Rough Edges (20 page)

The waitress walked back, placed the note in Allie’s hand, and gave her a wink. Braden had written only two words on the page:
Come Outside.
The girls leaned toward the note as Allie unfolded it, the three squealing like schoolgirls.

“Okay,” Braden said. “That’s our cue.”

Bree spun around just in time to catch Sophie as she freed herself from the car seat. Braden stepped up to Carter’s side to free him up as well. With his eyes pasted on the double doors, Braden strode toward the entrance, an anxious Carter by his side.

He caught sight of Jillian first, throwing a smile at her before Paige stepped into view between them. He gave her a wave, laughing as the kids barreled into them. Sophie jumped into Paige’s arms while Jillian scooped Carter off the ground. The sight was a welcome one, yet nothing could compare to the vision of Allie emerging from the small gathering. He watched as her eyes veered from the tender reunion to search the lot.

A small fire brewed in his belly when her eyes met his at last. He’d planned to say a list of things to Allie. He was sorry, he’d missed her, he’d never leave her again. All of which fled his mind as he quickened his pace, grabbed her waist, and pressed his lips to hers.

As hoots and cheers sounded from the kids, Braden forced himself to cut the kiss short. “I’m so sorry,” he breathed against her lips. “I should never have left. I should have come to you first. Fought for you from the beginning.” But Allie only shook her head, wiped at a trickle of tears on her cheek, and pulled him in for another kiss.

“Let’s go give Paige her present,” Carter and Sophie hollered in the background. This time Allie pulled away.

“Oh, yes!” She spun to look at Paige. “Me and Braden have something for you at the shop,” she said.

“You mean you and Bobby?” She glanced over at him with a smile.

Braden gave her a wink. “Happy Birthday, Phoebs.”

“Thanks.” Paige looked down at her feet before glancing up to him once more. “Glad you’re back.”

Braden nodded. “Me too.”

“I still think we should have blindfolded her,” Allie said as she led Paige along the woodshop floor.

“Naw,” Braden said, “she’s not going to open her eyes, are you?”

“Don’t peek, Paige,” Carter said in his tiny voice.

“Yeah,” Sophie added, “or your mom will give you a spankin’.”

Paige cracked one eye open, giving Sophie a sideways glance.
“She will?”

“Hey, hey, now. Keep those eyes closed or you’ll make a liar out of me.” Braden glanced over his shoulder at the piece, took a few more backward steps. 

Her eyes stayed closed, but they smiled along with her just the same, her grin causing the corners to crinkle. “I love the smell of this woodshop,” Paige said.

“I know,” Allie said. “Me too. You’re not peeking, are you?”

“Nope.”

Braden’s gaze shifted to Allie and the rest of the group. “Count of three?” he asked in a whisper.

Allie nodded in return.

Jillian started the countdown, a wide grin set on her face. “One… two…” she turned her eyes from the gift to Paige.

Braden did the same.

“Three,” they cried in unison.

As Paige opened her eyes, the playful smile on her face was replaced by something more thoughtful. Standing tall and strong in bold black, the Eifel Tower replica looked to be itching to display some of Paige’s work.

“This is for
me?
” she asked, circling the piece at a slow pace.

“It’s to display your art in the house,” Allie said. “Braden designed it for you. He did everything down to placing the glass and putting on the finish.”

“Yeah, well your mom helped with the design,” he said.

Paige circled the stand once more, reaching out to run her fingers over one edge. “I can’t believe how perfect this is,” she said in a whisper. “I … I can’t imagine wanting it any different.”

Braden felt his heart swell with joy and pride. And gratitude, that was there too. Thank heavens he hadn’t stayed away. He uttered a silent prayer of thanks, acknowledging that he’d been led back home just in time. To find all was well, no less.

“Do you love it?” Sophie squeaked.

Paige bent down to pick her up, lifting her off her feet. “I do! I really love it.” Paige shuffled close to her mom next, and then leaned in to give her a hug. “Thanks,” she said. “And uh, thanks to you too, Bobby,” she added, stepping toward Braden next.

Braden reached out to wrap an arm around her. “Show that work of yours with pride, Paige. You’ve got a real talent.”

She dropped her gaze to the floor as a smile spread over her face. “Thanks.”

“Well if I don’t get these guys home before nine, they’ll turn into little monsters,” Bree said, hunching down to look at her kids. “So go say goodnight to everyone.”

“Oh, here,” Allie said, grabbing one of the to-go boxes. “Here’s some birthday cake for you guys.” Since that got the kids’ attention, Bree used it as a bribe to get them out the door.

Braden smiled as the group hugged one another goodbye, softened by the warm embraces he received himself. “Night, sis,” he murmured. “And thanks. Talk to you tomorrow.”

