter and cheers.

A single rose petal flitted over Steve’s foot. He placed it on Shannon’s toes and kissed her softly before the cheering began again. Everyone was barefoot tonight, as they had been at the wedding. The men wore gray slacks rolled up at the cuffs and white button-down shirts. The girls wore pretty fall dresses. Shannon’s was pink, of course, and she sported a sassy silver toe ring with an
S
inside a heart in the center.

He touched his toes to Shannon’s, looking around at everyone’s bare feet. “Now I know where Shannon gets the barefoot thing from.”

“It’s a Peaceful Harbor thing,” Ty said. “When I’m climbing, I miss being barefoot, and when I’m barefoot, I miss my climbing shoes.”

“Speaking of climbing,” Nate said. “Do you remember that time Ty and I made homemade parachutes and climbed up to the roof?”

“You mean the trash bags?” Cole asked. “The ones I got in trouble for?” He glared at his father.

“Hey, don’t get on me, son,” Ace said. “As I recall, you
said
it was your fault.”

“You
knew
it wasn’t my fault,” Cole insisted.

“Yes, but you came to me with that cockamamie story about how Ty heard you talking about doing it yourself and he and Nate just beat you to it.” Ace laughed and shook his head. “You
told
me to punish you, remember? You were being honorable. Why would I steal that proud moment from you?”

Leesa hugged Cole. “Forever the hero.”

Cole scrubbed a hand down his face and shot an amused look at Ty, who continued playing his guitar with a smart-ass grin on his face.

“They landed in rosebushes and couldn’t walk for days,” Tempest reminded them. “The universe always steps in.”

Steve squeezed Shannon’s hand and leaned in close. “Yes, it does.”

“Universe my butt,” Shannon said with a playful smile. “I set my sights on you and wrangled you into submission.”

“And how’s that working out for you?” Sam asked.

“Couldn’t be happier,” Shannon said.

“And what does your man have to say about that? How’s life with our sister going for you?” Ty asked.

“Oh, please.” Shannon waved her hand dismissively. “You
know
I’m awesome.”

Steve and her brothers laughed. He’d been around enough to know they weren’t looking for real answers. This was all part of the big-family dynamics that Shannon had tried to escape. In the end, there was no escaping the very people who loved her most. She’d confided in Steve that she’d never wanted to
escape
them. She’d just needed to find her own wings before she could feel comfortable under theirs.

“There’s never a dull moment in either of our houses,” Steve said. He and Shannon had been staying at the house in town about every third night. Steve had acclimated to living in town surprisingly well—much easier than Shannon had. She’d missed living on the mountain too much to commit to more than three nights away.

“So, she’s a pain,” Ty teased, winking at Shannon.

“Hardly,” Steve said. “Living with Shannon is nothing short of amazing. I’m truly the luckiest guy on earth. She decides she’s going to do something, and she doesn’t allow any negative thoughts to slow her down.” They’d finalized the purchase of the Cumberland property
and
Shannon’s partnership in the Colorado Land Trust, which they’d expanded to handle deals throughout Colorado. Shannon was now working part-time for the trust, learning falconry from Jo,
and
doing research for a local company. Steve had never seen her so happy.

“She created her own career, and thanks to your gorgeous, brilliant, and yes, a little lovingly pushy sister, we’ve created an incredible life together.” Steve pulled Shannon against him, breathing in her floral shampoo and the scent of
home
. “I love you, baby, and I wouldn’t change a thing about you.”

“Thanks, Grizz.” She pushed her hands into his hair, which had grown out and was sufficiently scruffy again. “I wouldn’t change you, either.”

Sam laughed. “You already have.”

“Only in the very best of ways,” Steve said with a warm smile. “And she didn’t change me. She reminded me of who I used to be—and who I want to be for her.”

Tempest sighed dreamily. “I hope I find that sort of happiness one day. Watching Cole, Nate, Sam, and now Shannon fall in love makes me long for a soul mate.”

“If you hung out with me more often,” Ty suggested, “I’d break that train of thought for you. We could go hit a few bars, party it up. You’ll never want to settle down.”

“That makes me want to fall in love even
faster
.” Tempest smiled at Steve and Shannon. “I’m happy for you guys. I guess now’s as good a time as any to let you all know that I’ve expanded my music therapy practice, and starting next month I’m going to be working in Pleasant Hill, too.”

“Oh, Tempe,” their mother said. “That’s wonderful, honey.”

“Thanks, Mom. Cole referred me to a few physicians there, and I figured it couldn’t hurt to expand my network, meet new people.” Tempest nodded, like she was trying to convince herself that this was a good idea. “I’ve called our cousin Jillian, and she’s offered to let me stay with her if I don’t want to commute. It’s only an hour away without traffic, but with traffic it could take much longer.”

“That’s great,” Shannon said. “I don’t regret moving away at all, although I do miss everyone, as you know by my Skype and FaceTime calls.”

“We love those calls, honey,” her father said. “I have to admit, it’s strange having my little girl so far away, but I know Steve is watching out for you.”

“He is,” Shannon admitted. “But I
can
keep myself out of trouble, you know.”

“Like the time you snuck out to meet Tommy, or Timmy, or whatever that kid’s name was?” Ty said.

Shannon rolled her eyes. “It was Frankie, and you guys were jerks.”

“Your brothers were just looking out for you,” her mother said.

Shannon rolled her eyes again. They’d been sharing
Shannon stories
all weekend, and Steve would never tire of hearing them. He could imagine the spitfire she must have been as a teenager.

“What happened?” Steve asked.

“I snuck out my window.” Shannon pointed to the second-story window of her parents’ house behind them. “It was a pain, too. I tied sheets together, secured them to the foot of my bed, then climbed down them and had to jump the last ten feet. Then I ran all the way down the beach to his father’s boathouse. I was so nervous and out of breath by the time I got there, I thought I was going to throw up. I was only thirteen, and I knew I was going to get my first real kiss.”

Sam cleared his throat, and she shot him a death stare.

“
Kiss
, Sam. Nothing more.” She turned her attention back to Steve and said, “Anyway, I pushed the boathouse door open and it was pitch-black. So I stepped inside, shaking like a fricking leaf, and I whispered something. I don’t remember what—”

“You said”—Sam spoke in a higher pitch—“‘Frankie spanky, I’m here.’”

He burst out laughing.

Shannon covered her face. “Ohmygod.”

“Frankie spanky?” Steve cocked a brow.

“Ugh! It was a joke!” She scowled at Sam. “I walked in, and these numskulls were standing there. Nate had Frankie in a headlock, and Frankie looked like he was going to pass out or throw up. I was mortified.”

“You were also dead meat,” Ty said. “She got grounded for a month.”

Shannon sighed loudly.

“I think it’s time for a change of subject.” Tempest picked up Ty’s guitar and began playing.

Steve rose to his feet and reached a hand out to Shannon.