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  A few plays into the second game he peered up and frowned. The slimy bastard her mom dated was moving toward them. She stood from the table she shared with Trish and scowled.

  “I told you not to come here, Craig.”

  “Come on, I know you’re good for the money.”

  “So, that makes me your bank?”

  “Oh, you want to get uppity now that you have some roughneck warming your bed on a regular basis? It’ll only be a matter of time before he moves on and leaves you behind, sweetheart.”

  Maci flinched. “Fuck you.”

  “I think that’s enough.” Moving between them Ty clutched his stick tight.

  “This is a family matter.”

  “No, it’s not.” Maci’s voice spewed venom.

  “You’re too good for your mom now? I told you she needs it.”

  “I don’t lend money for alcohol. That’s the deal. Always has been.”

  “Well, right now that’s what she needs. She has the damn shakes, Maci.”

  Worry sprang up in her eyes. Ty could see the inner struggle. Wrapping an arm around her waist he bit his tongue and lent moral support. This decision needed to come from her.

  “No.”

  “Bitch!”

  “All right, man, time to go.” Brandon stood up beside him in agreement.

  “What are you going to do when they aren’t here to hide behind?”

  “Are you threatening me!” Fire flickered to life in Maci’s eyes. “I’ll be damned if I fear a man whose been living on my dime for I don’t know how long. I’ve tolerated you for my mother’s sake, but that ends now. You keep your distance. The bank of Maci and my house are closed to you.” The finality of her words detonated like a bomb. Craig’s entire demeanor shifted.

  “What? Come on, Mac. I didn’t mean it like that.”

  Shaking her head she held up her hand.

  “Not another word. I want you gone. I should’ve done this a long time ago, but like a fool I felt responsible. No more.” Her voice wavered, and her gaze settled onto the ground.

  “We’ll see him out.” Handing over his pool stick, Ty grabbed the back of Craig’s shirt. “We can do this the hard way, or the easy way. I’m personally hoping for hard. Because I get the feeling you’re long overdue for a serious ass whipping.”

  Shrugging free, Craig curled up his lip. “I can walk on my own.” Staying a few feet in front of him and Brandon, Craig made his way outside to his car, and drove off without another word.

  “I’d watch my back, man.”

  “Yeah, I will be.” Ty nodded.

  “Is that her dad?” Brandon asked.

  “No, just her mom’s boyfriend.”

  “He’s a real piece of work.”

  “That’s putting it lightly. I think we’ll cut out of here early, man.”

  “Understandable.”

  They made their way back inside, and he spotted Maci perched on the edge of her stool.

  “Everything okay?” she asked.

  “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” He tilted his head.

  “I’m used to it by now.”

  Leaning in he whispered into her ear. “You shouldn’t be.”

  “I know.” Her shoulders slumped.

  “You want to head home?”

  “Yes. I’m sorry I know we were going to dance—”

  He placed a finger on her lips. “It’s not important. We can always come back to The Horseshoe.”

  She nodded, and they made their goodbyes, returning to the truck. The warm vibe had evaporated, and once again he found himself outside looking in. Helping her up into the truck he climbed behind the wheel cursing Craig and his piss-poor timing. He pulled out to the road and turned the radio on low to break up the cloying silence.

  “You want to talk about it?”

  “What’s there to say?” She sounded small and defeated.

  “Whatever you need to.”

  “Do you think I’m an asshole?”

  His head jerked to the right as he took her in. “What!”

  “For turning him away knowing my mom is probably in withdrawal.”

  “Honey, an addict will never get help until they hit rock bottom. If you’re supplying them, it’s a form of enabling.”

  “I know that, honestly I do. I’ve seen the shows, read the books. Been forced into counseling in high school. But saying it and doing it are remarkably different.”

  “What changed?” A pregnant pause followed. “Maci?”

  “I did. You showed me a different way. Fact is I’ve never been this happy. Before you, I don’t think I believed I could be. Now … I don’t want to give up what we have.”

  Checking behind him for cars he jerked the car onto the side of the road.

  “Ty!”

  Setting the car into park he turned to face her.

  “I didn’t mean to upset you.” The panic in her voice and fear on her face twisted his gut.

  “You didn’t.” Unbuckling his seatbelt he slid next to her in the cab. “I want to make sure we’re on the same page here, Mac. I make you happy?”

  Unshod tears sparkled in her eyes, and she nodded. “Yes.”

  “Why is that a bad thing?”

  “Because you’re going to leave. This isn’t your home, and men don’t stick around.”

  “Do I seem like just some man?”

  “No.” Her voice cracked. “And that’s the problem.”

  “Darling, I’m exactly where I want to be right now, and I plan on staying for as long as you’ll have me.”

  Her lower lip quivered. “Y-you do? ‘Cause that’ll be a long time.”

  “Yes. You brought something in me back to life I thought damaged beyond repair. When I lost my wife I thought … that’s it. You only get one love like that. The connection with Stacey struck me like lighting and was extinguished just as fast and out of the blue. Then I saw you, and bang. Fireworks and thunder, no matter how I tried to fight it. I only agreed to two weeks because it was all you were willing to give me to start. I had no plans of it remaining that way. Every day I fall a little bit more for you. I was half way gone when I asked you out. These months our talks felt like mini-dates. A preview of how great we could be together.”

  Her jaw opened and closed. She shook her head. “I tried to fight it, too. You affected me like no man ever has. I thought … two weeks, and you’d be out of my system. Instead, you infected it like a septic infection, working so deep in my blood stream I couldn’t get you out if I tried. I—I’m falling in love with you, too, Ty. Your humor, easy-going ways, and love of all things sci-fi.” She laughed. “With you I never have to be anything else. You showed me I could have a life full of more than work and being my mother’s keeper. It won’t be easy to stop taking care of her, but I refuse to let the past continue to dictate my future.”

