Love on a Spring Morning (28 page)

“I’m not talking about the stupid house, Ryan.”

“I know.” His voice cracked but he still stood there, an unmoving rock, as she hugged him tighter and tighter, until her arms were shaking and maybe the rest of her was shaking, too. “Don’t cry, Holly.”

“Is it too late?”

It would never be too late. He’d wait until the end of time for her, he knew that now. “No.” Stupid fucking cracking voice. He wasn’t going to cry. “I was going to come to you.”

“I know. That’s why I’m here. Your friends don’t really believe in secrets.”

“Why did you ask Jake about the school bus?”

“I thought maybe it would be easier if I had my own space…give you and the kids some time to adjust to me being around and a part of their lives. But if you all stayed over sometimes…”

“That’s not how busses work. There’s a schedule. It’s not just hop-on, hop-off. They need to be picked up in the same spot every day.”

“Oh.” Her chest shuddered against his back as she nodded. “Okay. Well, maybe in the future then. If they like me enough…”

He spun around, knocking her off-balance, but he grabbed her by the upper arms before she could stumble. Breathing hard, he searched her face. God, she looked good. Her hair was down, wavy and paler than in the spring, and her cheeks were pink. Her eyes were bright and wide, and he knew he should pay attention to that, but he was running on adrenaline now, need pumping through his veins so hard he couldn’t think straight. “Like you enough? They love you, Holly. Don’t make them wait.”

She blinked up at him, her lips parting as she shook her head ever so slightly. “I won’t. I just don’t know what the right step is here. I don’t want to push too hard and scare them away.”

“They’re already scared, sweetheart. Scared they’re going to lose you forever.” He shook his head. “No. That’s me. And you’re right, they’ll need some time. But me…Holly, I need you now. I don’t need time, I just need
you
. I love you. I love you so much it hurts, and if you’re really here, I’m not going to let you go again.”

“I’m here.”

“You took a crazy chance, woman.”

“No. Not crazy. I knew you’d eventually see I’m serious about you.”

“Tell me more. Tell me how serious.”

“I don’t know, Ryan. Last time I told you I loved you, you yelled at me.”

“That was really shitty of me.”

“You had a lot of stuff going on.”

“I still do.”

“You going to yell at me again?”

“Not about that.”

“I love you.” Her voice shook as she said it. “I fell in love with you months ago, on your porch, looking up at the stars. I didn’t know that’s what love was, and I’m glad I was in the dark for so long, because it gave me all that time with you. I know you’re not ready for more, but I’m here. Whenever you’re ready to call me your girlfriend, I’ll call you my boyfriend. I want more dates. Just a girl and a boy, getting steak together. I want a lot more of sitting on the porch, looking at the stars.”

“The stars up here are beautiful.” He hoped she knew he wasn’t talking about anything up in the sky. “You’re beautiful. And kind. And talented and smart—”

She laughed. “You don’t know that I’m talented. You’ve never watched any of my movies.”

“I want to. Unless there are any with love scenes.”

“There are a few.”

“I want those destroyed, immediately.”

She tried to laugh again, then stopped, her eyes filling with tears.
 

“Hey, I was just kidding.” Not really, but he knew it wasn’t possible.

“I know. I think you should kiss me now.”

With a groan, he did just that, kissing her next to his truck, then again at the door to her new home, where he lifted her up and carried her across the threshold. As he set her down, he stroked her cheek. “I only have one quibble with this plan.”

“I’m not sure I can handle a quibble, but shoot.” She wrapped her arms tight around him and he kissed her hair.

“I don’t want you to just be my girlfriend.”

“One thing at a time, my lumberjack.”

“Okay. But the next thing is a ring. Because you’re mine.”

“I am. Forever.”

— TWENTY-FOUR —

R
YAN took a deep breath and looked out the limo window.

Beside him, Holly pressed her hand against his arm. “You can stay in the car and go around to the other entrance if you want.”

“No, it’s okay.” And so far, it had been. Their first two months of dating—in public, at least in Pine Harbour—had been completely drama-free. Holly’s publicist had done a good job of warning that anyone who wanted an interview with Hope Creswell could ask her about her move to Canada, but they couldn’t ask about her personal life—full stop. And she’d put an attorney on retainer, ready to sue anyone who breathed a whisper about his kids.

