Till I Kissed You (36 page)

Cade had wanted to elope and whisk Monroe to Seattle for their honeymoon. Monroe insisted on a wedding but compromised by keeping it intimate. Regan had whipped up plans in less than a week, and everything had gone off without a hitch.

“How's married life, anyway? Different?”

“Mostly the same, except for getting used to a new name.” Monroe cast a smile and raised brows in her direction. “You'll be finding out soon enough.”

This time it was Regan's turn to blush, knowing she didn't do it as gracefully as Monroe. She twisted the diamond engagement ring in a circle. “I'm nervous. Not the marriage part. I can't wait to make it legal. The part where I agreed to the huge church wedding. Mother has been in a tizzy.”

“I told you to keep your mother out of it. She's likely to stand up when the preacher asks for objections.”

After her mother's manipulations over the summer, Regan had been ready to cut her completely out of her life. Shockingly, it was Sawyer who had talked her into trying to mend their fractured relationship. His parents were gone forever, and he didn't want Regan to have regrets. So she'd cracked the door open by allowing her mother a small role in the wedding planning. It had been like releasing a wild, starving monkey on a bunch of bananas.

“Now that we're living down the street, Sawyer and Mother have run across each other more and more. He actually tolerates her demon dogs, which has gone a long way to endearing him in her book. And, you know he has a way with plants—flowers especially—they've bonded over gardening. Sometimes I wonder if I've stepped into
The
Twilight Zone
.”

“The day I see your mother and Sawyer walking down the street arm in arm walking her dogs will be the first sign of the apocalypse.” Monroe burst out laughing. “Are you going to stay in your house or rebuild or what?”

The damage to Sawyer's farmhouse from the tornado had been extensive, and he'd made the difficult decision to level it. “We sort of have to stay in Mississippi.”

“Why?”

Regan couldn't contain her smile. “I'll be making an official announcement after the wedding, but I filed to run for state representative yesterday in Jackson. I'll be on the ballot in November.”

Monroe squawked something between shock and congratulations and grabbed Regan for a hug. “I had no idea you were even considering a run.”

“I've had the papers in my desk forever. Sawyer gave me the confidence to just do it. But it means we have to live in Mississippi.”

“And he was okay with that?”

Tears pricked her eyes, and she leaned her head back, but the bright sunshine only made it worse. “He wants me to pursue my dreams and be happy. Said he'd even move to Jackson if I wanted to run for governor.”

“Wow. Governor?”

“Who knows? Someday, maybe. I could do it.” The words came out with a surety that surprised even Regan. She didn't need to convince anyone, not her friends, not her mother, not herself. She
could
do it. As long as Sawyer had her back. And, he would always have her back. She trusted in that. She trusted him.

“I may technically be a swamp rat now, but you can count on me to cross over and campaign for you,” Monroe said.

“How's it going?” Tally stood behind them, her hands behind her back as if she were afraid she was intruding, but a small smile making her look hopeful.

Monroe shifted, put an arm around Tally's shoulders, and pulled her in between them. “What'd you think of the game?”

“I hope it becomes a regular thing. It's nice seeing everyone mingling and having fun. I mean, look at Ms. Leora,” Tally said.

Ms. Leora had her hand tucked in Delmar Fournette's elbow and was talking with a group of his fishing and hunting buddies, a smile crinkling her face.

“Do you think Delmar will make an honest woman out of her and move to Mississippi? I can't imagine her living in his place.” Regan had thought their pairing was odd at first, but once Ms. Leora had let go of her anger and regrets, what had been left was love. Regan thanked the heavens she and Sawyer hadn't waited forty years to put the past behind them. A decade had been ten years too long.

“It's the only thing they argue about. No way is Uncle Delmar living in Mississippi, and no way is Ms. Leora moving to his place. Can you imagine her playing hostess is his little ramshackle house?” Tally laughed softly.

“They could build something like Cade and I did and you and Nash are doing,” Monroe said. “When is your place going to be done, by the way?”

Tally groaned. “Not until summer at this rate. You know how Nash is. He's wanted to learn everything about everything and do some of the work himself. But his classes are taking up most of his days, and his book is going through edits in preparation for publication … He's busy.”

“That's so exciting. Where is Nash?” Monroe looked around.

Tally pointed across the field to the far bleachers. “The Quilting Bee ladies grabbed him as soon as we walked in.”

Regan squinted. Sure enough, Nash was sitting two rows up surrounded by a semicircle of old ladies. He gave the impression of giving a lecture. “They sure do love them some Nash Hawthorne.”

“Well, I do too, so it's hard to complain.” Tally's voice was unusually soft, the smile on her face lighting her from the inside out.

“When is Nash going to put a ring on it?” Regan elbowed Tally. It was only recently that Regan and Tally had reached the point they could tease each other like friends.

A flush raced up Tally's throat and into her face. Regan shifted toward her. Had she ever seen Tally Fournette blush?

“We're married.”

“What?” Regan and Monroe popped out with the same exclamation.