She offered him a genuine smile – one that went beyond what the eye could see. He felt something, deep within him, a knowledge of how truly happy his sister was for him in that moment. He knew how very adverse she was to dating, but that didn’t stop Braden from making a new sort of vow right then and there. He would help her find somebody wonderful. The perfect guy for her and the kids. He’d see that she was happy as well.

“I don’t know about you guys,” Jillian said once Bree and the kids left, “but I want to see what her pictures look like in here. Are we going to be able to get it to our place tonight?”

Allie looked at Braden. “We should be able to make that work.”

Braden nodded. “Sure, I’ll just take the truck. Or we might be able to squeeze it into the convertible with the top down.”

“Oh, can I ride with Braden?” Paige asked.

“Yeah, and I’ll drive our car,” Jillian said.

Allie gave Braden a grin. “And then you can have a piece of cake.”

He returned her smile with a wink. “Sounds like a plan.”

~+~

“I’d have to say that night was a success,” Allie said, striding back down the hallway. “I’ve never seen Paige gush about a gift like that.”

A slow grin crept over Braden’s face, the warm brown of his eyes locking on her. “Can’t say I don’t love hearing that.”

Allie chuckled, glancing at the lights left on in the kitchen. She neared the dining room table, flicked the switches there, and spun around to catch the light by the sink, leaving the small glow of one single bulb at the oven’s hood. Just as she moved to join Braden in the front room, a warm hand cupped her shoulder.

“Sorry,” Braden murmured in her ear, the deep raspy sound of it causing goosebumps to surface over her skin. “Didn’t mean to scare you.” His hand behind her neck, strong and firm, drew her closer. The late-night shadow of his facial hair grazed her cheek before he pressed a warm, lingering kiss beneath her ear. “It’s just that I’ve been waiting a mighty long time to get you to myself, and now that I’ve finally done it, I seem to have lost all self-control.”

She knew just what he meant. Was feeling her own willpower slip from her grasp entirely as she wrapped her arms around him. Sinking into the bliss of Braden’s lips on her skin. Teasing. Tasting.

A slight whimper escaped her throat, a pleading sound as he made his way toward her mouth in a trail of burning kisses.

The brief touch of his lips to hers.

And then another.
Mmm
. Soft. Warm. And firm.

At last she captured the full and binding lock of his kiss. Braden slid his hands down until he gripped her waist, forcing a gasp from Allie as he hoisted her onto the counter. His mouth never left hers. Only kept offering a series of playful tastes and gentle nudges. Each moment making her weak.

When Braden’s fingers threaded through Allie’s hair, he pulled back just enough to whisper against her lips. “I love you,” he declared, resting his forehead against hers.

A thrill shot through Allie’s chest like a tingling wave, urging a confession of her own. “I love you too,” she said, rushing in to kiss him some more. She wished it would never end, the thrill of his kiss. The allure of his touch. And the comfort she felt at having him close. Yet as his kisses started to slow, Braden moved his mouth to her ear once more.

“I’m so sorry I left. That I didn’t give you a chance to explain. Or just...” he blew out a breath, “try to talk you out of giving him another chance, like I thought you were doing.”

In seconds Allie had her hands on his face, was looking at him through the sliver of light. “It’s not your fault. And we’re together now.”

Braden moved in to kiss her again before mumbling against her lips. “I’ll wait as long as it takes,” he promised, “but when the time is right, with you and your girls, I’m going to marry you.”

Allie moved in to kiss him again, musing it was just one of the best things she’d heard all day.

“Never thought I’d be walking my girl down the aisle a second time,” Earl mumbled out the side of his mouth, “but I couldn’t be more thrilled for ya, darlin’.”

Allie gave his arm a squeeze. “Thanks, Dad.” She’d spent hours worrying over the idea of walking down the aisle. Some websites said a divorced woman should walk down alone. Others argued the husband-to-be should walk alongside the second-time bride. But she liked the ones that stated none of it mattered, that the bride and groom should do what they’d like. And Braden wanted to see her walking down that aisle.

She glanced over, noting the deep wrinkles around Earl’s eyes and mouth, his thinning gray hair, and the look in his pale brown eyes – portholes to a man who was still very young at heart – grateful to have him by her side. She’d settled on a simple wedding dress. An ivory, knee-length number that swooped at the neck and lightly hugged her curves.

As they waited for the song to play, Allie’s gaze wandered to the large windows over the chapel’s entrance. Thick flakes of snow tumbled through the sky. She smiled, happy to have a winter wedding. Just a small group. Close family and friends. Her girls and the man she loved. Allie couldn’t imagine anything better.

The music sounded from the chapel, and Earl gave her hand a squeeze. “Here goes.”

