Charlene Sands - Exquisite Acquisitions

“I, uh,” he began, then stopped to brush invisible dust from the brim of his hat. Macy had never seen Carter looking so nervous. “I never thought I could do this again.”

Macy’s throat constricted and her voice came out small and fragile. “Do what again?”

His gaze fastened over her right shoulder, as if he was searching for the right words. He seemed determined to get something off his chest. “You know that Jocelyn made a fool out of me and it hurt my pride and my ego. She’d been trying to make Brady jealous the entire time we were together. I didn’t see it. That kind of manipulation works on a man’s trust.”

Macy nodded.

“I guess I really didn’t know her, and I certainly didn’t love her,” he said. “I know that now.”

“You do?”

Carter’s gaze shifted back to her. He pierced her with an intense look. “Yeah, I know it for fact. Because I’m crazy in love right now. With you, Macy.”

Macy slumped back against the refrigerator door, floored by his admission. Joy instantly leaped into her heart. “You are?”

“That’s right. I am. I love you. I never thought I’d let myself feel this way. I never thought I could trust anyone with my heart again. I wanted no part of marriage or long-term relationships. I was done. And then I saw you on that New York street-”

“And you rescued me.”

“It was fate, Macy. I might never have met you otherwise.”

Macy looked him straight in the eyes. She knew how hard this was for him. He was taking a giant leap of faith in revealing his feelings. And she should make him sweat it out longer after what he’d put her through. But she didn’t want to tempt fate. And she’d been waiting her entire lifetime to say these words. “I’m pretty crazy in love with you, too,” she said. “For the record.”

Carter closed his eyes to her declaration, as if he was absorbing her words. As if he was reaffirming them in his mind. When he opened his eyes again, she was standing toe-to-toe with him. She looked into his beautiful hazel eyes. “Are you going to kiss me now?”

Carter took her into his arms and Macy melted in his embrace. “Not yet, sweet darlin’. There’s more.”

“I’m listening.” Macy circled her arms around his neck and watched his mouth move, watched his strong stubborn jaw relax and watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down. Every motion, every nuance that was Carter brought her happiness.

“I’m having the gazebo rebuilt. It’s going to be magnificent. And I want the Wild River Inn to house your drama students. They can come for summer sessions and weekends during the school year. I want you to teach, Macy. I want you to be my wife and live with me at Wild River Ranch until the sun sets for the last time on both of us.”

“Oh, Carter.” It was more than Macy had ever dared to hope, yet it was what she’d been secretly wishing.

“There’s more,” he said, “and believe me, if I thought I could wait another few hours, I’d do this much better. But I can’t. I’ve wasted enough time.”

Carter bent down on one knee and took a red paisley neckerchief out of his pocket. He unfolded it carefully and presented her with a diamond ring. “There’s only one place this ring belongs,” he said reverently. “And that’s on your finger.”

Stunned, Macy’s hand came to her mouth. She stared at the sparkling diamond, eyeing the ring that had bound her parents’ love. Then finally, she managed to whisper through thick emotion, “The Tarlington diamond? I never thought I’d see it again. How did you…?”

“It just came into my possession, sweetheart. I’ll explain later,” he said tenderly. Then he took her hand in his, holding it steady, while the rest of her body trembled in anticipation. “Macy Tarlington,” he began, “I’m promising to love you and keep you safe and happy for the rest of our lives. I’m promising you this from the bottom of my heart. And I’m asking you to become my wife and have my children. Come live with me at Wild River. Come home .”

Macy didn’t hesitate. Wild River was her home. She loved Carter with everything she had inside and she belonged by his side. “Yes, Carter, I’ll be your wife.” She didn’t know how he’d done it, but the proposal and the ring together went beyond her most cherished dreams. Her voice softened to a hush. “I love you so much, Carter McCay.”

He slid the ring on her finger and happy tears spilled down her cheeks. “It fits.”

Carter laughed along with her and then finally brought his mouth down to claim her in a bone-melting kiss that knocked her knees out from under her. Carter was there instantly, protecting her from the fall. He lifted her and carried her out of the kitchen. “Show me your bedroom, darlin’. I’ve missed you something fierce.”

Macy grinned, touched a loving hand to her cowboy’s cheek and pointed the way.

Afterward, once the sun had set and they lay facing each other, sated and cocooned in the cozy embrace of their love, Carter told her about their mysterious benefactor, Bill Fargo. His explanation left more questions than answers, but Carter said he was grateful to Fargo, or whatever his name was, because the old guy managed to break through his stubborn pride and make him see the love he had for Macy.

“Thanks to Bill,” Macy said softly, “I’m getting a wonderful husband.”

Carter kissed her cheek. “And I’m getting a multitalented, beautiful Hollywood starlet, uh, serious actress for a wife.” He winked. “There aren’t too many Texans who could make that claim.”

Macy thought she was definitely getting the better end of the deal, but she’d never admit that to her Stetson-wearing gorgeous hunk of a cowboy.

She wasn’t that stupid.

Just incredibly lucky.

Award-winning author Charlene Sands writes bold, passionate, heart-stopping heroes and always…really good men! She’s a lover of all things romantic, having married her high school sweetheart, Don. She is the proud recipient of a Readers’ Choice Award and double recipient of a Booksellers’ Best Award, having written twenty-eight romances to date, both contemporary and historical Western. Charlene is a member of Romance Writers of America and belongs to the Orange County and Los Angeles chapters of RWA, where she volunteers as the Published Authors’ Liaison.

When not writing, she loves movie dates with her hubby, playing cards with her children, reading romance, great coffee, Pacific beaches, country music and anything chocolate. She also loves to hear from her readers. You can reach Charlene at www.charlenesands.com or P.O. Box 4883, West Hills, CA 91308. You can find her on the Harlequin Desire Authors Blog, and on Facebook, too!

For fun stuff, contests and more you can reach Charlene at www.charlenesands.com.