She set up Skype so we could talk to Bev and Pete. They had their own news: Bev had got a good job in Corpus working at something in finance, and they’d moved in together. They looked happy. We promised we’d meet up again, although none of us knew when that might be.
Our first Christmas together was perfect. We shared a huge roast dinner sitting with the old couple and their son in front of a real fire, watched It’s a Wonderful Life, and phoned our parents in the evening. My conversation was short, but I was kind of glad that I did it.
We’d even borrowed a toboggan from the barn and made ourselves a run behind the farmhouse. Then we went to bed, ate pumpkin pie, getting crumbs on the sheets and on each other.
With the Spring thaw, we headed west, following an old wagon train route across an unending landscape of flat, featureless horizons. We ran out of money in South Dakota so I had to take another job on a farm, while Torrey worked in the office. This farm was huge, with over 2,000 head of dairy cattle, and everything was automated. Neither of us liked it much, so we stayed just long enough to put money in the bank and gas in the car. We were driving a 12-year-old Toyota Prius these days. The Princess had died just outside of Iowa City. I was sad to see her go, but the whole engine block needed replacing and we just didn’t have the money. Torrey shed tears for that hunk of metal, but the Toyota was much lighter on gas. She said it was an old folks’ car but it got 42mpg, so I guess she didn’t mind too much in the end.
After South Dakota, we pushed on west, heading through Wyoming and Utah. By then, I think we both had a destination in mind, although neither of us said anything to confirm or deny it.
It was getting late by the time I saw the lights up ahead, the neon glow of the city throwing an orange halo into the night time sky.
Torrey was fast asleep, her head leaning against the window, my coat providing a makeshift pillow.
I felt excitement bloom in my belly. It was springtime, and we’d driven past miles of yellow, pink and purple flowers painting the desert with vibrant colors. We’d seen so much and been so many places, and yet we’d ended up here. Maybe it was fate, maybe it was inevitable. I liked to think that. From the very first day I’d seen her in the Busy Bee diner—it was all pointing to here.
I rested my hand on Torrey’s knee and gently shook her awake.
“Hey, sweetheart, we’re nearly there. You don’t want to miss this.”
Her eyes opened and she blinked a couple of times.
“Wow! We’re really here! Las Vegas!”
I grinned at her. “You know what this means, sweetheart?”
She gave me an innocent smile, feigning ignorance.
“And what would that be, cowboy?”
“Weddin’ capital of the world. Guess you’ll have to marry me after all.”
She stared for a moment, then wrinkled her nose.
“Jordan Kane! That is the least romantic proposal I’ve ever heard!” she huffed.
“How many proposals you heard then?” I teased her.
“None, but it’s still the worst!”
I couldn’t help laughing at her. “Is that a no then, sweetheart?”
We drove past a sign that announced, ‘Little White Wedding Chapel’.
“Are you certain I cain’t tempt you?”
“Huh,” she pouted. “You haven’t even got a darned ring!”
“Sure I do.”
“What?”
“Sweetheart, I’ve had a ring since before we left Texas.”
Her jaw dropped open.
“What … you … but … I…”
Her face was a picture—until she yelled at me.
“Turn the car around, Jordan!”
Not the reaction I’d been hoping for.
“Sweetheart…”
“Turn the damn car around!”
I made an illegal U-turn, my heart pounding, wondering how the hell I was going to fix this. But when we saw the sign for the wedding chapel again, she yelled, “Pull in!”
“What?”
“Now, Jordan Kane. But you’d better do it right this time!”
A slow grin stretched across my face.
“You mean you’ll do it? You’ll marry me?”
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “What part of ‘do it right’ did you not understand?”
I drove into the parking lot and turned off the engine. She was still staring straight ahead, but I could tell she was trying not to crack a smile. I knew that look by now.
I ran around the SUV and yanked open her door. I offered her my hand and she took it, daintily stepping out of the car.
“Um, I need the ring, sweetheart,” I said.
“Well, I don’t have it!” she snorted.
“Yeah, actually you do. It’s in the pocket of my jacket.”
She stared at me in disbelief.
“I’ve been sleeping on it all this time?”
I smiled at her and winked.
“I’m so mad at you right now!” she hissed.
“No, you’re not, firecracker,” I said, calmly.