She squeezed back, clenching her bouquet of daisies in the other hand, and watched as the doors swung open. A series of slow steps took them down the aisle. Allie saved the sight in the center for last, knowing once her eyes landed on him there’d be no tearing her gaze away. Her mother stood next to Betty and Grant, smiles warming their faces. Her brother, Logan, stood nearby. What Allie hadn’t expected to see was a lady by his side.
Candice?
She’d come. Logan’s wife had come!

Allie was dying to know the story behind it all. The two had been separated for months. She let that hopeful feeling sink into her skin as her gaze wandered over Jade, Gavin, and then Luke, who was whispering to Reese and Blake’s twins. Bree and her kids were next. Seeing the emotion on her friends’ faces made Allie’s chin quiver, but once she laid eyes on Jillian and Paige, she could hardly hold back the tears. The last six months had shown Allie just how right Braden was for their family. Paige, who shot Allie a thumbs up, had taken to spending lots of time in the woodshop, even inspiring Braden to make a few original pieces to sell at the local hardware store. Jillian wiped at tears of her own, and Allie fought back the knowledge that it might not be too many years before she’d be walking down this very aisle. She sniffed, and turned her attention to the center at last.

Braden’s eyes were set on her, searing heat into her body in a blink. He gulped, ran one hand over his jaw, and eased into the most attractive smile she’d ever seen on a man.

“Hi,” she mouthed.

His smile broadened. “Hi,” he mouthed in reply. There were no doubts or nerves. Reservations or fears. Just love. Comfort. And peace. Anticipation too. She’d been looking forward to nearly every part of what this day would bring. The vows and rings. The family and food. The getaway they planned to take after. Something about the heat in Braden’s glare had her looking forward to that part all the more. Allie exhaled a deep breath, returned his smile, and took one final step toward her new life.

~+~

“Is that from Bree?”

Allie grinned as she looked at the photo on her phone. “Yeah,” she answered. “It’s a shot of the kids. Carter’s tackling Jillian and it looks like Sophie has Paige pinned under some sort of couch cushion.” She chuckled. “I’m so glad they’re having fun.”

Braden secured his grip on the wheel. “Me too. No need for us to be the only ones having a good time tonight.” He flashed her the slightest hint of a grin, taking his eyes off the road for a beat. And though the glance was brief, the promise it held caused a swirl of nervous energy to dance in her belly.

In true Braden fashion, her now handsome groom had suggested waiting until their honeymoon to be intimate. Upon stating that, Braden began to shorten the length of their engagement nearly every time they kissed. They’d gone from shooting for a lovely, outdoor summer wedding, to a hometown spring wedding in the barn, to settling on a traditional chapel wedding in winter of the same year. The sooner the better, he’d finally hissed, after getting carried away one night. And now the ceremony was over, the kids were cared for, and she and Braden were just minutes away from their honeymoon getaway.

“Glad the flight went smooth,” Braden said.

Allie tilted her head, noting the change in topic. “Yeah,” she said.

“Car’s nice too,” he added. “Never know what you’re going to get with rental cars.”

Allie nodded, wondering if they were in for an awkward evening. He seemed nervous suddenly. She knew she was. Forcing out a slowly paced breath, Allie turned her gaze out the window. She squinted as a uniform pattern came into view. Rows. She neared the glass. “Is that an orchard out there?” she asked.

Braden nodded. “We’re close now.”

“And these are yours?”

“Yep. Here, I’ll pull over and shine the lights on it so you can get a better view.” There was no reason not to; she hadn’t seen so much as one other car for miles. After pulling over to the side of the road, Braden repositioned the car to aim the lights straight into the orchard. The sight was a winter wonderland if she’d ever seen one. Allie had thought she’d witnessed visions of heaven as they’d driven through the small, nearby town, the place lit up with endless streams of light, each illuminating icy crystals and flakes.

Yet now, in the bright glow of the headlights, an enchanted forest came to life. Dark twisted limbs reached over an untouched bed of snow, each gnarled branch cradling handfuls of frosty white. “It’s magic,” she whispered in a reverent tone. “This is truly the perfect place for Bree to hide away. So peaceful.” She thought back on the moment he’d told her about this place. It was shortly after the whole Terrance debacle. He’d apologized for not telling her sooner, explaining that his ex-fiancé, Mindy, had had a real problem with the idea. The woman had demanded he sell it or make Bree take over the payments and duties herself. He admitted that his instincts told him Allie would not react the same way, but he’d been so afraid of losing her that he never could quite form the words. 

Braden’s hand cupped hers. Gentle and warm, bringing her right back to the present. He turned her palm face-up, ran the slightly coarse tips of his fingers over her skin, and then linked his fingers solidly through hers. The action slow, sensual, and infusing her with a new burst of anticipation. He kept his hand in hers, maneuvering the wheel one-handed as he backed up and then continued down the road once more. And there it was, a glimpse of the house.

