The Cowgirl's Chosen Love - Vivian Arend Page 0,111
but it passed in a blink. Thank goodness somebody was recording it, because she would have really hated having her only memories be the ones from the Mile-High Chapel video.
They stood side by side on the deck post-wedding, Zach’s fingers tangled around hers, firm and sure. He dipped his head and brushed his cheek against hers, murmuring in her ear, “I love you.”
The instant shiver felt wonderful. She turned, linking her fingers behind his neck. “I love you too.” She glanced out at the crowd preparing for them to open gifts. “I don’t see Tony. I thought he was going to be here.”
“He sent his regrets.” Zach lifted her fingers and kissed them. “When I talked to him yesterday, he said his kids are down with the flu. He offered his congratulations and reminded me we have an appointment in two weeks.”
“Okay.” She curled against his side a little tighter. Therapy continued, with Zach joining her every other time. The fact that he’d begun meeting one-on-one with Tony every now and then had just been one more confirmation that Zach truly was perfect for her.
Pamela Sorenson clapped her hands and gestured people forward. “Bride and groom, come sit in your seats of honour.”
It felt a little strange to spend time on presents, but considering the number of people who had travelled a fair distance to be there, at the last minute they’d decided to accept gifts while everyone was still around.
A lot of the presents were pictures, which thrilled Julia. Images from Zach’s years growing up. Ones of her sisters during their Whiskey Creek days. A beautifully framed image of her mother that made Julia smile.
Pamela and Zachary presented her with a soft cotton sack.
Julia blinked for a moment before reaching in and pulling out two smooth stones etched with ZACH and JULIA. “Our own blessings bag. Thank you.”
“That’s the starter set,” Pamela teased. “When you start having kids, we’ll add their names. Now, since conception and pregnancy—”
“And we have the extended version for you, as well.” Zachary Senior interrupted his wife, with a wink for his son and another much larger sack in his hand. “My etching tool got quite a workout. You know how many people are in our family now?”
A quick glance around the room said so, so many.
Not having wrapping paper on the gifts made everything go quicker as friends and family continued to come forward with small tokens. Hanna offered Julia a hug as Brad shook Zach’s hand, then they passed over a ceramic cookie jar. Brad’s big arm cradled his and Hanna’s three-month-old baby boy easily.
As they neared the end, Petra came forward, arms loaded with three fancy metallic tins. “That’s a bit overboard, isn’t it?” Zach teased his sister.
“Not from me, bro. I found them over by the music station. There are no names.” She popped them all on the table in front of Julia. “Maybe someone had to leave early?”
Julia picked one up, examining it carefully. A pretty rural scene in pastoral colours graced the side. “Maybe.”
Zach picked up another, and something rattled. “Cookies? I like cookies.” He popped off the lid and peeked inside. An instant later he slammed the lid shut, grinning up at the crowd. “No cookies. We’ll just put these aside. Thank you, whoever the gift is from.”
Julia couldn’t resist. She lifted the lid on her container to discover it was full of brightly-coloured condoms. Amusement filtered upward like bubbles in her belly. She leaned toward Zach. “Your mother?”
For a moment he paused.
Laughter swelled suddenly. Zach pointed across the lawn to where Lisa, Tamara, and Karen were hanging on each other and laughing themselves silly.
One, two, three tins…
Oh, dear. “Um, yeah. I’m not sure what’s up, but there’s probably a good explanation.” Julia winked at Zach. “We’re well stocked, that’s for sure.”
He grinned.
“That’s it,” Petra announced. “Time for the dance.”
“Wait, one last present,” Julia said, reaching under the table and pulling out one more picture frame. “For you.”
She offered it to Zach facedown.
He took it with a grin, flipped it over and burst out laughing.
She’d framed a how-to image for “How to Replace a Roll of Toilet Paper.” It included the clear instructions for the roll to go under, not over, because “the more economical usage of tissue is encouraged.”
Zach placed the frame on the table then pulled her to vertical, guiding her to the middle of the dance floor. “You win. After a year of battling it out, TP style, I admit defeat. Henceforth, all our rolls shall be loaded your way.”
Julia wrapped her arms around him as the first strains of music rose on the air. Elvis strummed his guitar and sang softly, as if just for them.
“Love Me Tender?” Julia sang in Zach’s ear.
Her husband, her heart, swirled them in a circle as he hummed along to the music. They fit, and after a year together, it wasn’t random chance or even solid determination making this thing between them work.
They’d chosen each other, and that’s why they would never let go.
“Love you true.” Zach nuzzled his lips along her neck for a brief moment, shivers of delight filling her as he sang along, for her ears only. “And I always will.”
I hope you enjoyed Zach and Julia’s story. Thanks so much for reading, and if you do have a few minutes to leave a review for others, I’d appreciate it.
While this is the end of this mini-series, more shenanigans in Heart Falls are on the way!
The next thing to read in chronological order is THREE WEDDINGS AND A BABY, the Heart Falls Vignette Collection Vol 1. This includes the three wedding scenes for the Stone family (A Rancher’s Heart, etc) and a BRAND NEW short story for Lisa and Josiah and Ollie.
A cute puppy, a wedding, and a baby. that’s it. That’s the blurb.
There’s also audio for this series.
Make sure you’re on my mailing list to stay up to date on these and future cowboy stories. (I’ve got plans! Oh, boy, do I have plans!! Rocky Mountain House plans! More Heart Falls plans!)
The mailing list really is the best way to get information because I’m not super active on any social media.
If this is one of the first Vivian Arend books you’ve read, check out my Newbies Guide to Viv’s Contemporary Romances!
About the Author
With over 2.5 million books sold, Vivian Arend is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 60 contemporary and paranormal romance books, including the Six Pack Ranch and Granite Lake Wolves.
Her books are all standalone reads with no cliffhangers. They’re humorous yet emotional, with sexy-times and happily-ever-afters. Vivian pretty much thinks she’s got the best job in the world, and she’s looking forward to giving readers more HEAs. She lives in B.C. Canada with her husband of many years and a fluffy attack Shih-tzu named Luna who ignores everyone except when treats are deployed.
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The Cowgirl’s Chosen Love
Copyright © 2020 by Arend Publishing Inc.
ISBN: 9781941456965
Edited by Manuela Velasco
Cover Design © Damonza
Proofed by Angie Ramey & Linda Levy
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations.
First electronic publication: June 2020