He still didn’t like all this hoopla, but a movie she’d made the year before was screening at the Toronto International Film Festival, and his pride in her accomplishments overrode his discomfort.

The chauffeur opened the door, and Ryan stepped out. Cameras flashed and people yelled as he held out his hand and helped Holly out of the limo.

She was stunning in a pale pink strapless dress, snug to her hips, where layers upon layers of fluttery fabric floated down to the ground. As they’d discussed, she stepped past him, moving forward on the red carpet. It was exactly as she described, a long tunnel of chaotic noise.

He was used to that, at least.

A woman with a headset bumped into him as he tried to stay the prescribed five feet behind Holly. Far enough back that he was out of the camera shot, close enough that he was there if she needed him.

“Are you having fun yet?” she asked, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek as they sat in their reserved seats.

“I think I stepped on Russell Crowe’s foot,” he muttered.

“Russell’s here?” she said, spinning her head around. “I thought he was in Australia right now.”

Ryan pointed at a man across the room and Holly giggled. “That’s Gerard Butler.”

“All those rugged heartthrobs look the same,” he said under his breath.

“I wouldn’t know, I only have eyes for my real-life rugged heartthrob.” She winked at him as the lights went down.

He’d already seen this movie—Holly watched all of her films in private, first, a practice he found fascinating. So they’d watched this one curled up in her bed the week before. The kids had gone to their grandparents’ for a sleepover, but they’d started sleeping over at Holly’s place, too.

Slowly but surely, they were finding their way.

In the dark of the theatre, Holly found his hand and laced her fingers through his. She was nervous. This movie was getting a good amount of buzz, and
Unexpected
, the film she’d shot in his backyard, was slated for a Christmas Day release. She was leaving in late October for seven weeks of shooting on another project, and then there would be a press junket for
Unexpected
in the two weeks before Christmas. Her travel plans had her getting back to Pine Harbour two days before Christmas.

They were going to miss her something fierce, but at least they’d have Skype and FaceTime. It would be easier on the kids if they could see her face.

Easier on him, too.

“What are you thinking about?” she whispered.

“Nothing.”

“Bull. Your face just got all tight.”

She knew him too well. “Just looking forward to Christmas, that’s all.”

Leaning into him a bit more, she hugged his arm. “You can come visit me. You know that. My trailer is your trailer.”

He had a flash of their first time together, in her trailer tucked in the back corner of the parking lot behind Main Street. Best Sunday morning ever.

She laughed at what was probably a stupid cocky grin on his face. “That’s better.”

Two hours later, the audience gave Holly and her co-stars and director a standing ovation. Ryan stood with everyone else, applauding hard as his sweetheart curtsied and blushed and shone in every single way. A question and answer session followed, then a cocktail reception, and they didn’t get back to the hotel until after midnight.

When they let themselves into their suite, Rafe glanced up from the couch, where Olivia had fallen asleep with her head on his lap. His hand lay on top of her swollen belly. She was thirty-four weeks pregnant, and when she’d told her husband that of course she was coming with them to Toronto—someone had to watch the kids, and besides, she wanted to do big city baby-stuff shopping—he insisted on coming with her.

“Did you have a good time?” Rafe asked quietly.

They started to fill him in, then Olivia roused as she heard voices, so Holly started again and Ryan excused himself to check on the kids. The next day they were going to the zoo, and they were so excited.

“Did they get to bed at a reasonable time?” Holly was asking as he re-joined them.

He kissed her temple. “I was just going to ask that myself. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

Rafe laughed. “Pretty sure a night at TIFF would be a bigger deal than visiting the zoo for most people.”

Holly just shrugged, and Ryan pulled her close. He was so damn lucky that she wasn’t most people.

— —
 

After seeing Rafe and Olivia to the door of the suite—the other couple was staying down the hall—Holly flipped the security latch, slipped off her heels, and padded into the master bedroom. She closed the door behind her. They’d open it again before falling asleep, but she wanted a private moment with the love of her life.

