With my first smile in days blooming across my face like an old friend, I turn back to Rusty.
“I don’t need any of those things, Rusty. I never have. All I’ve ever wanted, all I’ve ever needed is your love. As long as I have that, nothing else matters.”
“But I—”
“Shhh,” I say, placing my finger over his warm lips. “No. No more apologies. Life’s too short to go back, to look back. As long as you love me, that’s all that matters. That’s all that will ever matter.”
“I’ve loved you from the moment I met you, Jenna. And I’ll love you long after I’m gone from this world.”
I reach up and wind my arms around his neck, giving him a mischievous wink. “What took you so long?”
He grins down at me. “Traffic was hell.”
I laugh as his lips cover mine. And, in the sunshine, I feel my father smiling down on me—the two men I’ve loved most in my life, here with me. Always in my heart.
EPILOGUE - Jenna
Three months later
“I wonder what this is all about,” I muse out loud to Rusty as he flies through the curves and turns that lead to Cami and Trick’s house.
This is the first time we’ve been back to Greenfield in over a month. Jake, like a dog with a bone, is staying at the house, taking care of Einstein and doing everything he can to thwart my aunt as she tries to take our heritage. I’m relieved that he wanted to do it. I still have trouble walking through the front door of that place. But that doesn’t mean I want to let Ellie have it. I just need time. And Jake is giving it to me.
As for Rusty and me, we’ve been busy—me with my new job, Rusty with physical therapy and getting his new garage set up in Atlanta. And both of us with making our new apartment “home.”
“I’ve got my suspicions. Since Rags won his last race—and I don’t even know how many that makes now—Trick has started getting all sorts of offers for breaking horses. And for breeding, too. Everybody wants a piece of Rags. But last I heard he hadn’t made any moves on anything. I’m wondering if he just has or is getting ready to. Either way, you know how he is. The guy’s about as dramatic and mysterious as my left nut. All this suspense has to be Cami’s idea.”
“Of course it is, silly. What guy is ever the dramatic one in the relationship?”
“Exactly, which makes me think it’s—”
“Wait!” I yell, holding out my hand to stop him. “I take it back. I don’t want to know what you think. I wanna be surprised.”
Rusty shrugs. “Whatever.”
I’m looking out the window at the passing landscape, just thinking, when we pass a little road I’ve never noticed before.
“Wonder where that goes?”
When Rusty doesn’t answer, I glance over at him. He’s looking in the rear view mirror. “I don’t know,” he admits, turning his eyes to me. “But how about we turn around, see where it goes and have some afternoon delight before we hear this big news?”
“No, we can’t do that. They’re waiting for us.”
“We won’t be long,” he says with a grin.
“Oh, so you’re not worried about me at all. Is that what you’re saying?”
“Are you saying you don’t think I can work my magic on that delectable body of yours in such a short amount of time?”
“No, I’m not saying that. I meant—”
“Challenge accepted,” he says with a grin, bringing the car to a screeching halt then making a U turn.
Fourteen minutes later, we’re back on the road, both of us wearing very satisfied smiles.
“Doubt me again,” Rusty says with a cocky half-grin. “See what happens.”
“Gladly.”
He reaches over and takes my hand in his, bringing my wrist to his lips before he sets our entwined fingers on his thigh. A little smile stretches over his lips as he navigates the road to Cami’s. I lean my temple against the headrest and watch him. I can’t help thinking of how life is full of the most precious moments imaginable.
Less than fifteen minutes later, we’re sitting on Cami’s couch, holding glasses of champagne, watching Trick and her grin at each other.
“For the love of God, tell me or face the consequences,” I say when I can’t take another second of suspense.
“You’re so impatient! Give us a minute.”
“Why? Are you working up the courage to get naked and ask if we wanna swap? Because I can save you some embarrassment.”
“Oh God, Jenna! Of course not.”
“Then get to it, woman! Chop chop!”
“It’s not that easy. We’re waiting for a phone call.”
“A phone call?”
My curiosity is officially piqued.
The silence stretches on and, just when I’m about to mouth off again, Trick’s cell phone rings.
He smiles and says, “She is?” Pause. “That’s great news! And thanks for calling me with the results.”
When I hear that, I cover my gaping mouth with my hand and fight back the tears stinging my eyes. “Ohmigod,” I mumble.
Before I can say anything else, Trick finally speaks. “That was the vet’s office. They just got back the blood work results from the lab.”
I drop my hands. “The vet? What?” Obviously I was about to jump to a very erroneous conclusion.
“Yeah. I used some of the winnings from Rags’ last race to breed Patty with a stallion who’s won the Kentucky Derby twice and the Preakness once.” Trick looks down at Cami and grins before bringing his attention back to us. “Her blood work confirms that she’s pregnant. Male or female, we’re naming the foal Justy, after you two. The godparents.”
“Do what now? I’m confused.”
I look at Rusty and he appears to be just as confused as I am. We both turn back to Trick.
“Man, you’re gonna have to spell things out. We just christened some woods near here and our brains aren’t fully functional yet,” Rusty blurts honestly. I smack his arm for his confession, but when he winks at me, I can’t help but grin.
“We’ll talk about the rules and regulations for, ahem, acceptable uses of my property later,” Trick teases sternly. “Right now, we’re basically asking you two to be the godparents of our children.”
“Ohhh,” Rusty and I say simultaneously. “Of course we’ll be godparents to your children. Why would you ever think otherwise?” I ask.