He smiled tenderly at her and brushed a fingertip down her cheek. “Yep, I don’t know about you, but I’m in this for the long haul. I know we’ve only known each other a short time, but Cerise, I love you. I can’t imagine not having you in my life. I would give away every penny I have to keep you in my life.”
“What?” Her mouth dropped opened. She must have misheard him. He hadn’t just told her he loved her, had he? And that he’d give away all his money? No one had ever put her first in their life.
His warm, large hands framed her face, his thumbs brushing the apple of her cheeks. “I said I love you, Cerise Robinson. I want you to bring sparkle to my life every day.” He lowered his head and kissed her.
His mouth was gentle on hers and she wrapped her arms around his neck, going up on tiptoe to deepen the kiss. The dam surrounding her heart disintegrated and all the love she’d never known she was capable of poured out of her.
She had to tell him. Had to let him know that she felt the same. Breaking the kiss, she placed her hands on his cheeks. “I love you, too, Brodie. So very much.”
“Thank God,” he whispered and rested his forehead against hers. “We’re going to do this, Cerise. We’re going to make a family with Finn. You said when Daphne visited that she was happy at how contented Finn was with you. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it like I hoped. When she does her visit next month, I’ll be here, and she’s going to know that Finn belongs with us and it’s not a game.”
Cerise hoped it was true. Part of her couldn’t help but worry that because this part of her life was turning out amazingly, that her adoption of Finn was going to fall apart, and he would be lost to her.
Usingthe high-powered binoculars he’d gotten from the Army supply store, Ed was able to see right into Cerise’s front window. Bitch should’ve closed her blinds, but he was glad she hadn’t because, if she had, he would’ve missed the way she told the cowboy holding her that she loved him. And him talking about the kid. He wasn’t a lip reader, so he couldn’t make out everything they’d said. But he recognized the words Finn and love.
All he had to do was sit tight for a few more days. The wildflower festival was coming up, and he had everything in place. As much as he wanted to let the kid suffer, for him to get his hands on the money quickly, he’d have to kill the kid and dump him so that he couldn’t be found. He’d have to be careful not to leave any DNA. He’d marry Poppy because she’d be overcome with grief and then, once she had the money, he’d off her too.
Every time he thought about his plan, he got excited about the life he was going to live.
“Enjoy your happiness, bitch, because it’s going to be short lived.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The dayof the wildflower festival dawned with the sun shining and a nice breeze to keep the air circulating. Brodie had dragged himself away from Cerise’s warm bed and arrived at the Hunt VFD to meet up with the rest of his team so they could go through the logistics of the event.
As far as he knew, he was going to be doing a couple of shifts directing people to correct parking locations and manning the VFD stand in the hopes of raising some money and getting more people involved with the organization. Life changed on a dime for people and sometimes they had to relinquish their volunteer duties.
It had been a crazy week since he and Cerise had proclaimed their love for each other. He’d spoken to Mitch’s parents who in turn introduced him to the Crabtrees. He’d looked over their property and liked what he’d seen. The main ranch house and the barn needed to be updated but he had the means to do that. Before he finalized anything he wanted to show Cerise the house and see what she thought about living there. He hoped she and Finn liked the idea of living on the ranch. It wasn’t too far away from Kerrville so it should work in well with Finn’s school as well as Cerise’s job.
When they got married, she wouldn’t have to worry about giving up the job she loved to take something that would fit in with Finn’s school schedule. He’d be there when she wasn’t.
He smiled when he thought about the word “marriage” now. He had no plans to propose just yet, but he’d found his soulmate. He was complete.
“What are you looking so happy about?” Eric asked as he walked into headquarters.
“Life.”
“Oh fuck, I recognize that look. You’re in love.”
“I am.”
“With Cerise?”
“Yep, with the glitter queen herself. And I love it.”
Eric slapped him on the back. “Happy for you, man.”
Over the next couple of hours everyone went over everything they needed to do. Brodie had plans to meet Cerise and Finn for lunch. He couldn’t wait until they got there, although he was sure she’d text him when she arrived and walk over to where he was.
“You ready, Big John.” Brodie and Big John had first shift on directing traffic where to park.
The big man nodded and smiled. “Yep, let me get another donut and we’ll be on our way.”
Doing the same, Brodie grabbed a chocolate-iced donut and a couple of bottles of water. As they made their way to the parking lot, he noticed the vendors were all setting up their tents to show their wares. The weekend-long festival was a popular event in Hunt and attracted people from surrounding counties, including San Antonio, and as far away as Houston. He had to admit the carpet of blue from the fields of bluebonnets was pretty spectacular. Seemed a shame that the flowers were going to get trampled by the visitors and their need for the perfect photo.
Although he couldn’t deny that a picture of Cerise and Finn surrounded by flowers was something he could get on board with. Finn would probably call it gross or something.
Spending time with the young lad over the last week had been amazing too. He and the boy had laughed and teased Cerise, and they’d even made her dinner, which had brightened her day so much. It was obvious to him that no one had done anything nice for her and he was determined to change that for her.