She passed me my jacket without comment, and I fished around for the small velvet box.
I took a deep breath, trying to make sure I had enough oxygen in my lungs to say what needed to be said, and I dropped down on one knee.
“Torrey Delaney, you give me hope. From the first time I saw your beautiful face, you showed me your beautiful heart, too. I didn’t expect to find happiness in this world, but it’s a gift you give me every single day. I love you, and I want to spend my whole life lovin’ you. Will your crazy heart beat for me? Will you become my wife?”
I offered her the small velvet box and she opened it slowly. When her eyes met mine, they were shining with tears.
“Sapphires?”
“Like your beautiful eyes, sweetheart.” I took the ring from the box, and slipped it onto her finger. “Looks good there.”
She nodded, blinking back tears.
“You’d better get up off of your knees, cowboy,” she said, at last. “We’ve got a wedding to get to.”
“So that’s a yes?” I asked, hopefully.
She smiled. “It was never going to be a no.”
I stood up, not caring that I was covered in dust and dirt from a long drive. I gathered her into my arms and promised myself I’d never let her go. Through thick and thin, this woman was it for me.
“I guess we’d better see if this wedding chapel really is 24/7,” she said, giggling into my neck.
I pulled away slightly so I could see her face.
“You okay with this, sweetheart? You don’t want to ask your momma to marry us or anythin’? I can wait.”
I really didn’t want to, but I’d do it if that’s what she wanted.
She shook her head and smiled.
“That’s not us, Jordan. Anyway, we’re already blessed.”
I walked into that wedding chapel, the happiest man in the whole freakin’ world. My day began and ended with her. And it always would.
THE END
Acknowledgements
Thank you to all the early readers who were so generous with their comments. Including my gal pal team Kirsten, Lisa, Sheena, Dina, Audrey, Barbara, Cori, Shirley, Trina, MJ Fryer, Kelsey, Kandace, Sophie Callahan and the redoubtable Dorota. To my ARC readers: Brittany Topping, Bella Bookaholic, Emma Dach-Harris, Michelle Ocha, Sarah Bookhooked, Kim, Jackie Fiorentini, Thessa Marj-Laj, Carol Sales, M. Robinson and Charmaine Stephens.
To fellow writers A. Meredith Walters, Devon Hartford, Jasinda and Jack Wilder, and G.E. Griffin for their support and friendship.
To Hang Le for her enthusiasm, fabulous cover design and chapter headings – and for her never ending creativity.
To the book bloggers who have been so supportive, especially Maryse, Aestas, Smitten, and Totally Booked.
To the fb friends who have become real friends, especially Ellen Totten, Ana Carvalheiro, Ana Kristina Rabacca, Karen Wright, MJ Fryer, Showdog, Bruninha, Vip and Toni Mehta, Ree
se Call, Miranda Bing, Angie Lynch, Feifei Le, Erin Spencer, Nikki Groom, Netzel, Soraya Naomi, Christopher Lindsay, Nuw Writer, Stacy Hgg, Liliana Li, Ani Surnois, Alex FF, Sarah Tree, Lorraine Hatt, Vicki Jackieshopper, Lelyana Taufik, Laura McCarthy Benson, Paola Cortes, Wendy Onefitgily, Steph, Mary Dunne and well, so many more of you.
To Ian Hamilton, for information on car engines.
To the very patient Lori Sabin, for editing this book into shape.
To Kelsey’s son (who ought to remain nameless to protect the innocent, but let’s call him Shaun Burns), with thanks for helping with conversion.
Further conversion work by Polgarus Studios.
To Aud, again, for her fab-u-lous trailer video; and to Bruninha, for her Seb & Caro trailers in Portuguese!
Thanks, too, to the wonderful but crazy Stalking Angels. Love ya loads.
And, as always, I must thank my hardy fanfic readers, without whom this book would not exist.
* * *
You’ll find free bonus chapters on my website. Please stop by!
www.janeharveyberrick.com
* * *
ADULTS
Coming Soon!
At Your Beck & Call (published June 2014)
Hallen Jansen has it all. At 28, he has a flashy car, a great apartment, and a job he’s good at and that he loves – as an escort – working at your beck and call.
His life is easy, with no emotions or attachments slowing him down – choosing to keep moving, always running from the past.
