Rocky Mountain Valentine (21 page)

He leaned close, so as not to be overheard. “More help? Canceling all of the arrangements a week before the festival isn’t exactly what I’d call helpful, Tara.” He took hold of her hand and pushed it toward her. “In fact, I’m not sure why you showed up at all, but to be very honest with you—I wish you hadn’t. Since you did, I’d appreciate it if you would quit pretending we’re together. Lisa is my date.”

Tara’s perfectly plucked eyebrows arched over her green eyes. “Then where is she?” she asked with cold satisfaction.

A movement on the stairs caught
Adam’s eye and his heart beat double time. Slowly Lisa descended the stairs, a look of uncertainty casting a shadow on her beautiful face. He had to talk to her. Now.

So many things had been left unsettled. She must have misunderstood his message.

Adam stepped past his mother and her gentleman friend, dressed as Anthony and Cleopatra. “Adam, where is Lisa?”

He looked up, but she’d moved. “She’s here, somewhere.” Adam stood on his toes and looked for a beautiful blonde in a tiara. “I’m trying to make my way over there.”

“Good luck,” Alex said. “I’ve been trying to find Katarina for half an hour.”

Adam glanced at his brother. “If you find them first, tell them to stay put.” He couldn’t believe they had this kind of turnout on a snowy night. The weather wasn’t even bad enough to keep the greedy and curious Chance Carter away.

Leave it to his cousin to dive right in and try to get his hands on whatever belonged to Adam. He supposed it was good that Chance was here to see the enthusiastic response to the guest ranch’s grand opening. Maybe then he wouldn’t be so eager to buy Adam’s family out and subdivide the ranch.

He caught the glimmer of Lisa’s tiara and pressed his way through the crowd, but was stopped twice to receive congratulations from neighbors. By then, she’d disappeared again. He could hardly think with all the noise. Judging from the laughter, he’d say the party was a success. Though they’d set up a sound system for dancing, there wasn’t nearly enough room. All of the antique tables in the dining room were occupied; the great room looked like nothing more than a corral on sale day.

“Adam, we have a problem. Toby’s loose, and has a terrified couple cornered on the veranda. He won’t come to me,” his sister Susan whispered in his ear. So much for finding Lisa.

* * *

T
WO HOURS AFTER
the party started, Adam escaped into the kitchen, and there in the corner, were Lisa and Chance.

“Adam.” Lisa’s eyes lit up. “Finding you is about as easy as locating a needle in a haystack.” She immediately left his cousin’s side and ran to him.

“I see my cousin did his best to fill in for me.” He nodded to Chance. “I’ll be happy to find a date for you, if you need help. Unfortunately for you, Lisa is already spoken for.”

Chance tipped his head to Lisa. “So she says. I didn’t realize you two were together.”

“Now you do,” Adam said, his gaze locked on Lisa. “I’d appreciate a few minutes alone with my date.”

Chance laughed. “Sure thing. We’ll have plenty of time to work out details of this deal tomorrow.”

“Time to exit, Chance. You’ve worn out your welcome.”

An extremely pregnant Cupid walked by and tossed red rose petals at Adam and Lisa. Katarina peeked out from under the pink mask. “I knew it.”

Adam held Lisa even tighter and a rumble of laughter escaped. “I never would have believed it.”

Lisa giggled. “What, the bouquet or my sister?”

“Neither.” He shook his head, still laughing. “I have a surprise.” Adam motioned toward the door.

She wrapped her gloved hands around her body. “It’s freezing out there, not to mention it’s snowing.”

“Come on. It’ll only take a few minutes.”

She hedged. “We have guests. You haven’t started the tour....”

Adam looked to her sisters with a pleading glance. “I had this planned for earlier, but...”

“Go ahead. We’ll take care of the guests,” Emily and Kevin said in unison. Silence surrounded them, and Adam led Lisa to the back door, setting his tuxedo coat on her shoulders. “I have a warmer wrap for you at the front door,” he said, hoping it would be quicker to get there via the veranda. “I’ve been waiting all week to have a minute alone with you.” Despite her protests, Adam coaxed her out the door.

“But you have a house full of guests. And what did Chance mean about working out the details?” Her eyes filled with concern. “What’s he talking about?”

In silence, Adam went into the lodge and returned with a velvet cape for Lisa. He put his coat back on and helped Lisa into the sleigh. After seating himself beside her, Adam took hold of the reins and they began to move. Bells jingled in rhythm with the horse’s gallop.

“We’ll talk, Lisa, but I want to be alone first.” He felt the curious looks follow them, even as the sleigh turned out of sight. He covered their legs with the heavy quilt and slowed the horse to a canter.

“I’ve come to realize there’s more to life than this ranch.” He looked into her eyes, pleading for understanding.

She stared at him, a look of amazement on her porcelain face. “And I’ve come to love the idea of settling down in a place just like this.”

She’d have recognized Adam’s miserable smile anywhere, even hidden behind a Clark Gable mustache. He shook his head and looked down. “You haven’t a clue what it takes to run a ranch, let alone a guest ranch filled with strangers, Lisa.”

“I do have a clue, and I’m not running anywhere. So why are you? What deal is your cousin talking about?”

“He’s agreed to keep the guest ranch intact. I want to be with you. I don’t want to tie you down to my responsibilities.”

Lisa felt the tears trickle down her cheeks. “Oh, Adam...” She leaned into his embrace and lifted her gaze to his. “Whatever made you think...” Her voice faltered. “You didn’t call, and when I called here, you didn’t answer.”

