A Promise Worth Honoring (Promises Collection) (8 page)

“Where did you find my stuff?”

He handed her the bag. “Emily’s car. I saw it in passing and confronted her. Because of her dishonesty, her crown has been removed, which means you need to return to the judging.”

“I’m done… give the crown to someone else.”

“You sure?”

She hitched the soft nylon strap over her arm. Seemed everything that had been around from the beginning reminded her of the comfort she’d felt in Garrett’s arms. “I’ve never been more sure. But thank you. I’ll see you around—”

“That’s not why I’m here.”

She popped up her head, shocked at his tenacity. All she wanted was to take a hot bath and add to the water with her tears. “Dane, I’ve had a rough—”

“This isn’t about us. You need to listen to the message on your phone.”

She retrieved her cell phone from the side pocket, and pulled up the call history. Garrett’s name topped the list and caused her heart to ache and tears to brim. “We’re not together.”

“That’s not what he said to me last night. So, like I said, hear him out.” He walked away, leaving her standing under the bright lights of the parking lot. What words could Garrett possibly use to change her mind about leaving that he hadn’t during the dance? He’d made plans of his own that didn’t include her. When her voicemail played the first recording, she pressed his voice to her ear.

Message: “Maggie, I love you, only you, for my entire life.”

Save.

Message two: “I’ve never told anyone why I shut myself inside that old refrigerator, but I need you to know how your very existence moved me from the beginning. Seems so ridiculous now—how at the sight of you my heart pounded, my hands moistened, and my mouth dried all from a single glance through ten-year-old eyes. But I realize now Fate tied us together. Your smile, our friendship, making love to you… you set my world on fire then—a fire that still rages in my heart.”

Save.

Message three: “What made my heart sing was having you in my arms, not only when we made love, but the entire week. Tonight. See, my dreams don’t include a world where you’re not beside me. I don’t care where we go, as long as we’re together. So, if you get this message and you’re ready to spend the rest of your life with a guy who’s trying to find his dream, locate me…”

Her breath hitched and she cupped her face. She’d never bought a ticket to Belize. She’d packed the truck bed with empty suitcases to save face. Because without him, she had nowhere she’d rather be than Safe Haven.

Message four: “Or simply turn around.”

She did. And there he was. Waiting for her.

She threw down her bag and kicked off her heels. Through tears that slid down her throat and face, she could barely speak. “Gar-rett, I-I love”—sniff, sniff—“you!”

With a wide grin, he held out his arms and caught her midair. He didn’t let go, not until the announcement of pending fireworks blasted from the intercom overhead. “You got my messages.”

“I did. And I was wrong to doubt you. I wanted to tell you, but I was the one who was scared.” She sucked in a deep, ragged breath. “I didn’t want to lose my heart to a hero. But I did. You’re my hero and you have my heart.”

“And you’re ready to leave this town with me?”

She pulled back to read his gaze. “I—I don’t understand. You’ve finally passed your test. You’re following your family’s tradition.”

“Yeah, I finally figured out that’s why you were so distant today. Because you didn’t let me explain last night.” He shook his head. “I turned down the job to take time to find my way, with you.”

“You did? But I didn’t think you’d want me anymore.”

“I hope my messages convinced you differently.”

With her throat nearly closed from tears, she swallowed. “They did, but how will we have money to travel? Neither of us have jobs. I have college debt.”

“I sold all three of my fire trucks to my brother. With your mom’s help, I paid off your school loans.” He pulled out two one-way tickets to Bassin d'Arcachon. “I say we have about $100,000 to start a future together. Maybe we’ll pick out an engagement ring somewhere in France?”

Her thoughts whirled and she pictured them with backpacks on bicycles, coursing along the winding back roads of Europe. They’d stay in hostels instead of fancy hotels, and tour the countryside together. She could barely take in all the changes. “Tickets… ring… France…”

# # # #

As if the stars held dreams of Garrett’s future, the world seemed brighter than he’d ever remembered. He gathered her trembling hand in his and went down on one knee. “I may not be sure where my path will lead, but I know wherever I am, I’ll want you there beside me. So, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife, my partner, Maggie? Promise to love me forever?”

A smile overtook her expression and tears sprinkled down her cheeks. “You know, Mr. Parker, some promises are worth honoring. And yes, I promise to love you forever. Longer…”

He smiled inside and out,
stood, and just as he leaned in to kiss his girl, fireworks exploded high in the air. Together, they raised their faces to gaze on the celebration in the sky. And, in the smoky aftereffects, Garrett swore an image of his father smiled upon him.