But when a new client awakens unfamiliar feelings, all bets are off. Can he convince a recently divorced woman twenty years older to trust men again – to trust him? Can Hallen trust himself not to screw things up?
Surrounded by people who choose to judge them, will they make their relationship a reality, or is it heartbreak for both?
Not all services are professional.
ISBN 9780957496170
The Education of Sebastian
A friendship between the lost and lonely Caroline, and the unhappy Sebastian, leads to an illicit love that threatens them both.
ISBN 9780955315077
The Education of Caroline
Ten years after their first affair, Sebastian and Caroline meet again: this time in very different circumstances, against the background of the war in Afghanistan. Now a successful journalist, Caroline meets US Marine Sebastian Hunter – can old passions be rekindled?
The concluding story of ‘The Education of Sebastian’.
ISBN 9780955315084
A Mature New Adult Novel
Dangerous to Know & Love
Nineteen year old Daniel Colton is the man on campus all the guys want to be, and the bad boy all the girls want to be with. His insanely hot, tatted up body screams sex, while his eyebrow piercing only enhances his beautiful face. There are rumors he has piercings in other places as well. This walking one night stand is sullen, mysterious and moody, with an explosive temper. Is he really mad, bad and dangerous to know?
Daniel lives with his older brother, Zeb, a well-known drug dealer with ties to a local gang. Their home has become party central in the months following their parents’ tragic death. You want to party non-stop, drugs, alcohol, no questions asked? The Colton house is the place to go.
Lisanne Maclaine is a good girl. She comes from a stable family, and has done what is expected of her. She’s lived a sheltered life, and is looking forward to the independence starting college will bring her. She’s a music major and dreams of making a living doing what she loves, playing the violin and singing the blues.
When Daniel and Lisanne have to work together on a business assignment, Lisanne is less than thrilled. She never wanted to be in this class in the first place. She is only minoring in business to pacify her parents, and now she is stuck working with him: Mr. Cocky-and-arrogant. Daniel’s bad boy reputation precedes him, and he is the epitome of what Lisanne despises. He’s rude, obnoxious and has a chip on his shoulder; she just wants to get this assignment over with. She knows he’s nothing but trouble and she should stay away, but there is something about Daniel that draws her in.
Slowly, she builds a friendship with Daniel and discovers there is a lot more to this college bad boy than his reputation. He’s intelligent and funny and good company – okay and sexy as all hell. But he’s got a secret. Once she discovers it, she finally sees Daniel for who he really is. It explains why he’s so closed off to everyone, and determined to keep people at arms’ length. But being his secret-keeper is harder than she ever dreamed.
Can Lisanne keep Daniel’s secret? What will it cost her? Can she help falling for the notorious ladies’ man? Who else will be vying for his attention and affections? Can Lisanne follow her dreams and have it all? Or will she decide that Daniel is just too Dangerous to Know?
“You know Jane Harvey-Berrick can deliver the goods, as always, this one won’t disappoint!”
ISBN 9780957496163
Dazzled
Miles Stevens is a jobbing actor in London when he stumbles into the role of a lifetime. Hollywood claims him as one of their own and so begins his journey through the parties, premieres, agents and leading ladies—and everyone wants something from him. His best friend Clare is determined that they’ll have to go through her to get it.
Fabulous and funny, this book will appeal to readers of ‘Wallbanger’ and ‘Love Unscripted’.
ISBN 9780955315091
The New Samurai
Teaching in an inner city school in London is hard enough, but when Sam loses his job and his domineering girlfriend dumps him on Valentine’s Day, he decides to start again somewhere new … in Japan. It’s not long before his ‘no women’ rule is under attack.
Sexy and funny, this book will appeal to fans of ‘One Day’.
ISBN 9780955315060
Expo$ure
What would you do if you found out a really, really important secret? What would you do if people were prepared to kill to stop you revealing this secret? And what would you do if the secret was held by the US government?
A thriller that will appeal to readers of ‘The Ghost’.
ISBN 9780955315053
* * *
YOUNG ADULT
The Dark Detective: Venator
At 20 years old, Max Darke finds himself in sole charge of the Metropolitan Police Demon Division in London. It’s not a job for the faint hearted and some days, work is Hell.
ISBN 9780955315046
Jane Harvey-Berrick, Lifers
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