“I worked until the wee hours of the night, cleaning, decorating...trying to keep my mind off how much I missed you. And then I lost your number.” The sleigh had all but stopped. “Besides, from that article you wrote, I wasn’t sure you really wanted to return to Whispering Pines. I figured I’d better do what I had to in order to keep you.”

She hoped he didn’t mean what she thought he did. “There were two versions of that article. Exactly which one did you want me to give an opinion on?”

Lisa pulled the mask from her eyes. “I wrote the one when you wouldn’t answer any of my questions. I thought I’d deleted it.”

“Does the article portray all of your feelings?” Adam’s face didn’t give her a hint as to how he felt about the article.

She faltered. “Which part, exactly?”

“The cowboy part.”

Lisa tried to hide her smile. “You mean, ‘the view is breathtaking, the food divine and
then
there’s the cowboy’ part? It really isn’t a very well-structured sentence. If I were going to sell that story, I’d have to fix—”

He smiled. “Just answer my question.”

Lisa nodded. “Even when you’re angry and stubborn. I think I love you....” The words lingered like snow gently falling from the midnight sky. Adam took her into his arms and kissed her soundly.

“Adam...don’t you dare give up this ranch for me or anyone else....”

He pressed his finger to her lips. “Hush. I’ve spent all week rehearsing this.” The horse continued to the top of the hill overlooking Whispering Pines. “You have yet to see springtime in the Rockies, Lisa, but I can’t begin to tell you how you remind me of a delicate wildflower, strong, determined and ever so beautiful.”

She started to protest and he stopped her.

“No matter where life’s journeys take you, I’d like you to always return to Whispering Pines. The roots of wildflowers grow deep into the rocky soil. If you’d like, this ranch could be your home.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a modest diamond ring. “If you would have me, I’d like to be your husband and I’d be proud to have you as my wife.”

Lisa closed her eyes and pressed her lips to his, savoring each and every moment. “Yes, I’d love to be your wife.”

In the distance Lisa heard a deep bark. She turned around and saw the cuddly black dog lumbering through the snow toward them. He jumped into Adam’s lap and smothered both of them in kisses.

“And, Adam, I’d love nothing more than to come home to you and Whispering Pines. This time, forever.”

EPILOGUE

“
F
RANCIE, LISTEN TO
me. For the last time, I’m thrilled that you liked the article, but I don’t want the job. I’m getting married. I assume this means you’re not coming to the wedding?”

“It’s today? Oh, dear, no, we couldn’t get off right now.” Lisa could hear papers shuffling on the other end. “I don’t suppose Adam would go for separate houses. We’d really like you to join us here in the California office, but you’d have to agree to keep your ‘Romantic Getaways’ column.” Her editor’s voice turned dramatically throaty. “Think of it... An all-expense-paid honeymoon every month. Readers loved your feature on Whispering Pines.”

Lisa nodded to her future sister-in-law and Susan pinned the veil to her hair. Katarina stitched Adam’s grandmother’s handkerchief to the inside of Lisa’s slip and her mom adjusted the satin bow of the elegant wedding dress. Emily took the strappy sandals from the box and set them at Lisa’s feet. “Francie, I really need to go now. I’ll have the column in your mailbox by the deadline—don’t worry.”

Liz took the cellular phone from Lisa’s hand and held it to her ear. “Excuse me, Miss Editor, but the bride is about to miss her own wedding. And if I know my brother, she won’t be doing a lick of work for the next couple of weeks.” Then
Lisa’s soon-to-be-sister-in-law pressed the power button. “Is that all I need to do to quiet this thing down?” She handed Lisa the bouquet of calla lilies.

“You look lovely,” Millie said, smiling. “I couldn’t be happier with Adam’s choice of a bride.”

There was a light knock on the door, and Lisa’s grandfather poked his head inside. “You ready, dear? The groom is getting a bit restless.”

“Almost, Grandpa.” Lisa gave each of her helpers a hug before they went outside to be seated.

“Adam also asked me to help you with this.” He stepped into the room and pulled a delicate wildflower necklace from a box. Lisa fingered it and opened the note that came with it. “I give you this flower, that our roots may continue to grow together.”

Her grandpa’s shaky hands handed it to Lisa’s mother to put on. “I think you’d do better at this than I would.” She put it on, and they walked out of her suite, down the stairs to the great room where Adam waited at the altar.

Their friend Mike, the pastor, performed the wedding ceremony inside the rustic gazebo, and Toby served as ring bearer.

* * *

A
FTER THE FORMALITIES
of the receiving line were over, Lisa and Adam took a minute to be alone. Adam kissed his bride’s bare shoulder as they stood on the veranda watching the crowd. “I never believed anything could feel so right.”

The shimmering white satin skirt rustled as she turned in unison with him; the guests’ smiles reflected the joy she felt. “It was the bouquet, you know.” She lifted her gaze to her husband’s. “We should have listened from the start.”

“Who says I didn’t?” He placed his hand on her satin-smooth waist and pulled her closer as the music started. “May I have this dance?”

Adam carried her from the lodge veranda, across the yard to the specially designed gazebo. She stepped into the middle of the gazebo floor and lifted her hand to the stiff fabric covering his broad shoulders. “Could have fooled me. You didn’t exactly give me a red-carpet welcome when I arrived.”

Adam chuckled. “What did you expect from a cad?”

“I’m never going to live that one down, am I?”

He spun her into his arms and dipped her. “Not a chance. And we have a long, long future ahead of us.”

Lisa giggled as he pulled her back up to meet his waiting lips. “Forever.”

* * * * *

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ISBN: 9781460304389

Copyright © 2013 by Carol Steward

Originally published as THIS TIME FOREVER
Copyright © 2002 by Carol Steward

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