For Keeps Read online

  Brett freed up some time every day to work by my side. His workers helped carry out the heavy tasks. Even got my new greenhouse delivered here. It’s all set up waiting to be winterized. He didn’t butt in or try to manage me, either. Just made sure I had everything I needed. He sat patiently with me for three days straight while we both scoured online for the secondhand, older equipment I favor. It fills my heart right up the way he respects my eco, permaculture values.

  It’s the start of the weekend, so the crowd is mainly locals from the trifecta of the two towns and the resort. The crowd is pretty thick, but it’s easy to make out Cassie’s bouncing ponytail. She’s dressed in her EMT outfit for the parade later this afternoon. She waves and hollers at me while making her way over.

  Before she reaches me, the ladies from the cribbage club show up. They’re sipping the fruit punch I prepared specially for the re-opening.

  “You’ve done a wonderful job with the gazebo, Cora,” Widow Jessop tells me.

  “Thanks. It’s such a beautiful piece of Western Americana. I love it so much.”

  “So clever of you to use some of the original wood from under the summer house to strengthen it enough to move it.”

  I nod and accept a glass of punch from one of the ladies. “I wasn’t sure it could make the journey, but Brett encouraged me to bring it over. Swore he had every faith in my ability to restore it.”

  I look around the wooden structure with pride and then across at my handsome fiancé, who’s standing on the other side of the nursery talking to his brothers Ty and Kyle, while encouraging folk to sign up to my newsletter.

  Yeah you heard right. My fiancé

  Cassie reaches us and makes a show of bringing out a wad of various crinkled dollar bills from her pocket. She waves them under my nose and grins. “Thank you kindly, girlfriend. Three hundred and twenty seven bucks! A pretty substantial pot!” She smirks and fans her face with her winnings. “Not as much as I’m expecting to collect on Maura and Mason by the end of the weekend, but pretty good.” She stashes the bills back in her pocket and gives me a piercing look. “Come on, woman, let’s see it.”

  At Cassie’s demand, the ladies gather round, “Oh, yes. We’re dying to see your ring, Cora. Martha said Brett had Anne’s engagement ring reset just for you.”

  They crowd in on me. I don’t mind. I love sharing my happiness. I smile at their eager faces and hold out my left hand. The ring is a cluster of old-fashioned diamonds, framed on either side with two brand-new sapphires from the local mines. Brett told me he chose them because they reminded him of my eyes.

  I’m intent on the oohs and aahs over the ring, but not enough that I don’t register Brett’s presence as he make his way over to the gazebo. We’re too connected now not to be aware of each other’s movements.

  “Morning, ladies.” Brett greets them. “Hope you’re enjoying the festivities.”

  The ladies shift their attention to him. Widow Jessop’s usually the spokesperson for the group. If it’s not her, I’m never sure who’s speaking. It seems like they respond en masse.

  “Congratulations to you both. You’ve been so busy sorting out Cora’s nursery, we’ve not seen you around at all to offer you our best wishes.”

  “Yeah, we’ve been busy, alright.” He walks over and puts his arm around me. “I’m still wondering how I got so lucky to convince Cora to say yes.”

  “Well why wouldn’t she say yes? A handsome suitor and a beautiful ring. It’s stunning. A mix of old and new. Such a gorgeous reset of the antiques diamonds and our local sapphires. Your grandma would love what you’ve done with her ring, Brett”

  He glows at their praise and at me. “Yeah. I thought about getting a brand-new one, but I reckoned Cora would appreciate a reset of my Grandma Anne’s more.” He pulls me even closer and looks at me so adoringly, I melt against him. “One of the many things I love about my Cora. She appreciates tradition, yet she’s forward thinking. I wanted her ring to echo that.”

  I look at him with the same wonder as when he first placed it on my finger, two days ago, on a trip to a cabin just outside Casper. We had a morning and evening in the city along with enjoying the outdoor attractions of the North Platte River. It was a wildly romantic trip and proposal. I extend my hand out in front of me and admire its beauty for the hundredth time. I look up and meet his shining eyes.

