“What in the hell is he talking about?” Joe asked in my ear.
“You should have asked them. You might have been surprised,” I answered as I looked into his beautiful blue eyes.
Brett looked down and then back at me.
Nodding my head, I asked, “So this is your last game?”
“Yes.”
“And, um, will you be a part of the hiring of the new coach?”
Brett grinned. “Well I’m hoping they’ll listen to what I have to say, but you never know, right?”
“They’ll listen.”
Joe started screaming in my ear. “What in the fuck are you two talking about?! Goddamn it, Aubrey, ask him about his father’s cancer. Will he be coming back to coaching after things settle down? Report! Do your damn job!”
Pulling my ear piece out of my ear, I softly spoke. “Thank you, Coach, for taking the time to talk to us and please know everyone at ESPN will keep your father in our thoughts and prayers. And don’t give up.”
His eyes glistened with tears as he nodded and turned to the next reporter. I took a few steps back and watched him for a few moments. I prayed he knew I was talking about us. As much as I wanted to run into his arms and ask him if he was serious about marrying me, I knew I had other things I needed to take care of first.
We waited this long, we’d have to wait a bit longer.
The next reporter asked Brett about his decision to leave Austin. “It’s been a hard decision to make, one that affected a lot of people I love and care about. But in the grand scheme of things, it’s best for me and the team if I step down.”
Rick touched my arm, causing me to jump. “You ready?”
“Yeah, I’m ready.”
Walking off the field, I glanced over my shoulder. Even through the crowd of people, Brett’s eyes captured mine. They looked so sad. Those hauntingly beautiful blue eyes. I seared them into my memory as I looked straight ahead, following Rick off the field. I had a flight back home at eight in the morning. The faster I got home, the better.
MY MOTHER STOOD back and stared at the tree. “You broke it, Brett.”
With a stunned look, I answered, “I didn’t break it. It didn’t work in the first place.”
“It worked last Christmas,” she replied.
My father sat in his chair reading something on his phone. “Dad, are you going to put your phone down and tell her this didn’t work last year?”
Glancing up, he pinched his brows together. “I’m pretty sure it worked last year.”
“What?” my mouth gaped open. “Dad! You know this stupid thing didn’t light up last year.”
With a smack on the back of my head, I cried out. “Ouch!”
“Don’t talk about the angel like that. She has been on this tree since your first Christmas, Brett Owens.”
“Exactly! It’s time to put something else up, Mom. Start a new tradition.”
My father stood. “I like that. Starting new traditions. How about we start with opening a bottle of wine.”
“What for?” my mother asked.
“Do we need a reason to drink wine?” my father asked.
Frowning, I looked at him. “You only drink wine when you want to celebrate something.”
“I’m alive. The cancer didn’t spread. It wasn’t an evasive cancer … my wife is beautiful. It’s Christmas Eve … shall I go on?”
With a laugh, I walked up to him and put my hand on his shoulder. “No. You had me at I’m alive. I’ll go open a bottle. Sit back down, Dad, and take it easy.”
With a wide grin, he did as I asked. My mother flopped down on the loveseat and stared at the ten-foot Christmas tree in the family room. The picture window behind it showed a clear view out the west pasture to the mountain range. The light dusting of snow fall was perfect.
“It’s beautiful,” she softly said.
She was right. It was beautiful.
I had loved being in Wyoming in the winter. We always came up here for Christmas. Every summer, every Christmas. They said it was going to be a bad winter, but so far it wasn’t too bad. It was like Wyoming knew the Owens were here full-time. It was easing us in.
Walking into the kitchen, I glanced around. What in the hell was I going to do in this giant house by myself? Once my father’s treatment ended, they talked about heading to Florida for a month for some R-and-R. I knew what it really was though. My father was showing me he trusted me enough to leave the ranch in my hands.
The smile on my face was hard to hide. As much as I loved football, I loved being here with my mother and father.
Pouring the last glass, I set the bottle of wine down. There was only one thing missing.
Aubrey.
I hadn’t heard from her since the day after the interview. She sent me an email that simply said she needed two weeks to get some things settled. In that email she also told me she was not with Logan, they had broken up before she came to Dallas. My impromptu proposal probably wasn’t the best thing to hit her with. To my defense, she told me to tell her what I was thinking. I had no idea what things she had to settle. It was rumored she was moving up to the NFL. Maybe it had something to do with that.
Grabbing a tray, I put the wine glasses on it and headed into the family room. I came to a stop when I saw the sight before me. My mother was curled up fast asleep on the loveseat and my father was lost in a book.
“You still want that wine?”
With a glance in my direction, he dropped his book some and replied, “Yes. Will you set it there on the side table for me, son?”
I set his glass down. “I’ll put Mom’s over here.”
Every night since I got back home, I had gone out and sat under the black sky. The stars dotted the sky and made me think of Aubrey and us sitting in the back of my truck looking up at the Marfa sky.
He grunted and went back to reading.
“I think I’m going to go sit out back.”
“Sounds good, Brett. It’s snowing, though, don’t stay out there for too long.”
With a weak smile, I replied, “I won’t, Dad.”
