Chapter Thirteen
Alma
The breath whooshed out of my lungs at the sight of Austin, not five feet in front of me, built like a tower.
He loved me again.
I loved him again.
Not again, just a renewed love – a new love. A love we didn’t have to hide from anyone.
I covered my mouth with my hand with my hip cocked watching him. He was prepping all the food. Seasoning chicken, ribs, steaks. From the looks of it, he’d cleaned out the nearest Piggly Wiggly and maybe the Winn Dixie two towns over as well.
He was adorable. No, not adorable. Honorable, honest and now we had each other again.
“I’m not sure you have enough there, Chambers. Maybe you should’ve bought a little more meat.”
Austin turned around in a fury, and the color in his face drained at a rapid pace.
“Are you serious? Crap. Can you start some of this stuff while I run to the store? It will take me about an hour, but I think I can make it. Anything else? Maybe I’d better make a list.”
Before I could even get a laugh out, he had his keys and his wallet in his hands and was running out the back door.
“Austin! I was kidding. You’ve got enough to feed the entire Marine Corps here. It was a joke!”
His shoulders hunched as he slammed the wallet and keys back down on the counter.
“Woman, don’t play with me today. This has to be perfect. The food, the house, me. It all has to be…”
“Perfect?” I said marching across the kitchen to him, throwing my arms around his waist. “Nothing has to be perfect. I love you and you love me and look at us being all grown up about it this time. No secrets. That in itself makes it perfect already.”
I nuzzled my face against the hard plains of his chest while his arms tightened around my back. He rubbed small circles at the base of my back and buried his face in my hair.
“Say it again, Alma. I’ll never get tired of hearing it.”
I giggled like sixteen year old Alma used to against the soft fabric of his shirt.
“Which part?”
Baiting Austin was so much fun.
“Don’t keep those words from me, darlin’. I’ve been without them for too long.”
A tear began at the corner of my eye thinking about all the time we’d wasted being stubborn, being rooted in pride.
I’d stayed up most of the night after Austin had dropped me off mourning what we’d missed out on. What we’d once had and lost. But mostly I wondered if all of this could’ve been possible before.
Could I have pursued my dreams with Austin by my side?
Could he have successfully managed this ranch and his father with me there to strengthen and support him along the way?
I almost drowned myself that night in sorrow and regret.
I woke the next morning renewed, needing that time to mourn and wonder what if.
At least we had right now, and I wasn’t going to hide my love from him anymore.
“I love you, Austin Chambers. I always have and I always will.”
“That’s all fine and good but you’ve been playing dominoes in there with my dad while I’m in here on my last nerve trying to plan this dinner. Help me, please. I’m pathetic at this.”
He was far from pathetic. Everything was planned down to the four desserts in the refrigerator already cooling off. I didn’t even know Austin knew four dessert recipes.
“How did you learn to cook like this? Last time you cooked for me, I think you tried to make Spam and eggs or something horrible.”
“It was Spam. Cowboys love Spam. Don’t you know?”
I scoffed, kissing his neck. “You’re the only cowboy I know who loves that crap. But really, what gives?”
“You’re gonna laugh.”
“Probably. That’s never stopped you before.”
“Brothers Green Eats.”
“Whose brother ate what?”
He chuckled, reaching out to hold my hand as he doubled over.
“I love that sound too.” I admitted with a fierce blush.
“Good. Keep making me laugh. I’m gonna make you watch that show later. I need to clean up this place. Did you want to go home and change?”
I frowned. “You don’t like my scrubs?” I did a little curtsy and flared out the legs.
His eyes changed to a darker shade as he got closer to me, giving me that look. The one that meant I was in danger. Danger of falling in love with him even more and in danger of his lips.
When our lips touched softly my world exploded, with love. I always knew Austin was the one to own my heart and soul. As he pressed harder, my knees weakened and a shiver ran down my spine. I opened my mouth wider and allowed him to deepen the kiss. When we finally broke apart, we stared at each other – breathless and in love even more.
“Does that say anything to you about how I feel about your scrubs?”
I shook my head. My words weren’t quite working yet.
“Now, I know my girl better than that. Go get your dress on and get dolled up for me. I know you love to.”
I did. He was right.
I drove home with a smile on my face. Tonight was the night. Everything would be out in the open, and we would be free to be with each other without any hang ups.
I got home and the place was completely silent. Everyone must’ve been busy before the party. There was a dress in the very back of my closet that was waiting for a special occasion to be worn. It was hot pink with a cutout back. When I was buying the dress, I bought matching high heels with a little peep toe.
Austin would lose his Wranglers over me tonight.
I dressed in a hurry. I wanted to be there when all the guests started arriving. This was the biggest night for us – for our whole family.
When I returned to the ranch and opened the back door, letting myself in, I heard the gasp from Austin’s lips.
Yep. Hot pink was my color.
“Heavens to Betsy.”
“Did you just call me by another woman’s name, Austin Chambers?”
After a few seconds and a few shakes of his head, he put down the oven mitts he was sporting and took three large strides toward me. “Never ever, Alma. Never in my life would I call you by another name and never ever have I seen you look more… more radiant. You light up this whole place.”
It wasn’t the words he spoke, but the awe in his voice that turned my knees to mush and caused my stomach to tighten. This man was my everything.
“You clean up good yourself, cowboy.”
He leaned down and shook his head once more before placing a tender kiss on my lips.
“Peaches again. You trying to kill me?”
“Maybe.”
I swatted his butt as he turned around to check the oven timer.
“Hey, none of that. Not until we are married.” The last word was clipped. He bit down on his lip while taking another cake out of the oven. He hadn’t meant to say that. I knew this man like the back of my own hand.
“I like where your head is, Austin, but I’ll wait ‘til you ask me properly and preferably with something shiny in your hand and while you’re on your knee.”
He took off the mitts and threw them down on the counter.
“Come here, Alma.”
I did, circling my arms around his waist.
“I didn’t mean to rush this or us. I know it’s been a long time. Don’t feel pressured. If you don’t want to rush, we won’t rush. I’ll wait the rest of my life for you if I have to.”
He ran his hands through my hair enough to make my body tingle but gentle enough not to muss me – he knew better.
“It’s not rushing, Austin. And you won’t have to wait long. I promise.”