Allie straightened up, straining to look around a massive tree in the front yard. A patio light flicked on and lit up the entire porch.

“It has a motion sensor,” Braden explained, answering her unspoken question.

Pale yellow siding covered the country style home. A thick layer of snow covered the rooftop, accenting each pointed peek over the upper-level windows. Allie smiled. “This is so charming. I love it.”

“The lady who rents from me is immaculate. Best tenant a guy could ask for. I gave her the month free for kicking her out this week,” Braden said. “Even gave her a bit of vacation cash for putting new sheets on the bed, clean towels and all that.”

“Is she just at a hotel or something?” Allie asked.

“Naw, she’s visiting her son in Arizona. Said she couldn’t wait to suck up some heat.” He turned to face her, unraveling the black bowtie at his neck. He let that dangle over his crisp white shirt as he unfastened the top button, drawing her thoughts to what would come. She wanted to reach out and help him with those. Quickly, Braden shifted in the seat. “Stay here. I’ll get the walks shoveled and be back to get you.”

Before she could protest Braden cranked open the door, hurried around the car and up the porch steps. A snow shovel leaned against the house by the front door. She watched as he cleared a path toward the car, sending a spray of powder over his shoulder with each massive heave. As if the cold hadn’t touched him, Braden paused to roll the sleeves of his shirt up to his elbows. Shadows accented the strong muscles along his forearms as he got back to work, and Allie couldn’t help but admire the view. He shifted direction to scrape at a different angle, allowing the patio light to catch the definition along his face next. The strong outline of his jaw. The full, perfectly sculpted shape of his lips. She could hardly believe he was hers. All hers. She had to admit – his idea of ‘waiting until marriage’ sure had made things challenging, but exciting too, there was no doubt about it. And tonight, the waiting would come to an end.

While that very thought ran through her mind, Braden rested the shovel back in its place. He stomped his feet before shoving a key into the lock and pushing the door open a crack. As he spun back around in the porch light, Braden seemed taller suddenly. And more muscled too. The size of him intimidating as he opened the car door.

“My lady,” he crooned. Laughter spilled from her lips as he swooped down to scoop her into his arms. The night was cool on her skin, but Braden was warm against her side. She nuzzled into him, breathing the scent of pine mingled with hints of aftershave. Some days, she mused, she lived for that smell.

Using his foot, Braden pressed the door open enough to carry her through it. In seconds she was upright and standing on her own while Braden fumbled with a nearby lamp, casting a warm, yet rather dim glow on the place. She was glad it wasn’t too bright. She could have settled for no lights at all. As interested as she might be to see the inside of such a charming little place, a living, breathing energy buzzed in the space between them. A force that prodded and urged. She fed off it, knowing it wouldn’t be much longer now.

“I’ll get our things,” he mumbled, and moved to step out. But instead of walking back out the door, Braden paused there, and then closed it. With slow but certain moves, he spun back around to face her, slipped a hand up the side of her neck. His fingers were icy cold against her skin, the tantalizing sensation triggering a chain of goosebumps to spread down her arms. Mmm, so good. His touch always felt so good.

He leaned in to kiss her briefly, but paused upon pulling back. His gaze captured hers, the deep brown of his eyes speaking to her through the faint light. Passion. Yearning. Love. And then his mouth was back on hers. And his hands too, sliding up her back, teasing her skin through the thin fabric of her dress. His cool fingers fiddled with the zipper, and Allie lost herself in the warm sense of pleasure as his mouth found her throat.

Her dress slid off one shoulder as Braden gripped her thigh, hiking her leg up around him. She did the same with the other as he shuffled further into the room, his lips never leaving her.

Allie vaguely paid mind to the fact that he’d taken them up a narrow flight of stairs, flicking a light in the hall along the way. And suddenly there was a bed beneath her. And Braden Fox in all his glory, unbuttoning his shirt as he moved to join her. This time she reached out to help, savoring the feel of his muscled skin. The heated thump of his heart against her palm. After tossing the shirt, Braden wound his fingers through Allie’s hair and kissed her, slow and deep. His mouth working a spell of its own.

A low groan sounded from his throat. “You’re mine now,” he said, speaking against her lips. “All mine.” She’d been thinking that very thing about him only moments ago, but when spoken in his deep and raspy tenor, it sounded like an oath. More binding than the vows they’d exchanged.

Once down to her slip, Allie lifted her arms up over her head, watching as Braden traced his fingers along her arms. Up, and back down. She fisted the sheets as he repeated the action, whimpering in heavenly defeat. He was right; she was his in every sense of the word.

And as he moved to weave his spell about her, Allie let the truth of it carry her higher. She might have taken a few wrong turns along the way, but she’d arrived just the same. And with Braden Fox as her newlywed groom, Allie was on the right path at last.