Honey Kisses (Romance on the Ranch Series #2) (17 page)

Jackson hobbled to the end of the line and all
the customers in front of him stepped aside, inviting him to go first. He
leaned against his cane when he reached the counter. Ann swallowed and couldn't
find her voice.

Jackson said, "I'd like a black coffee,
please. I'd also like you to join me for a minute."

Ann squeaked, "I can't. There are too many
people in line." Suddenly, the line dispersed.

Jackson motioned with his head, "I'll meet
you at that table in the corner."

"I really can't…"

Dixie interrupted, "Yes, you can. I've got
you covered. I'll bring your coffee to your table, Jackson. I'll bring you one
too, Annie."

Jackson gave Dixie a grateful smile and limped
to the table. Dixie whispered in Ann's ear. "The least you can do is hear
what he has to say. Go on."

Ann rounded the counter and followed her husband,
acutely aware of everyone in the room watching their progress. She sat across
from him and Dixie brought coffees to their table.

Jackson stared at the steaming brew and then
lifted his eyes to hers. They were filled with such torment that Ann couldn't
hold his gaze. She stared down at her own coffee to compose herself.

"Annie, I want you to hear everything I
have to say before you respond. Okay?"

She nodded, still looking at her cup. She heard him
whoosh a breath.

He said, "I want to thank you for staying
with me at the hospital. The doctor said you refused to leave until you knew I
would recover. Although I don't remember much those first days, I do remember
waking at times and hearing your voice and feeling your touch. You gave me a
reason to live."

Ann bit her bottom lip to stop its trembling.

Jackson reached the tip of his finger and
touched her hand resting on the table. "For most of my life I've avoided
emotional commitment because I saw the damage it did to my father. I swore I'd
never fall into the same trap. When we met years ago, I was instantly attracted
to you and convinced myself it was purely physical. Secretly, I was glad you
were married because it kept me from pursuing any kind of relationship with
you." He removed his finger and reached for his coffee. Releasing another breath,
he lifted the brew and sipped.

Ann couldn't bring herself to look into his
eyes, so she glanced past his shoulder. He set his cup down and continued.
"After you came to work at the ranch, you became the sunshine of my days.
When I asked you to marry me, it wasn't purely because I was trying to save you—although
I admit that played a part in it—mostly, it was because I'd fallen desperately
in love with you."

Ann jerked her eyes to his.

"I need you, Annie. Let me clarify that—my
heart needs you. I love you. Please come home and we'll make it work."

This time Ann couldn't stop the trembling of her
bottom lip, but neither could she bring herself to respond. After a long time,
Jackson said sadly, "You think about it, sweetheart." He scooted his
chair back and clumsily pulled himself up with the aid of his cane. She watched
his retreating back and someone rushed to open the door for him. She knew
everyone was staring at her, but she didn't care. A tear slipped onto the table
and a voice in her head shouted.
This is your chance for a
happily-ever-after! Don't let a misguided since of duty steal from you! He
meant what he said!

Suddenly, she jumped from her chair and sprinted
through the door. Jackson was standing beside his truck when she yelled his
name. He looked up and waited for her to make a move. With tears streaming, she
ran and stood in front of him. She said, "My heart needs you, too. I love
you so much."

Dropping his cane and leaning against the fender
for support, he opened his arms and she stepped into them. The only words escaping
either of them were, "I love you. I love you. I love you."

Finally, Jackson looked up from kissing her and grinned.
"Look behind you."

Annie turned around and laughed. All of Dixie's
Cuppa Joe customers had crowded to the windows to watch their reunion. When she
and Jackson grinned sheepishly, the patrons burst into laughter and applause.
Annie's happily-ever-after not only came with the husband of her dreams, but a
hometown, faithful friends, and a beautiful ranch.

Annie grinned at Jackson when he entered the
kitchen looking tired and dirty. The fact that he no longer needed his cane and
only walked with a slight limp filled her heart with joy. She said, "You
look like you tussled with a herd of cows and lost the battle."

He chuckled, "I think ol' Bessie got the
last laugh."

She walked over and put her arms around her
husband and kissed him loudly.

He said, "Hey, Annie, now that you've got
trail dust all over you too, why don't we do the big bathtub thing and I can
tell you again how much I love you."

"Jackson, that's all well and good, but I
really
want you to show me."

"Whatever your heart desires."

An hour later they were still in the bathtub.
While Annie scrubbed Jackson's back, she said, "Did I ever tell you about
the young mother I met at the bus depot when I picked up my granny?"

"Not that I remember. Oh, that feels good—a
little more to the left."

Annie moved her hand over. "Anyway, she had
the cutest baby girl. She said she and her husband were planning on having at
least six kids spaced far apart. She wanted to have her last one in her
forties, which would put over twenty years between her youngest and
oldest."

"Hmm. Down a little, please."

Annie moved her hand lower. "How's that?"

"Wonderful."

"Anyway, getting back to the gal with the
baby; we're going to have something in common with her because Jacob will be
almost twenty-three when our baby is born." She stilled her hand and
waited for Jackson's reaction.

Swiftly he turned to face her and water sloshed
out of the tub. A smile of such delight lit his face that Annie felt
inexpressible joy.

"Annie," he breathed, "That's
wonderful!" Touching his lips to hers, he chuckled, "Have I ever told
you how much I love you?"

