Tucker's Crossing (42 page)

Still twined around each other, Cody and Shelby walked back to Logan’s car and crawled in the backseat, never breaking contact.

“I’m not some goddamn chauffeur, Tucker.”

“Would you prefer us in the front?”

Logan slammed the door in response.

Shelby burrowed her face deep into the slope of Cody’s shoulder, breathing in his scent. “What happens now?”

“We get my truck and pray I am able to get us somewhere with a bed before I tear those jeans off and make love to you.”

Her body shuddered at the need pouring through his words.

“Then what?” Shelby asked because she needed to hear him say it.

“We spend a quiet night at home, making love some more.”

Shelby sat back, taking his face between her fingers, loving how his stubbled skin was rough on her hands. “And where’s home, Cody Tucker?”

“Wherever you are, Shelby Lynn. You and JT are my home.” Cody reached into his pocket and slid onto her finger the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen. An oval-cut canary diamond sat in a sea of filigree. The ring was delicate and elegant and aged with history and memories.

“It’s beautiful.”

“It was my mama’s.”

She could tell he was nervous, shy even. He had barely shifted in the seat and his cheeks held the faintest tint, but she noticed. And it was endearing.

“Are you asking me to marry you?” Shelby prompted, needing to be clear what this gesture was about. “Or is this about making Jake happy?”

“This is about making us all happy.” He took her face between his hands, which were shaking, and her heart melted even more. “You said you loved me before. Tell me there’s a chance that you could love me again. That I haven’t screwed it up. That I’m the kind of guy you want because this is about you and me and JT and forever.”

“Oh, Cody, I gave you my heart ten years ago. And you left without ever giving it back.”

“Do you want it back?”

“No,” Shelby managed through the tears.

“Good ’cuz I’m pretty sure I’d rather die than give it back.” He kissed her gently. “I love you so much it hurts.”

And in that moment Shelby knew she had found the one place in the world that she belonged. It didn’t matter where she was, what house she lived in, she would find the love and happiness and security she’d been searching for in Cody. They would find it in each other, in their family.

“Then let’s go home.” Shelby leaned forward and kissed him. And when Cody kissed her back she worried that they might not make it to the ranch after all.

F
ROM
THE F
AMILY
R
ECIPE
B
OX
OF
THE
A
UTHOR

Granny Stowell spent most of her childhood picking what needed picking from farm to farm all over the South. She never misses Sunday service or
Wheel of Fortune
and prides herself on getting “acquainted” with the goings-on of every resident in her community—bless her heart. In the 1950s, Granny opened Hot Biscuit, a locals-only diner that served homemade blue-plate specials and buttermilk biscuits that were nothing short of heavensent. Always hot. Always fresh—and always served with a dollop of just-jarred jelly. Her Sweet-Hot Pepper Jelly was her grand opus, so much so that at ninety-two years of age she still receives requests for a couple hundred jars every Christmas.

So from my granny’s table to yours, enjoy our famous Sweet-Hot Pepper Jelly.

Granny Stowell’s Sweet-Hot Pepper Jelly
Yields about 10 half-pint jars

Ingredients:

29–30 jalapeño peppers
2 habañero chilies (to kick up the heat, try adding another)
1 cup white Karo Syrup
1 box pectin
1¼ cup cider vinegar
1 cup water
2 teaspoons lemon juice
4 cups plus 2 teaspoons sugar

Supplies
:

A dozen half-pint jelly jars with lids
canning funnel
rubber gloves
9” ×13” Pyrex

Stem and deseed jalapeño peppers and habañero chilies. Process the peppers and chilies in a food processor. In a large pot, bring processed peppers, cider vinegar, and water to a boil. When it starts heating be sure to take all the scum off the top with a spoon and discard. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Pour mixture into a bowl.

Measure out 3 cups of the pepper puree and return it to the pot. Add Karo and pectin and bring to a hard boil (so hard that you can’t beat down). Mix in the sugar and lemon juice and boil hard for 2 minutes or until jelly makes firm drops on a spoon.

In the meantime, pour 4 cups of water into a kettle and bring to a boil. Place empty jelly jars, topside up, in a 9” × 13” Pyrex. Pour boiling water into Pyrex to heat jars. Be careful not to get water inside the jelly jars.

With rubber gloves on, pour jelly into heated jars using a jelly funnel. Screw on lids and place them topside down on a baking sheet and let rest for 5 minutes. Turn topside up for 5 minutes. Repeat twice to set the jelly. Serve on a hot buttermilk biscuit or with cream cheese on a Ritz cracker.

Marina Adair
may have been raised in the San Francisco Bay area, but with a Southern father and a live-in granny, growing up was closer to the Clampetts than the Cleavers. Marina graduated magna cum laude with a BA in film studies and is working toward a Masters of Fine Arts in creative writing at San Jose State University. A member of the Romance Writers of America, she currently resides in the majestic redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains with her husband, daughter, three kitties, eleven chickens, and the occasional wild turkey. Check out her Web site at
www.MarinaAdair.com
, become a fan on Facebook at MarinaAdair, and follow her on Twitter at MarinaEAdair.

KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by

Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018

Copyright © 2012 by Marina Chappie

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

ISBN: 978-1-6018-3019-7

First Electronic Edition: August 2012