Weston Ranch, Fisher's Story (14 page)

Fisher cursed as he watched Claire leave the room.
He stood up to go after her, but Asher stopped him.

“What the hell is going on?
Since when are we
allowing someone to use our land?
At least sell it to her so we can put it back into the ranch,” Asher snapped.

“I bought the ranch to keep it in the family. I can do whatever the hell I want with it. Don’t worry about something you know nothing about!”

Fisher left the twin sisters gaping at him and went to find Claire
, cursing when he found that she left at some point of his arguing with his brother.
He went home, hoping she would show up, even
if it were
to yell at him. He didn’t have to wait long. She showed up an hour later, loaded with grocery bags.
He met her at the door and tried to help her, but she had other plans.

“You’re making me dinner and then you are going to explain yourself,” she said, shoving everything into his chest.

“Does this mean I am forgiven
,” he voice laced with charm.

“Do you know what you did wrong?”

“Nope, just know you’re mad as hell about something,”

“I am mad because you are taking over everything. Just
because
your name is on the loan, gives you no right to make my decisions and do whatever you want,” she said.

Fisher dropped the bags on the counter and took her in his arms.
“I’m sorry
.
I promise not to take over,” he said as he kissed her. She remained rigid in his arms.

He lifted her up, sat her on the counter and stepped in between her thighs.

“Please forgive me,” he kissed her and when she melted into him, he realized he had gained her forgiveness.
He ran his hands up under her shirt, kissing her neck as his fingers found her nipples.
Her heavy breathing was turning him on.
Jesus,
but he loved
her
so fucking much.

A cough drew him away from her. He turned around, standing in front of Claire, providing her with some privacy. He faced his father’s knowing grin and his mother’s fierce frown.

“I raised you better than that,” his mother said
tersely
.

“I’m sorry Mr.
and
Mrs. Weston,” Claire said
, climbing down from the counter.
He shushed her and turned his attention back to his parents.

“Wash off my counters and get a room,” his mother’s frown eased into a smile, her eyes glowed with laughter. He lips kicked up in a grin.

“We are leaving for a
camping trip, just wanted to pop in and say goodbye to you boys,” his father explained. Fisher nodded, said a few more words to his parents and wished them well on their trip. Jesus, he hadn’t been caught in the act since making out with his cousin’s girl
friend
in middle school. He turned around and fixed his gaze on a properly put back together and flustered woman.

“That was very embarrassing,” she laughed.

“When we have our own house, we won’t have to worry about parents and sisters interrupting,
just the kids
” he said.
He s
tudied Claire’s reaction to his
revealing statement.

Claire took a deep breath.
Did he just mean what I think he means?
She thought to herself.
She turned away from his piercing glare and started unloading her groceries.
She knew she couldn’t ignore the comment forever.

“Claire, you must know by now that I love you,” he
whispered
softly
in her ear
.

Well, she certainly couldn’t ignore that.
“Why do you love
me?
I haven’t been home in six years. These past two weeks have been
great
, but where do we go from here?” She finally asked.

“We go where a lot of couples in love go. We marry, have tons of children, grow old together and then have grandchildren. That’s if you love me though,” he said, his voice sounded shaken.

“If I love you?
If I love you?
Of Course
I love you! Ever
since
I tripped and fell when I was eight years
old
,
and
you were my knight in armor
. You were always it for me. I stalked you in high school, in disguise of dating Ash,
” she whispered.

Fisher spun her around and plastered her to his chest. Kissing her
viciously
, saying between kisses, “I’m never letting you go,”

Epilogue

“
A Childish Place, A
center for special needs and rehabilitation is now open!” Claire announced to the gathering. Two years in the making and finally everything was complete
d
. With Fisher standing beside her and their family and friends mixed with the crowd, she was finally complete.

Not only did Fisher help contribute
financially
, the mayor, council members and townspeople all donated to this cause, making everything even more
remarkable
. The facility now had money set aside for future causes and investments. People
from other cities already booked
appointments and enrolled their children in the many programs offered.

“I’m proud of you sweet heart,” Fisher leaned down and whispered in her ear. She gave him an impish grin.
She watched as he stepped up to the microphone
. S
he didn’t know he wanted to make a speech. She waited patiently, wondering what he would say.

“Many of you know us. You have been our friends and neighbors. You guys have watched us grow up together
,
and
we thank you for being here to share this
special
moment,” he said to the crowed. He stepped back, grabbed her hand and ushered her down the stairs of the make shift platform.

He led her through
the crowded, stopping here and there to answer questions and thank well wishes. They ended up at their home they shared, the one that was built on the land sitting adjacent to the camp.