She found him in the bathroom, brushing his teeth. He’d taken off his James Bond-esque jacket and shirt, and now stood barefoot, wearing just black dress pants.

“You are a very handsome man,” she murmured, cozying up behind him.

“I’m glad you approve.” He finished up and they switched spots. She removed her make-up as he unzipped her dress, then carefully stepped out of it and he carried it into the bedroom for her as she finished washing up. When she looked up again, he was in the doorway, watching her. He’d taken his pants off, and in his dark-grey, plaid cotton boxers, he was back to being her mountain man.

She wet her lips and turned slowly as he prowled toward her. “Thank you for coming with me tonight.”

“Anytime, sweetheart,” he whispered as he crowded her against the bathroom counter.

She kissed his chest, then tipped her face up as he cupped the back of her head and descended, bringing their mouths together.

This fire between them only got hotter and better with time.

“Are you going to marry me when you get back from making another brilliant movie?” he asked as he scooped her up and sat her on the counter.

She spread her legs, wrapping her calves around his waist as he slid their hips together. “One thing at a time. Let’s break the news to your in-laws that you’re moving first.”

“It’s only ten minutes down the road. They’ll deal.” He kissed her neck, then lower, burying his face in her breasts as she leaned back on her hands. Shivering, she lifted her hips into his hands, letting him strip the last scrap of silk from her body.

He stroked between her legs, spreading her arousal around before sliding one finger, then two, deep inside her. She was more than ready for him. “Now,” she panted. “Ryan, I need you.”

After shoving his boxers to the ground, he fisted his length and brought the thick crown to her folds, rubbing the head of his cock against her clit and through her wetness before sinking into her, an inch at a time.

He groaned as she squeezed around him, stretching as he filled her up. Each time they did this, it took her breath away how good it was. How good he was to her, how thoroughly he loved her with his body.

Like he loved her with his heart.

They still had some struggles. He didn’t like to talk about his feelings. But he wasn’t running from them anymore. He was right here, in her arms, and she’d never let him go.

“Take me to bed, Ryan.” Her voice hitched as she wrapped her limbs around him.

He squeezed her bottom and hoisted her in his arms, still inside her. “Hang on tight, sweetheart.”

— EPILOGUE —

T
HERE
wasn’t anything in the world Holly liked more than sleeping in.

She hadn’t known that would be a thing of the past once Ryan and the kids moved in with her. She wasn’t complaining, at all. Just…adjusting.

“Mommy…”

She could feel Maya climbing on top of her, and she smiled at the now familiar name. The boys still called her Holly, and that would always be okay. But for Maya, her Mama was in Heaven and her Mommy was right here. It was an honour and a responsibility that Holly always wanted to live up to.

“Mmm, come cuddle, baby girl,” she said without opening her eyes.

“Nope. It’s morning.”

“Early. Want a show?”

“Nope. I want pancakes.”

“Okay, I’ll make some soon. Blueberry pancakes?”

“Gavin’s making chocolate chip ones.”

Well, that sure opened her eyes in a hurry. “What?”

Maya grinned down at her from her perch on Holly’s chest. “Gavin and Jack are making us breakfast. Wake up!”

“Oki-dokie.” With a groan, she rolled out of bed. Ryan was gone for the weekend, on a winter training exercise. He’d probably been up for hours already. She held out her hand and let Maya tug her insistently down the stairs. “How much of a mess did they make?”

“Big mess,” Maya said gleefully.

In the kitchen, that was proven true, but she also found two boys being very careful with the electric skillet. She leaned against the open archway, watching as Jack carefully supervised Gavin pouring batter from a ladle onto the sizzling surface. She resisted the urge to yell for them to get away from the hot appliance—they were fine, and as soon as they weren’t in danger of being startled
into
it, she’d intervene.

Ryan was going to kill her.

But then he’d kiss her, and it would all be okay.

— —
 

Ryan yawned as he drove past his old house, and took another sip of his takeout coffee. It had been a long, cold training weekend, and he was looking forward to a hot shower, a cuddle with his kids, and going to bed early with Holly. After six months of dating, they’d moved in with her over the Christmas holidays. The family photo wall now stretched up a new stairwell, with room to add more pictures.