  “We’ll do it together.” Cupping her face in his hands he placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “I want to be with you, Maci Lou Long. I know we have things to work on, but it's nothing insurmountable.”

  “You really believe that, don’t you?” she whispered.

  “Don’t you?”

  “I’m afraid, but I trust you.”

  “Then that’s where we’ll start, at the basis of every great relationship.” Peppering her face with kisses he held the moment close.”You're mine now, the same as I’m yours. I can’t promise we won’t fight, and I won’t say this will be easy. But I can promise you I’m not going anywhere.” He leaned down, and their lips met in a kiss that sealed the promises spoken aloud, and within their hearts.

  Epilogue

  Ty glanced down at the woman snuggled beside him and smiled. The glint of the diamond on her ring finger still gave him a jolt of excitement. One year later they were both happy, healthy, and prepping for a small wedding in the church she’d grown up in. It’d been a long road for them. Cutting Traci out of her life when she wasn’t sober had turned out to be a long painful process. It broke Maci’s heart. Every t
ime he’d been there to pick up the pieces, burning to shake some sense into the woman. When she finally got the picture Maci had been pushed past her limits, the calls, surprise visits, and guilt trips tapered off. He kept hoping she’d get her act together, but neither of them were holding their breath. Craig, slimy bastard that he was, had backed off. Like a typical bully, he’d tucked tail and fallen under the radar when someone who could stand toe to toe stepped in. It amused Ty every time Craig averted his eyes when they came across one another in a public place. Normally he’d never be so petty, but the man had put Maci through hell.

  “You’re staring holes into me. What’s up?”

  “Can’t I admire my fiancée?”

  Maci laughed. “Well, if you insist.”

  Holding her tighter he let the swaying motion of the hammock restore his peace as the right orange orb turned the sky into a menagerie of pinks and peaches, and night took over.

  “I love you, Maci.”

  “I love you, Ty.”

  The rhythmic back and forth of the hammock lulled him to sleep. Tomorrow he’d be married to the woman who had given him a second chance at happiness. The road here had been rocky. They’d both been hurt, and she had distrust for men in general. But the benefits were well worth it.

  ****

  Standing at the end of the runner with her heart pounding in her chest, all Maci could see was Ty. He’d taken her from non-committal to honest woman, all by being himself. The wedding march began to play, and she strode down the aisle, confident in her decision. Some said she was too young, too wild, to marry Ty, but she knew another man would never do. She’d been on the fence when he moved in, antsy, and spoiling for a reason to end everything.

  She could almost see the day, six months prior, when she’d last tried to end it.

  ****

  Ty stumbled in at the end of a hard shift, and she narrowed her eyes at the sight of him. Smudges of dirt marred his tan face, and sweat covered every inch of his muscled body, giving off the distinctive musk she’d come to associate with him alone. Her stomach clenched, and her center grew wet. She hated it. Needing a man had never been in her plans. Licking her lips she leaned back against the counter.

  “Hey, babe, are you okay?” His forehead wrinkled. “Did you get enough sleep?”

  “I don’t think this is working.”

  “Wait, what?” He shook his head. “Where is this coming from?”

  “Me. I miss my space, and being able to make my own decisions without consulting you.”

  “Maci.” He dropped his lunch pail by the door and stalked toward her. “When have you ever consulted me about anything? Other than me moving in, which was a mutual decision.”

  She ran a hand through her hair and ignored the ache in the pit of her stomach. “Plenty.”

  He placed his hands on either side of her body trapping her. “Name one.”

  “I don’t have to do anything!”

  “Please, don’t so this.”

  “Do what?”

  “Pull away when we’re so close to having everything.” He burrowed his face into her neck. “If you really want me to go because you don’t think it’s working out. I’ll move back into a hotel for a while. But I refuse to give up on us.”

  “Why?” Her voice shook as she whispered.

  “Because I love you, and I know you love me. I’d sooner tear my heart out than end this for good.”

  Her chest heaved as the air became thick and heavy. She pushed his chest, and he lost his balance, allowing her room to run for the front door. It was too much. Placing her heart in his hands went against everything she’d promised herself. Taking the stairs two at a time she ran for the field of wild flowers a mile up the road, where she liked to go to think. Her vision blurred as she warred with herself. He’d never lied, strayed, or let her push him away, no matter how hard she tried. What more could she ask for?

  Strong arms wrapped around her, and she was engulfed in his scent. “I told you, I’m not letting you go, Maci.”

  Sobs broke free as she let go of the past and moved forward. This man was her future, her heart and safe harbor. She’d seen enough bad to know the difference. She’d never been a fool, and letting him go would be the biggest mistake she‘d ever make.

  “You promise?” A man of his word, she’d never seen him break a promise.

  “I promise, baby.”

  Glancing up she wrapped her arm around his neck as they sealed their silent vow to be together come hell or high water with the sweetest kiss her lips had ever tasted.

  ****

  Clutching the bouquet of flowers from the same field where they had stood, Maci released a joyful laugh as she reached the end of the aisle. His lips curved upward in a wide grin, and his, deep rumble of laughter joined hers. Ty looked good enough to eat in his tailored three piece gray suit with a black skinny tie, and cowboy boots. He’d left his head bare, and the thick locks fell across his broad forehead in the careless way that always made her fingers itch to brush it aside. In a daze, she handed her flowers to her maid of honor who arranged the train of her lace gown behind her. The world behind them ceased to exist as they held hands and repeated their vows knowing this love had been built to last.

  The End

  www.shylacolt.com

  Other Books by Shyla Colt:

  ww.evernightpublishing.com/pages/Shyla-Colt.html

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