  “I love it, Brett. It’s perfect.”

  Brett

  It’s well into the afternoon before we wave off the last of the townsfolk. Cora turns to join the Johnson women who start to collect the scattered leftovers with the intention of making some inroads into tidying the mess.

  I draw her away, taking her in my arms for a kiss and a cuddle. “Leave it, babe. You too, Mom,” I nod at my mother and then at each of the others in turn. “Steph, Cassie. Thanks for all your help, but you go on home now. We’ll get this sorted out.” Waving goodbye to them all, I lower my voice to tell Cora, “Go on in and take a bath while we finish up out here.”

  Cora eases out of my arms. “Brett, you can’t keep getting your crew to sort my stuff out. You’ve done so much already.

  “Sure I can. Go on inside. Take a bath. Laze in it real good. I’m going to finish up here, then I’ll join you in our bedroom.”

  She flushes adorably at the deep sensual drop in my voice. Scarlet-faced, she looks around at my relatives and our friends getting ready to leave, as well as my ranch hands milling around.

  I reassure her with a whispered chuckle. “Don’t worry, nobody can hear.” I pull her in for a kiss before turning her towards the ranch house. She sashays her way across the yard. I stand still for an awe-filled moment. I can hardly believe that every inch of her is mine.

  Mine. That thought makes me so thankful, I have to catch my breath.

  I take time to thank my crew for their work during the week. It wasn’t the usual ranching duties they signed up for and I appreciate their cooperation. A lot of that is down to Cora. She has the same easy way with them that I like to use. I get a warm rush of pride and joy watching her at work with them. It makes me think what a good team the two of us will make over the years. I tell the crew they can all expect a little something extra this month and then dismiss them for the rest of the day.

  I walk through the house, enjoying the improvements Cora’s brought to it with her furnishings and artistic touch. After only a few weeks it feels like our home. Hell, it felt that way as soon as I brought her here. The morning after we made love for the first time, I insisted on gathering her and her essentials and moving her in. Tumbling her into my bed, I made love to her again so thoroughly, so crushingly for hours that the bed is forever ours.

  Showering in the main bathroom, I dry off, wrap the towel around my waist and walk down to our bedroom. The sight that greets me makes the towel’s position around my lower body perilous. Cora is stretched out sleepily, artistically bare on our bed. She looks like a classic art model. Naked and gorgeous. Her milky skin glows from the caress of the sun streaming in through the sheer white drapes.

  She stirs and smiles at me with sleep-hooded eyes that only add to the sensual effect. Returning her smile, I join her on the bed and run my fingers over her flesh. She’s still warm from the bath. I trace her curves and draw her close against my body.

  “You’re so beautiful. I still can hardly believe your mine. That I can look forward to a lifetime of finding you like this in our bed.”

  She stretches catlike and then turns and plants her elbows on my chest. “Yeah? Well get used to it, my love. Because you’re stuck with me. For keeps.”

  ***

  I hope you enjoyed Brett and Cora’s love story. If you want to find out if Cassie wins the pot on Mason and Maura, make sure you keep up to date on the Gemstone Series. Their story will be out next week! To know exactly when subscribe to my newsletter

  STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE GEMSTONE SERIES HERE

  SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER HERE

  Want to read about Brett
and Cora's trip to Casper and his romantic proposal? Coming soon as an exclusive treat for my subscribers! Don't miss it. Sign up and get it as soon as it's ready!

  To find out when join my Facebook Readers Group

  About the Author

  Cara Scott writes sweet and steamy, short romances. Her books feature an alpha, protective male who falls in insta love with a curvy woman. He knows how to love her real well, and they always find their HEA.

  Discover Cara Scott’s Gemstone Series. Small town love set in the beautiful mountains of Wyoming. Follow the loves and lives of the men and women of Garnet Junction, Jade Creek and the glamorous Diamond Springs Resort.

  Follow Cara Scott on Facebook, Reader Group, Twitter, Newsletter