More Than Cookies (The Maple Leaf Series) (33 page)

Who was he to deny her? He rolled on a condom, surprised at his superhuman ability to do so one-handed while keeping his other hand on Sage. When he slid inside her, warmth surrounded him and he knew this was truly what home meant. It wasn’t four walls and a roof. It wasn’t a driveway and a yard. It wasn’t even cookies baked fresh from the oven.

It was a woman who loved him.

They tumbled over the edge together and rode the same wave until Orion collapsed next to Sage, their legs entangled, their arms holding each other close. He loved listening to her breathe next to him. Somehow it made him feel more alive.

Orion was about to profess his undying love to Sage when his cell phone let out a muffled ring in the living room.

“That could be the hospital,” they both said at the same time.

Growling a little, Orion dropped a kiss on Sage’s cheek and threw the covers back. He pulled on some shorts and opened the bedroom door, surprised to hear the television. When he reached the living room, Myah and Ranger—and Muddie—were sitting on the floor, way too close to the television, watching cartoons. Orion’s heart nearly burst out of his chest at the normalcy of seeing his daughter and dog like that.

Amazing sex and my family all together.
If this was a dream, he didn’t want to wake up.

A floorboard creaked under his weight causing dog and girl to look his way. Myah held out his cell phone. “It’s about Gramps, Daddy.”

Orion rounded the couch and took the phone. He ruffled Myah’s hair and she giggled, such a beautiful sound.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Finley, this is Doctor Wesnell. Your father did fine throughout the night and is ready to come home.”

“Great. I’m on my way.” He hung up but noticed a message on his phone. It was from Jack Benson.

Will be by with the paperwork this afternoon. Congrats!

Myah would be officially his again. Justice did exist in this world.

“Is Gramps coming home now?” Myah came over with Muddie and climbed onto Orion’s lap.

“Yeah, is he?” Sage’s arms were suddenly slithering over his shoulders and down his chest from the back of the couch. She tapped Myah on the nose before dropping a kiss on Orion’s cheek.

“Yes. I’ll go get him as soon as you two are done holding me hostage on this couch.” He poked Myah in the side and she wiggled on his lap.

“We should have a party for Gramps,” Myah said, wiggling her teddy bear in the air.

“Funny,” Orion said. “Sage said the same thing.” He absolutely loved how they thought so alike. “But we have more to celebrate besides just Gramps being okay.”

“We can celebrate that I’m here too,” Myah said, her smile brighter than fireworks.

“We can,” Orion said. “There’s one more thing.” He positioned Myah so she was looking directly at him. “I’ve asked Sage to live here with us. What do you think of that?” He felt Sage grow still, so he rested his hand on her arm still draped over his chest.

“I think we’ll have so much fun all together, Daddy.” Myah stepped onto the cushion beside Orion and put her arms out to hug Sage.

“Oh, Myah.” Sage threw her arms around Myah and the two females that meant the most to him hugged for a few moments—moments that delighted Orion.

Sage held Myah at arm’s length. “Want to help me pack up my stuff while Daddy gets Gramps?”

“Okay! Then we’ll plan a party?” Myah looked hopefully from Sage to Orion.

“Yes, we will. Go get dressed.”

Orion scooted Myah off the couch and the girl tore down the hallway to her room, Ranger running after her.

“This going to be great,” Sage said, her arms back around Orion.

He reached back and dragged her over the back of the couch until she was a pile of gorgeous female sprawled across his lap. “Wishes come true with you around, Sage.”

“Well, wish big, honey, and I’ll see what I can do.” She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him.

Orion felt the magic then and knew he would feel it always.  

Epilogue

The week before Christmas…

Snowflakes fluttered down from the dark New York sky as Sage stood next to Orion in front of the tallest Christmas tree she’d ever seen in real life. Sure, she’d seen the Rockefeller Center tree on television, but never imagined she’d be admiring it in person and certainly not with a man like Orion by her side. Nor had she ever thought a girl like Myah would be such a huge part of her life, but the kid had cemented herself inside Sage’s heart permanently.