“Come, I have a surprise for you,” he said.
He led her to their bedroom
,
and
she stopped in her tracks. T
he bed was covered in rose petals
,
and
there were candles lit everywhere.

“I planned to do this out there, when I was making me speech.
But
this is a private moment. Well, that and I chickened out,”
Fisher kneeled in front of her
,
and
she knew what was about to happen. She had been waiting for this moment, but she still couldn’t stop the emotions from clogging her throat.

“Marry me Claire, Marry me and make me the happiest man in the world,”

“Yes, I will marry you. Now stand up and let me kiss you,” she said, tears misting her eyes as he slid a beautiful princess cut diamond ring on her finger.

“I have a surprise for you too,” she laughed and went to her closet, pulled out a shoe box and gave it to him. She watched, smiling as he opened it up and found plane tickets and hotel reservations to Los Angeles. “I was planning to ask you to marry me later on tonight and spirit you away as soon as you said yes,”

“God I love you,”
he exclaimed, his voice cracked slightly at the show of emotions.
Life couldn’t get any better for her.
If only she could get her sisters to settle down and marry. Now, there’s a thought. She smiled as she
came
up a plan to get Lexie and Asher back together.

The End

I hope you have enjoyed this novella. This is the f
irst of the series: Weston Ranch
that I have planned. Keep a look out for Lexie and Asher’s story.

If you have any suggestions, ideas, problems, comments, anything at all, please feel free to email me at:
[email protected]
.
I am always looking for ideas and suggestions to make my writing better.

There is a sample on the next page of my historical romance series. I hope you enjoy!

This is a free preview of the first book of
my historical romance series, T
he Realm of Peers

The Duke’s Love

Chapter One

Although Ana had managed to leave the ball undetected, here she was just a bit later, stranded, and alone in her carriage.
Well over a hundred guests were in attendance, all crammed in a small room. It was easy to sneak out, since no one had paid much attention to her. The ball was just one of the many that started the season, and Lady Stanton had started in style, at least with the ball she had just left.

The driver had been going at a rapid pace, when the wheel became stuck in one of the many mud holes in the streets of London, and the carriage refused to budge. Ronald, the driver, attempted to push the carriage out of the muck, but he couldn’t dislodge it. At least, she wasn’t injured when the carriage jolted to a stop. However, the streets of London were not where a lady should be alone at night. They were dangerous, especially at night, and even though Ana knew this, she could not summon up enough energy to care.

She had grown weary of living in London; it was
boring
and bothersome, just like the ball she had just left. She peered out the window. There was a dim light flickering in the distance, but it was dark, and she could barely see anything other than unlit town homes. For once the streets were clear
,
and
the air was somewhat diluted. The stench of the city wasn’t as thick at night as it was in the daytime hours.

Well, there was nothing to do, but settle back and wait for her driver to return from fetching help. Ana pulled her legs up under her ball gown and leaned against the side of the carriage, intending to rest while she waited. She was
having
a hard time trying to get comfortable in her lavender ball gown, the fluff, and lace, scratching her skin. Her eyes had just closed, when she thought she could hear a carriage approach from the distance. She knew that her driver had not been gone long enough to find help.

It was also too early in the night for it to be any of the other guests from the ball. After all, it was hours from being over. She could hear the carriage getting closer, so she pulled the thick velvet curtain aside to peer outside, but it was too dark and difficult to see.
Suddenly,
the carriage stopped beside her.
S
he waited for the customary polite knock on the door.
However, the light courteous tap did not happen. Instead, the carriage door was jerked open with vicious force.
Even through the darkness, Ana had no problem identifying the man who stood in front of her with an angry scowling face.

“What the hell do you think you are doing here by yourself in the middle the night, and with no protection? Are you just going to sit there and ignore me?
Of course
you are. You have always been quite
skille
d
at doing so, haven’t you?”

The anger was evident with each word that came out of his mouth.
Oh, how she remembered that mouth.
He spoke each word with a hatred that he obviously felt toward her. She felt the lash of his words strike her, reminding herself that she deserved every one of them.
Of all the people in the world to stop, why him?
He was the
very
last person she ever wanted to see again. Jake Trent, the Duke of Ashbury, was standing in the door of her carriage, angry and frowning.

“Your Grace? What are you doing in London? I thought…I thought you left for Scotland?"

Suddenly, she felt vulnerable, so she tightened her wrap around her shoulders, as if she could shield herself from his view and her feelings.

“You would like that, wouldn’t you,
to never see
me again? Do you honestly think so little of me, my Lady?”
He asked, his eyes intense as he watched her every move.

Looking up at him, she ached to explain what had happened two years ago, but she knew that he wouldn’t listen, nor would he care. Therefore, she said nothing.