* * *

Annie listened to Jackson's occasional snores
and placed a hand on her belly. The sonogram the previous day had revealed
their baby was a girl.

Dawn's golden light suffused their bedroom and
Spike snuggled at her feet when she reached toward the nightstand for the book
written by her best friend, Sarah Tanner, alias Mims Murphy. Again, she reread
the ending of
Honey Kisses.

Fannie Mendoza gazed lovingly at their newborn
daughter. Beside her, Johnson ran the tip of his finger over the baby's silky
blond hair. Surprisingly, the infant opened her eyes and stared directly at her
father. Fannie held her breath and captured the moment in a mental snapshot to
be forever cherished in her heart. Johnson looked from the baby to her and
smiled so proudly, she wanted to cry and laugh at the same time.

"What do you think we should name
her?" he asked.

"I was thinking 'Angel' would be
pretty."

He looked back at the baby and said, "Angel
Mendoza—perfect."

Annie closed the book and sighed. When Jackson had
asked what she wanted to name their baby and she'd suggested,
"Angel." His response had been, "I think that's perfect."

Thank you for reading Annie and Jackson
Martinez' love story,
Honey Kisses.
Next on the horizon is the romance
between Tooty Townsend and Miles Brightman in
Baby Kisses.
Can a cranky,
best selling suspense author with physical challenges and a jaded, young,
single mother, find a happily-ever-after? I certainly had my work cut out for
me in revealing their story.

Finally, I have included an excerpt from Book
One in the
Shapeling Trilogy: Roth: Protector.
Roth is a no-nonsense
alpha male and shapeshifter. When he receives an assignment from his elders to
protect the spoiled and opinionated heiress and scientist, Rainey Childress, he
meets a woman not intimidated by him—at least that's the impression she gives. Has
Roth met his match? Can he protect Rainey and solve a mystery?

Novels and Novellas by Verna Clay:

Western Romance

Contemporary:

Romance on the Ranch Series

Dream Kisses

Honey Kisses

Baby Kisses

Historic:

Unconventional Series

Abby: Mail Order Bride

Broken Angel

Ryder's Salvation

Fantasy Romance

Shapeling Trilogy

Roth:  Book One: Protector

Fawn:  Book Two: Master

Davide: Book Three: Prince

11:11: Countdown to 2012

The Theory of Everything

Far Into Yesterday (Novella)

Jazmine (Novella)

 
Sci-Fi Fantasy Romance

The Ordinaries (coming someday!)

Keep reading for an excerpt from:

Shapeling Trilogy Book One

Roth: Protector

Shapeling
Trilogy Book One

Roth:
Protector

Chapter
One: First Impressions

Roth captured the updraft with his wings, their seven foot
span easily maneuvering the razor sharp crags of Ember Canyon. He changed
direction and streaked toward the river, iridescent under a full moon. Diving
low enough to feel the spray from rapids, he reveled in his mastery of
shapeshifting.

Within minutes he would learn what the Thirteen co-Princes
considered a worthy decisive mission. For over two thousand cycles of the sun
he had been a Shapeling Protector. The successful completion of his next
assignment would usher him into the ranks of Shapeling Master, the second
highest honor among shapelings; and again, another round of undetermined sun
cycles with increasingly complex missions, and the expectation of one day
joining the co-Princes, leaders of all shapelings, would begin. He had no
doubts about his abilities. He would not fail.

Roth soared high again, intent on reaching the Cave of
Thirteen before sunrise. He arrived in record time. Gently landing and pulling
his wings closed, he lowered his head and prayed to the Source, repeating the
Prayer of Secrecy he had been taught as a child by his Guide. Before the last
word in the prayer had been uttered, he no longer had wings or talons; he now
stood tall on two feet, his raven hair long and whipped by the wind. Pale blue
eyes that observed everything looked upward in a gesture of respect for the
Source. Wearing only white linen breeches, he flexed and stretched his lean
muscular form, feeling the rush that always accompanied a shapeshift.

Shapelings, unlike humans, gave no consideration for his
looks. Their focus rested in an elusive goal beyond shapeshifting: mastery of
wisdom. Honing wisdom, however, presented as a two-edged sword—becoming the
creature while at the same time maintaining shapeling faculties of awareness.
The difficulty in abating the thrill of becoming only the creature required
intense practice and concentration over countless sun risings.

As a Shapeling Master, Roth would receive increasingly complex
assignments aimed at developing wisdom. Eventually, consistent evidence of wise
choices would bestow the title of Prince Thirteen upon him, the title his
father had been about to receive before his untimely death during Roth's
childhood. Roth pushed himself toward that goal for the sake of his heritage
and envisioned his ultimate destiny, reigning as Prominent Prince as his
ancestors before him.

He glanced at the glow in the eastern sky. Soon the edge of
the sun would appear. He smiled and walked the short distance to the Cave of
Thirteen. At the exact moment the sun made its appearance, he stepped inside
the cave lit by fire torches. Reverently, he approached the Thirteen and knelt,
speaking the Prayer of Respect, "May the embers of truth always glow."

"Rise, Roth," commanded the Prominent Prince.

"Come closer," the remaining twelve voiced in
unison.

Roth rose and took the few steps that brought him directly
in front of the Prominent One.