Ian stood in front of them, a Styrofoam cup of hot cocoa in his gloved hands as he talked to Sage’s mother. Hope was sandwiched between Adam and Wendie. Sage couldn’t help but notice that her sister stood a little closer to Adam. Was it the cold temperatures or something else? Adam had been away for several months, so nothing aside from a few dates had started between him and her sister, but Sage hoped something would. Soon.

She turned around, and a few feet behind her, Lily waved, her other arm firmly around Rick’s. Sage could not believe her cousin-in-law had convinced Rick to come to New York on this holiday excursion. New York had almost killed Rick, but he was willing to take risks now because of Lily’s love. That was what love could do. That was the power it had, and though her big, strong cousin appeared a little nervous, a definite fire blazed in his eyes whenever he looked at his wife. Sage couldn’t wait to see how successful the bed and breakfast at Lily’s grandmother’s place would be. Rick and Lily had worked tirelessly all summer and fall to get it ready. Sage was eager to shift her own business and cater for them. The work would be steady and she’d get to experiment with some new dishes.  

“Daddy, where are your bears?” Myah tugged on Orion’s jacket—a bright blue jacket Sage had picked out for him that made his eyes look incredible.

“They should be at the base of the tree. Let’s get a closer look.” He grabbed Myah’s mittened hand and then did the same to Sage’s gloved one.

Sage clamped onto her mother’s hand who then tugged Ian along. Soon, a chain of Stannards and Finleys and Rouses snaked its way through the crowd, snow falling all around them and Christmas carols filling the wintry air. It was like being in a snow globe where everything was perfect and the true meaning of the holiday thrived.

As they got closer to the tree, Sage could make out the top of the tallest bear. Rick had been able to fix Orion’s barn roof quickly with the help of the rest of the family, and her hunky chainsaw artist had remade those bears in time to meet his deadline. Watching him work had been a turn on every single time.

Since moving in with Orion, she spent a lot of time being turned on. She expected that any day now those feelings would lessen, but so far, they were actually getting stronger. Every time she looked at him, her heart stretched like a full balloon. Unlike her other experiences with men, this time she didn’t think her heart was in danger of popping. Not with Orion.

“You did such a good job, Daddy!” Myah said as she hugged Orion.

“Thanks. You know what I think of when I look at them?”

Myah and Sage both shook their heads.

“Us. See, the tall one is me. The medium one is Sage, and the smallest one is you.” He bopped the pink pom-pom on the end of Myah’s knit hat.

“Hey, yeah! That’s funny.” Myah looked back at the bears. “What’s that hanging from the tall one’s paw?”

Sage stood on her tiptoes to see around the people in front of her. Sure enough, a red and green checkered gift bag dangled from the tallest bear’s outstretched paw.

“I don’t know,” Orion said, a smile tugging up the left side of his wonderful mouth. “I think Sage ought to go check it out though.” He gave her a little nudge forward.

Sage didn’t miss the look father and daughter shared either.

What’s this about?

Still, curiosity got the better of her and she pushed through the crowd in front of her until she got to the bears. Strangely, the security guards at the base of the tree made room for her to step right up and pluck the gift bag from the bear’s paw.

And why are they smiling too?

Quickly, Sage made her way back to Orion and Myah who were now surrounded by the rest of her family and theirs.

Wait a minute.
Were they each holding a single red rose? Were the Christmas carolers now humming harmoniously beyond them and holding lit candles? The soft glow illuminated the snowflakes still falling.

“What’s going on?” Sage asked, looking back to Orion.

He took the gift bag from her and slid the gloves off her hands. Stuffing them along with his own gloves into his pockets, he reached into the bag and pulled out a red velvet box.

“Sage Stannard, you have made my life so much better than it has ever been. These past few months with you have been like a dream. Be my wife and let’s keep dreaming.”

He lowered to his knee, opened the box, and held it up to her. Candlelight sparkled off the perfect diamond ring, and Sage put her hands to her mouth. A second later, she was in Orion’s arms, kissing every inch of his face and pulling Myah into the embrace.