Walking down the back steps, I headed out to the patio to take a seat in one of the chairs. It was already covered with a light coating of snow. Wiping it off, I sat down and dropped my head back. The feel of the cold flakes hitting my face was refreshing.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I pulled up her name. It was two weeks. I wasn’t waiting another second longer.
Taking in a deep breath, I typed out a message to her.
Me: Merry Christmas, Aubrey.
It was less than a minute and she replied, causing me to smile.
Bree: It’s not Christmas yet.
I let out a small chuckle.
Me: Merry Christmas Eve
Bree: What’s on your list for Santa this year?
My heart ached. I wanted to tell her that she was the only thing on my list.
Me: Tell me what’s on yours and I’ll tell you what’s on mine
She didn’t reply right away and it pained my heart more than I wanted to admit.
I’d never felt love before Aubrey. This time, I was going to fight for her. I needed to let her know how much I loved her.
My phone dinged with a message. Glancing down, I smiled when I saw her name.
Bree: I only asked for one thing. And I’m looking at it right now
Lifting my brows, I was curious.
Me: Early Christmas present, huh?
Bree: I hope so
My eyes burned with the threat of tears. Dropping my head back, I cried out, “Fuck. Fucking idiot, why did you let her walk away?”
Quickly wiping away the tears that trailed down my face, I sent her another text.
Me: I don’t know if this matters now or not, but I’ve never loved anyone like I love you, Bree. I’m sorry I let you walk away.
Bree: Ask me again
Narrowing my brow, I leaned forward in the chair. My heart was pounding so loudly in my ears I could hardly hea
r myself think.
My breathing was labored as I typed out the question.
Me: Will you marry me and come to Wyoming to be with me?
I stared at the phone for what felt like forever. My entire body came to life as I held my breath. She was here.
Aubrey was here.
“Yes. I’ll marry you, and yes to Wyoming, too.”
With a smile, I stood and turned around. Aubrey stood before me looking like an angel. The white snow fell lightly around my beautiful princess.
“But I’ll only do it on one condition.”
“Anything,” I answered.
“Dance with me,” she answered with a smile.
Laughing, I made my way over to her. “There’s no music.”
The way her warm brown eyes caught the starlight had my heart dropping to my stomach.
“Oh, Mr. Owens, there’s always music.”
The speakers that were on the back porch crackled. Glancing up, I saw Annie standing there. She hit a button and the song poured out of the speakers.
Phil Collins’ “One More Night” softly filled the air.
Aubrey walked up and placed her hands on my chest. Her head dropped and I knew she was crying. Lifting her chin up so her gaze met mine, I leaned down and kissed her tears away.
Wrapping her up in my arms, we danced slowly, neither one of us saying a word.
As we held each other tightly, I prayed like hell I wasn’t dreaming. Aubrey pulled back and looked into my eyes.
“I told you what was on my list, now have to tell me what’s on yours.”
Taking a step back, I placed my hand on the side of her face. “The only thing I had on my list was to see your face and hear your voice.”
Her teeth sank into her lip before she scrunched her nose up and giggled. “Are you about to talk dirty to me?”
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ring box I had been carrying around with me for the last four months. I’d seen the ring in a jewelry store when I was trying to find a birthday present for my mother. The second I saw the princess cut diamond in the antique setting, I knew I had to have it for Aubrey. Even though I wasn’t sure what the future held, I knew that was her ring.
Aubrey sucked in a breath of air as I dropped to one knee. My hands were shaking as I opened the box and she instantly started crying.
“If you want me to talk dirty to you I can, but I was kind of hoping to be a bit more romantic when I asked the only women I’ve ever given my heart and soul to for her hand in marriage.”
Covering her mouth, she dropped down to her knees and threw her body into mine. I wasn’t sure how long we knelt there, holding each other as the snow fell lightly around us. I didn’t care either. She was back in my arms and I was never letting her go again.
Finally, we let go and looked into each other’s eyes. “I love you, Brett. I never stopped loving you.”
My hands gently cupped her face. I brushed my lips softly across hers. “I never stopped loving you, and I’m sorry for acting like an ass. I should have given you the choice, but I was so afraid you’d give up what you love.”
She searched my face. “That night you asked me to marry you—”
I pressed my lips to hers, taking what was mine in a slow passionate kiss. Nothing else mattered besides the fact that she was here with me.
Breaking the kiss, I leaned my forehead against hers. “It doesn’t matter. It’s all in the past and I only want to think about our future. All the other shit we’ll work out later, Bree. I’d rather have you part-time, then not at all.”
It felt as if the world stopped when she smiled at me. “Brett, I need to say this because I want you to know why it took me until Christmas Eve to get to you.”
A stray strand of hair hung over her eyes. Sliding it behind her ear, I softly spoke, “Maybe we should head in where it’s not wet and snowing.”
With a giggle, she nodded. I stood and took her hand in mine. Guiding her to the house she quietly said, “And I thought the house in Marfa was amazing. And big!”
Laughing, I turned to her. “Well, looks like it’s on you and me to fill it up.”
Squeezing my hand, she grinned from ear to ear as her eyes glistened from the tears she was trying to hold back.