Tally covered her face with both hands, but a smile peeked through. “We went to the courthouse a few weeks ago. Nash didn't care, and I'm not exactly the white-gown, everyone-staring-at-you kind of girl.”

“When are you going to tell your brothers?”

“Tonight at dinner. We're all still getting together at your place, right Monroe?”

“Yep. Already picked up the barbeque from Rufus.”

“Thought maybe you two should know in case I need backup.”

“Please. We all love Nash. He's the nicest, sweetest guy in Cottonbloom.” Regan snaked an arm around Tally's shoulders and squeezed.

“He totally is. Not sure what I did to deserve him, but he's mine now. Forever.” Tears shimmered in her eyes despite her huge grin. “I'd better rescue him from the pack of little old ladies. I'll see you guys in a bit.”

Regan and Monroe were silent as Tally walked across the field. Nash excused himself from the ladies and met her near the dugout, hauling her in close for a kiss.

“Well then,” Regan said.

“Indeed.” They crossed glances and burst into laughter.

As their giggles faded, Monroe said, “Nash and Tally won't be the only surprise tonight. Brace yourself, because my mother is bringing her new boyfriend. He flew in from New Mexico yesterday.”

“What's he like?”

“Completely different from anyone she's ever dated. Short, bald, doting. He really loves her. It's slightly nauseating, but I'm happy for her. His name is Arnold, but she calls him Arnie.”

“This is the guy she met in rehab?”

“Yep. Not sure if that's good or bad. I'm hoping they'll keep each other dry. He asked her to move to New Mexico, but she told him he would have to move to Cottonbloom if he wanted to be with her.”

“Way to go, Mrs. Kirby.”

“I know, right? We'll see. I'm not holding my breath that any of this will work out.”

This time Regan put her arm around Monroe and squeezed, no platitudes needed. Monroe's mother had let her down all her life. It would take more than a few months and a new attitude to earn Monroe's trust back. But Monroe would be there for her mother through the successes or disappointments. It was the kind of daughter and friend she was.

Sawyer shook hands and patted shoulders, backing away from the group of men. Cade followed suit. They walked shoulder to shoulder, pacing their steps on their way to Regan and Monroe. The two of them had grown closer with each passing week. Not that they didn't disagree and yell and sometimes wrestle like two kids. But it always ended in laughter.

Cade hauled Monroe close, and Sawyer did the same to Regan. Cade tutted, his smile teasing. “Not much of a showing from Mississippi, Regan.”

“Only because you swamp rats cheated. You are not a city employee, Cade Fournette.”

Cade made a scoffing sound. “I'm close enough. Since you're taking Sawyer over the line, he's trying to talk me into running for parish commissioner.”

“Are you going to do it?” Regan asked. Cade was not exactly the most diplomatic of people. Or friendly. Or compromising. But, he was whip-smart even if he didn't graduate high school. And moving Fournette Designs from Seattle to Cottonbloom had created jobs and tax revenue.

“Not with as much charm as Sawyer, but I have some ideas.” He glanced down at Monroe with a smile. “I'm here for good, and I want to make Cottonbloom a better place for us. And our kids.”

Regan gasped. “Are you—”

“No, I'm not. Geez, Cade, this is how rumors get started.” Monroe leaned back to punch his shoulder, but more tease than force was behind it. “Eventually. Maybe.”

“We're going to head to the house. Give us a half hour or so to get organized.” Cade checked his watch.

“You're looking mighty fine in that uniform, Cade Fournette.” The smile Monroe sent in her husband's direction made Regan bite her bottom lip and look toward Sawyer.

“Strike that. Give us an hour and a half. See you later.” Cade grabbed Monroe's hand and quick-stepped toward the parking lot. Monroe's laughter trailed behind them.

Regan turned and wrapped her arms around Sawyer's neck. “You're looking pretty hot yourself in those pants.”

“Not half as good as you're filling out yours, baby.” His hand skated over her backside.

“Sawyer,” she whispered. “You're still commissioner, and I'm still mayor. We have a certain image of gravitas and dignity to uphold.”

“Didn't we prove last summer that both of those are overrated?”

Their smiling lips met with a tenderness and passion rooted in the past, but growing with every day. The future stretched before them, unknown and even a little scary, but they would face whatever came together.

 

ALSO BY
LAURA TRENTHAM

Then He Kissed Me

Kiss Me That Way

Melting Into You

Caught Up in the Touch

Slow and Steady Rush

 

About the Author

An award-winning author,
Laura Trentham
was born and raised in a small town in Tennessee. Although she loved English and reading in high school, she was convinced an English degree equated to starvation. She chose the next most logical major—Chemical Engineering—and worked in a hard hat and steel-toed boots for several years.

She writes sexy, small-town contemporaries and smoking-hot Regency historicals. The first two books of her Falcon Football series were named Top Picks by
RT Book Reviews
magazine. When not lost in a cozy Southern town or Regency England, she's shuttling kids to soccer, helping with homework, and avoiding the Mt. Everest–sized pile of laundry that is almost as large as the to-be-read pile of books on her nightstand.

Visit her at
www.LauraTrentham.com
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