Meadowlarks 3 : Endless (25 page)
Read Meadowlarks 3 : Endless Online
Authors: Ashley Christine
I clutch and curl my fingers in his hair, not wanting to let him go. Not wanting to get off his body and pull from the deep contact we still have. We fit together so perfectly.
“I love this,” I say, staring at my ring, my fingers now combing through his hair. “It’s beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you.” He kisses my chest.
“Where are we going to live?”
“Doesn’t matter, as long as we’re together.”
I laugh and push back to look into his eyes. “I don’t want to live in New York.”
“I don’t either.”
“But it’s where you work.”
“I quit.”
I gape. “You quit Montedesco? What’s Josh going to do?”
“He’ll be fine. He was just helping me get away from…everything.”
“We could move to Wyoming.”
Weston curls his lips. “I don’t know if I could live there again. Not very many happy memories.”
“What about the agency? What about Riley?”
“What about it? She’s got it handled. Believe me, she wouldn’t want me there, anyway.”
I laugh. “You’re probably right. She’d just put you to work.”
“She would…What about Maine?”
This time I curl my lip. “No. Let’s find our own State. Somewhere neither of us has been…”
“We have forever to find it. Now, come here.” Weston grabs me and turns to throw me back down on my sofa. “I’m hardly finished with you yet.”
THREE YEARS LATER…
Weston
The small and fragile cries wake me. Sitting up, I look over at Leah. She’s sleeping sweetly, curled into a pillow, smiling about whatever she’s dreaming of.
I climb out of bed, run my hands over my face and yawn. It’s nearly four in the morning, and I don’t think I’ve slept a solid eight hours in months.
“You’re going to wake up mommy, sweet girl.” I reach down and pick up the baby. “My little Hazel, my littlest love.” I gently brush my nose against hers. It’s tiny, soft, and perfect. Just like she is.
I sit in the gliding chair and feed Hazel with a bottle of milk that Leah had pumped only four hours earlier. Her tiny fingers clasp around one of my big fingers. Her delicate features are angel-like. Warm brown hair, soft to the touch, just like the skin on her cheeks. I could sit here and stare at her all night long.
Maybe I just will.
Hazel falls back to sleep in my arms and I gently place her in the crib. The sun is about to rise and as much as I’d love to stay, I need to get at least an hour’s sleep before the day begins.
“Daddy?”
Well, so much for that. “Hey, buddy…can’t sleep?”
Jeremy stands in the doorway of Hazel’s room, rubbing his eyes. I pick him up and carry him into our bedroom. Placing him between us, he snuggles into Leah and I lay on my side, smiling at both of them.
Jeremy was born ten months after South of Marshall played at Madison Square Garden. He came early, about eight weeks early. Scaring the shit out of everyone. His tiny body was only four pounds, but man, did he ever have a pair of lungs on him—like his mama.
Today is my wedding day. Today my parents, along with Liam and Janelle, and Leah’s mother, Olivia are flying from the East Coast. Riley and Addison, and their families from coming from Wyoming. Neil, Jett, and Aaron are already in Tennessee.
We moved here about two years ago. This is the heart of country music. This is where Leah should be, and wherever she is, I will make my home.
She
is home. I still own the agency in Wyoming. Which, is thriving, thanks to Riley’s tenacious work ethic. I still dabble in the stock market, too.
Our home sits on the water. Dancing on the edges of a beautiful lake that goes on for miles. The sparkling water is the first thing I see when I look out the window in the morning. I did love New York, but I am a country boy at heart.
Leah still struggles some nights with bad dreams. Mostly about Sara. How she feels that Sara died in her place. Leah will wake up, sweaty and breathless. I try my best to calm and soothe her, let her know she’s okay.
We’re
okay. I don’t know how long she’ll have those dreams. I hope not forever. But, if she does, I’m here when she wakes up.
I paid for Sara’s body to be exhumed and taken home to Wyoming. She deserved so much more than she got out of life. I will always feel guilt about how I handled things with her. A part of me knows what happened to her was my fault—and it’s something I’ll have to live with. She had more issues than we ever knew. But she damn sure didn’t deserve to have her life snuffed out with the flick of a match. Elsa rots in a women’s prison in Nevada.
Pine Ridge closed down. It sits vacant now. A shame, really. Considering the beautiful property it’s on.
Hunter moved to Las Vegas to work for Andrew Lindon. He was so impressed with Hunter, he offered him a job. I hear from him every now and then, when he calls to check in on Leah. It’s funny how life can throw you those little curveballs.
“How long have you been up?” Leah asks, her sleepy eyes sparkling in the morning light.
“A while.” I smile.
“When did Jer come to bed?” She leans down and kisses his hair while he sleeps, still snuggled into her.
“About an hour ago.”
“What’s with that look?” Leah giggles softly. “What are you thinking?”
“Nothing.”
“Weston, I know that look. I’d know it anywhere. You’re not going to do anything while he is in the bed.”
“We have a big house, ma’am.”
Leah narrows her eyes and kisses Jeremy again before slipping out of bed and tip-toeing out the door.
I cover him up and follow her.
Leah is standing on the deck when I find her. The warm summer air flowing through her hair, over her soft skin and right into me, intoxicating me. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to feeling this way.
She bites her lip as I approach her, with a sly look on my face. She is well-aware of what’s about to happen.
“Weston!” Leah squeals when I pick her up in my arms. “I love this.” She traces her fingers along my tattoo.
My new tattoo. I got the last half removed, and changed it to
podemos.
Because
we
can. There is no “I” anymore. It’s
we
. From now on, forever.
It’s
endless
.
***
Acknowledgements
For Ross…
Without you, none of this would have been possible. You were my rock. You listened to me babble for months while writing the Meadowlarks Series. You gave me inspiration, helped me when I hit a wall or two, and frequently put food on the desk while I sat and typed for hours. Thank you for feeding me. I love you with all of my heart.
My beta readers and Supporters…
Thank you for everything. You encouraged me when I thought I couldn’t go on any longer. I startedEndless with no idea where to go. I knew I wanted Weston to show the world that he wasn’t some selfish lady-killer (LOL), that he was capable of so much greatness.
Endless is definitely my favorite book in the Meadowlarks Series. As much as I loved the first, Blaine and Addison were my first novel-babies…Endless to me, was when my writing finally took off and I was able to express myself through these characters in just the right way.
Mom…
I’m sorry for all the cursing. Sometimes “sugar” or “frig” just doesn’t cut it. I love you so much, and thank you for endlessly supporting me.
***
Visit
www.ashleychristine.ca
for other titles by Ashley Christine
XO
Ashley
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