—
Andrew Dunbar

Three years later…

From the shores of Bassin D’Arcachon
, Garrett whipped a plastic disc toward Maggie, flipping his wrist so the plate arched above Red.

Along with Red, his furry companions Phoebe, Duchess, and Butch
barked, leaped into the salt-filled air, and fell back against the sandy shore.

Maggie snatched the dis
c, her solitaire catching the late morning sunlight, and laughed. “They almost got it that time.”

His heart humbled and he accepted the simple pleasure bestowed upon him. He glanced to his right, where under the cover of a nylon tent, their daughter, Sarah, squealed and shook her sand-filled spoon into her bucket.

“Daddy loves you, Princess…”

Maggie joined his side and the dogs tore off toward the surf. Together, he and Maggie had created Red Velvet Doggy D
aycare. Situated below their beachfront apartment adorned with an iconic fire hydrant logo, their business often cared for more than twenty dogs in a single day.

Maggie slinked her arms around his waist. “And I love Daddy…”

He cradled Maggie in his arms and twirled her around. “And Daddy loves Mommy.”

Maggie’s lips covered his and stoked the fire within him until he lowered her to the blanket and slid beside her sun-kissed skin.

“Satisfied, Mr. Parker?” Maggie winked and giggled.

He curled her hair behind her ear. He knew his daughter was overdue for a nap, and normally, they closed the shop between noon and two. “Very…thanks to you. But to make sure, can you give me a half an hour?”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I can do better than that. How about, give or take, eighty more years?”

“Now that’s an offer worth honoring.”

The End

Thank you so much for reading
A Promise Worth Honoring
(Book 3 in the Promises Collection). Best friends that find happily ever after in each other’s embrace is such a beautiful dream. I’m so glad Garrett found what he’d been searching for in his best friend, Maggie.

As always, knowing you spent time with two of my courageous characters as they faced their inner demons and learned trust their hearts desire, is what inspires me to keep writing these heart melting contemporary stories. Thank you so much for your tremendous support!

Did you know your positive ranking of this book on Amazon will make a real difference in getting the story into more reader’s hands? So please consider writing an honest review for
A Promise Worth Honoring
. It’s easy and only takes a few moments. And I would really appreciate it!

Wishing you peace and happiness always,

Cyndi Faria

A Promise Worth Keeping
(Book 1 Promises Collection)

A Best Selling Short Romance

Clayton has a real mess on his hands. Not only have garden vandals threatened the Remy Estate's Valentine's Day celebration, but Clayton’s girlfriend Sarah has proposed despite knowing he doesn't believe in lasting love.

By hunkering down in the garden all night, Clayton hopes to solve one of his problems and catch the vandals in the act. Instead, will Clayton finally face his fears and become a man worth loving?

“[A] wonderful short story! Cyndi Faria crafted a lovely romance that'll melt your heart…”

To read
A Promise Worth Keeping
(Book 1)—A five-star No. 1 Free Kindle and bestselling short romance—click on the title above or
here
.

An Award Winning Novella

SHE’S CLINGING TO THE PAST

After ten years, tiger preserve owner Bailey Yant never thought heart
-breaker Tucker Pierce would return to Safe Haven. With a hundred-year-old feud between the Pierce and Yant families escalating, and despite a mystical lovers’ rock stirring memories of their forbidden love, she’s walled up her heart tighter than her sanctuary. When her prized tiger trespasses onto the Pierce’s hunting range, and poachers threaten not only her tiger’s safety but the livelihood of her preserve, will Bailey open her heart and trust Tucker in time to save her endangered Bengals?

HE’S OFFERING A FUTURE TOGETHER

At seventeen, Tucker Pierce fell in love with Bailey’s strength the day he’d pulled her from the river and promised to make her dreams come true. However, to keep Bailey safe from his abusive father, he risked everything—and in the process lost her to another man. For ten years, he’s kept his reason for leaving Safe Haven secret, but he can’t forget the promise he made to her or who his heart belongs to. After finding the widowed Bailey standing on their special rock, will he finally
convince her to trust he’s a man of his word?

TO SEE HER DREAMS COME TRUE, WILL SHE RISK TRUSTING…A PROMISE WORTH REMEMBERING?

To read
A Promise Worth Remembering
(#2 in the Promises Collection), click on the title above or
here
.

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www.cyndifaria.com
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