Twisted Up (Taking Chances #1) - Erin Nicholas Page 0,112
that thought came another—a stronger one. It was time she trusted what Jake had been saying to her and showing her. It was time she trusted that she was important to him.
She took a breath and let it out slowly. Then she met his gaze. “This past week you’ve shown me that you’re really good at loving me. And I’m ready for you to do that full-time, forever. So after you finish this house project, I’m ready to go. With you. Wherever you go.”
She saw gratification and heat flash through his eyes. She knew he understood that she’d just given him the thing she’d held close, safe and protected from everyone, for years now—her heart.
But instead of making a big declaration of love or sweeping her up into his arms, he ran a hand nonchalantly through his hair and looked over his shoulder at the house. “Well, that’s going to be a while. I want to finish the basement and add on a deck, for sure. And I’ll need you to weigh in on how many bedrooms we want upstairs. Max doesn’t think a hot tub will fit in the bathroom upstairs, but if we take out part of the closet, we can do it. I guess I need to know how many pairs of shoes you have.”
She frowned. “What? Shoes?”
“And before you even ask, yes, I do plan to build us a shed out back,” he said, coming down the steps. He stopped on the first step, just above her. “With a big, sturdy workbench.”
Her mind was spinning, her heart was nearly bursting, and parts of her were apparently programmed to begin tingling at the word workbench.
“But what about DC and FEMA and all the disasters and everything?” she finally managed to ask.
“I called them just before leaving Frank’s office and turned down the job.”
Her whole body shook with that news. Still, she couldn’t help but ask, “Jake, are you sure?”
“I would be really good at the job they want me to take. But other people can do that job just as well. I need to stay here because, while other people love you and can take care of you, no one can do that job as well as I can.”
“Jake . . .” But she just shook her head. She had no idea how to express everything she was thinking and feeling.
“Loving you won’t be easy,” he said. “Not being able to fix every little thing every time will chip away at my heart, just like it did tonight.” He came down the final step, practically on top of her. “But the good times, the happy times, the times I can be your hero, will put it back together. Just like being with you, even only every few months, has healed me of all the devastation and loss I’ve seen for the past ten years. So, I figure you’re stuck with me for a while.”
Avery couldn’t breathe; she couldn’t speak.
Which was evidently fine, because Jake wasn’t done. “I will be behind you no matter what you do, and I will support you and pray for you and be there when you get home all of the times when that’s all I can do. But Avery, if and when I am capable of helping you or making things better for you or flat-out saving you—I am going to do it.”
No one had ever been so adamant about her happiness or about being a part of that happiness. She pressed her lips together and nodded. “Okay.” She sniffed. “That’s definitely okay.”
He started to reply, but she went on quickly before he could.
“I love you.”
That stopped him. The look in his eyes was so hungry, so hot, so possessive, she had to struggle to take a deep breath.
“You’re trying to distract me,” he said accusingly.
“I can’t not say it any longer.”
His expression grew more intense. “Say it again.”
“I love you. So much. More than I ever knew anyone could love someone.”
His voice was hoarse, almost pained, when he said, “I’ve wanted to hear that so badly, and it’s even better than I imagined.”
Happiness, warm and bright and all-consuming, swept through her.
He reached for her, but there was something more she needed to know. She held up her hand. Because once he touched her, it was all over. “But, be honest. You’re not giving everything up, are you? You’re fantastic at your job, and people need you.”
“Well . . .”
She knew it, and she was relieved. Jake couldn’t give up everything he loved professionally. That wouldn’t be right. “Spill it. What’s really going to happen?”
“I’m going to be active in the Guard again, so I’ll be out at disasters when they get to that level, and I’m going to be doing some consulting on emergency-management and disaster planning. I’m going to run the training center here. And . . .”
“Oh boy, I know that look,” Avery said.
The I’m-up-to-something gleam was in his eyes.
“That was the other thing I was going to show you.”
Heidi came forward and handed Avery a piece of paper.
Correction—a flier. A campaign flier.
“You’re running for city council?” She looked up at Jake.
He nodded. “I can’t give up the stage entirely.”
She wasn’t even a little bit surprised. Jake would be an amazing city councilman.
“That’s perfect.”
“But,” he went on, with a very satisfied look in his eyes, “during the long, boring weeks when nothing happens—which I’m really looking forward to, by the way—I’ll be working with Max. And renovating our house.”
Their house. In their town. With their family and friends.
Avery couldn’t resist any longer. She put her good arm around his neck and pressed as close as she could with her injured arm between them. “You are absolutely my hero, Jake.”
“So say yes.”
She pulled back, her heart thumping. “Yes?”
He grinned down at her. “Lose the question mark. Avery Jane Sparks, will you marry me?”
She was surprised for only a second before the sense of absolute rightness swept through her. She nodded and sniffed. “Yes.”
His answering grin was full of satisfaction and wicked intent. He grabbed her butt and lifted her up against him.
She wrapped her legs around him and hugged his neck.
“Welcome home,” he said, his voice full of emotion.
The same emotions filled Avery’s heart.
As he climbed the porch steps, he brought her mouth to his, kissing her deep and sweet. With promise.
But Heidi and Wes were . . .
She heard the car doors slam and the engine start.
She glanced over her shoulder from his—their—new front porch.
“They’re leaving?”
“They’re very intelligent people.” He kicked open the front door and carried her across the threshold of the house.
Their home. In Chance.
Oh, yeah, Jake Mitchell was most definitely back in town. And this time she knew it was to stay.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you to Rebecca Gegenheimer, Kristy Michels, Becky Kroft, and Shannon Bereza, who shared knowledge and experiences that helped me get the book right. You girls are the best! And Kim Brooks, Crystal Singer, and Rebecca Gegenheimer for reading, reassuring, and leading the cheerleading squad.
BONUS MATERIALS
DRINK RECIPES
Twisted Sister
In a blender, mix:
Ice
1½ oz. lemon vodka
1 oz. orange curaçao liqueur
2 tbsp. frozen raspberries
6 oz. lemonade
Blend and serve.
Liquid Lightning
In a shaker, mix:
2 oz. Blue Kinky liqueur
1 oz. coconut rum
½ oz. tequila
4 oz. lemon-lime soda
Mix, and serve over ice.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Erin Nicholas was fourteen when she first fell in love with love stories. Not long after that she started writing romances of her own, often spending family vacations in the backseat filling notebooks with stories. Now the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Sapphire Falls series writes about women getting their happily ever after with humor, heart, and hope. From the fireworks of that first kiss to the thrill of passion, Nicholas strives to create novels that celebrate the magic of true love.