“Yes. I love you. I love you both.” She squeezed them, never wanting to let go and now never having to.

Orion slid the ring onto her finger and kissed her as if he couldn’t wait for them to be married. The crowd went wild around them. Kisses and hugs came from their family members, handshakes and pats on the back from strangers in the crowd who had witnessed the moment, and the carolers led a chorus of “Christmas Dreaming.”

“My sister is getting married!” Hope squealed and pulled Sage into a little impromptu dance step.

Sage looked over her sister’s shoulder where Adam watched, his eyes clearly stuck on Hope.

“Maybe you won’t be too far behind me,” she whispered into Hope’s ear.     

“Oh, gosh. I don’t know.” Hope waved the notion off as silly, but Sage caught her looking thoughtfully back at Adam.

Ian approached next and hugged Sage so hard she thought she might snap in two. “I always wanted a daughter,” he said. “There will be cookies at the wedding, right?”

“For sure.”

Sage kissed the old man then found herself back in Orion’s strong, loving arms, which was exactly where she wanted to be.

If you enjoyed
More Than Cookies
,

please consider leaving a review on Amazon and Goodreads

and recommend my books to your friends.

Thank you!

If you have a book group, I’d love to interact with you!

Email me at
[email protected]
or message me through Facebook for options.

Books One and Three in the Maple Leaf Series

More Than Pancakes (Book One—Rick’s story)

More Than Rum (Book Three—Hope’s story)

Check
www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com
for release dates.

Read on for a peek at
More Than Rum!

More Than Rum Sneak Peek

Chapter One

“What do I need a website for, darlin’?”

Hope Stannard clenched her teeth at the
darlin’
, but Jake Peters, owner of Black Wolf Tavern, called every woman darlin’. She had to keep her eye on the goal here.

“To advertise, to book events, to let the community know when those events are taking place, to put up pictures of this place, to get—” She stopped when Jake held up his leathery hand.

“Word of mouth has always worked for me,” he said. “You’ve been in here enough times. Have you ever been able to hear crickets?”

Hope shook her head. The man did have a point. For a bar that wasn’t much more than a green barn with a parking lot in the middle of Danton, Vermont, it seemed locals always packed themselves in.

Locals. Okay.

“You only attract people who have lived around here for eons,” she said, hoping she’d found an angle. “Imagine if you could get more tourists, eager to part with their money. You could also reach more entertainment options if you had a website.”

Shadow Hills usually played at Black Wolf Tavern, and Hope would pay extra to see another set of musicians in the bar. She’d had a relationship with Sam Pearsson, the ex-drummer, who was also an EMT. He’d gone off to med school and ditched her. In a text message.

Prick.

Her sister, Sage, had told her a long distance relationship wouldn’t work out. Hope hated that Sage had been right, and she hated seeing the remaining members of the band play. They reminded her that Sam sucked... and the drummer they had gotten to replace him also sucked. 

“I suppose reeling in naïve touristy folks might be ad-van-tageous.” Jake said the last word as if it were three separate words.
Ad. Van. Tageous.
He ran a hand over the full salt-and-pepper beard that had nearly overtaken the lower portion of his face. “I could charge ’em extra for their booze and they’d pay because there ain’t any place else to get a decent spirit ’round here.” He let loose a raspy, coughing laugh that had Hope wondering if she might have to call 911. “Attracting new people could mean retiring early.”

Attracting new people to the bar also meant attracting new available men to the area. Hope was definitely in favor of that. Since her failed relationship with Sam, she’d only had one other interaction with a potential—Adam Rouse.

And he kept disappearing on her.

“Okay, Hope darlin’,” Jake finally said. “Let’s make a website.”

“Great, Jake. You won’t regret it. Trust me.”

“I do trust you. No daughter of Joy Stannard would screw me over.” Jake grinned, creases sixty-some years in the making framing his golden-brown eyes. “How is Joy?”