The second we stepped into the house, my mother pulled Aubrey into her arms and started crying. My father grabbed my shoulder and gave me a good squeeze. “Do you have any idea how hard it was for your mother to pretend to be sleeping? We knew that was the only way to get you to go outside.”
I shook my head. “You were all in on this?”
He gave me a wink. “Blame your beautiful fiancée, it was her idea.”
Taking a peek over to Aubrey, I could feel my heart filling with even more love for her. Annie was hugging her as they both giggled and bragged about pulling it off.
Shit, I really hope this isn’t a dream.
“There’s hot chocolate in the library if you want to head in there and get warm. I’ve also started a fire for you,” Annie said with a beaming face. She made her way over to me and leaned in close. “She’s beautiful. You’re a lucky son-of-a-bitch, and don’t mess this up again!”
I watched as my mother wrapped her arm around Aubrey’s and started toward the library.
Focusing back on Annie, I winked. “She is, I know I am, and trust me—… I won’t.”
Taking in a deep breath, I followed behind my mother and my beautiful bride to be.
Reaching, I hit my leg as hard as I could.
With a smile, I whispered, “Not dreaming.”
MY MOTHER WORE a huge smile on her face as she made her way to the doors of the library. “Your father and I are heading up to bed so you will have the house to yourselves. Merry Christmas, kids.”
Aubrey’s cheeks turned a bright red as she laced her fingers with mine. “Goodnight, Birdy. Merry Christmas.”
The door latched shut and I pulled her into my arms. “We can talk later, right now we have a lot of sex to make up for.”
Her mouth opened as she searched for the words to say. When I saw the tear, I wasn’t sure what to do.
“I slept with Logan.”
It felt like a knife was pushed into my chest. I knew we hadn’t been together, and I knew she was dating someone, so why her words felt like someone just shot me in the gut, I don’t know.
She wiped her tears away. “It was only one time and the entire time it felt so wrong. I thought if I took the next step with him, I’d forget about us. Then the night you announced you were leaving and you asked me to marry you … I was so caught off-guard because I didn’t think that was something you wanted with me. I was confused, but I had already broken up with Logan.”
My eyes narrowed. “But he was there.”
“I know! And when he showed up and acted like everything was okay with that stunt he pulled kissing me on the cheek, it all started to make sense. Logan had been drip feeding me things about you. He knew we had a relationship before because Joe had told him. The night I slept with him was the same day he misled me into thinking you were engaged.”
Jerking my head back, I asked, “Engaged?”
She waved her hands to dismiss it. “It’s a long story. At any rate, it all became so clear to me the night of the dinner. The reason I never got your message was because Logan erased it from my voicemail. He ended up admitting to it.”
Another sob slipped from between her soft pink lips. “If I had gotten that message, I’d have never slept with him and he knew it. I’m so sorry, Brett. Can you ever forgive me?”
With a wide smile, I rubbed my thumb across her soft cheek. “Aubrey, you don’t need my forgiveness because you didn’t do anything wrong. I won’t lie and say that if I ever see him again I’m going rip his head off, but baby, there is nothing for me to forgive.”
She chewed on her lip. “Did you … I mean … were you with anyone while we were apart?”
My hand slipped behind her neck. “I came close to being with
Kasey Vaugh from Fox Sports. I made it to the outside of the hotel room before I turned and walked away.”
More tears trailed down her face. “If you keep crying you’ll fill up the room with your tears.”
Aubrey looked at the floor and then back into my eyes. “Make love to me, Brett. I’ve missed you so much.”
Reaching out, I picked her up into my arms and carried her over to the front of the fire. Gently setting her back on her feet, I lifted her sweater over her head. My dick throbbed in my pants when I saw her nipples stretching against the lace of her bra. As I ran my fingers over each, she moaned lightly and arched her back.
One quick movement of my fingers, and the bra was on the floor as I cupped her perfect breasts in my hands. My mouth descended on one nipple while I squeezed the other between my finger and thumb.
“Yes, oh God, yes,” Aubrey panted.
I had to fight the urge to rip her jeans off and just fuck her. I wanted so badly to be inside of her.
“Slow, Brett, please go slow. I want to enjoy every single feel of your touch.”
With a grin, I dropped to my knees and unbuttoned her pants while she kicked off her sneakers. Grabbing the waistband, I slowly pulled them down as she shimmed out of her pants. Tossing them to the side, I pressed my lips onto her light blue lace panties. Sucking in a breath, I slowly blew it back out as I cupped her ass in my hands.
With a moan, she said my name and pushed herself into me, her hands pulling my hair and fueling me on. “More,” she gasped.
Not being able to take the fabric between us, I pushed her panties off. Gently kissing above her soft pink lips, I moved slowly up her body until I was standing.
She was completely naked, her breathing heavy as she gazed into my eyes.
I stripped quickly out of my clothes and pulled her warm body against mine.
“Aubrey,” I whispered before my lips crushed to hers. We couldn’t get close enough to each other as we quickly got lost in the kiss. Bringing her down, she laid back on the soft white rug as the fire crackled and gave off more heat.