Love in Montana (De La Fuente Family 1)

Eric got back to his feet and then bent to lift her from the wheelchair. Her arms slipped around him, her fingers caressed the nape of his neck, and she delighted in the shiver she felt wrack his body with her touch. That told her more than words could.

Once settled in the car that smelled new, Eric tipped her chair slightly to make her comfortable before he climbed behind the steering wheel.

He’d spoken to Talya, and her friend seemed happy with whatever he said because she smiled and kissed his cheek.

“Where’s Talya going?”

“I offered her a lift, but she said she had something to do not far from here.”

The engine purred to life as Eric slowly steered them out of the city. She stayed quiet and wondered where he was taking her because they’d passed his apartment awhile back.

She stayed silent though and felt the pain medication, which she’d taken before leaving the hospital, start to work, as her eyes grew heavy. The scenery, as it flew past, helped to lull her into sleep.

* * * * *

“Sylvia, babe. You need to wake up.”

Why was Eric trying to wake her up?

“Sylvia, c’mon. You’re killing me. I’m excited for you to see your surprise.”

> She liked surprises.

Her eyes snapped open when she realized it really was Eric talking to her, and that it wasn’t a dream.

“Hey.” He kissed her on the tip of her nose. “I thought I was going to have to carry you inside and wait hours for you to wake up to see your surprise.”

“I like surprises?” she whispered, trying to fight sleep.

“Oh, you’ll like this.”

“Mmm.”

“Sylvia?”

“I’m still awake.”

He chuckled. “Look at me.”

Her eyes met his laughing ones.

“I love you.” He became serious. “I didn’t want to do this here, but I want there to be no misunderstanding between us when I take you inside. I love you so much, and I’m so damn sorry for what I said and the way I said it back in Montana. I’d had one hell of a shock and I didn’t think. I think my brain shut down and just focused on Emelia and what she’d said. I’d never intentionally hurt you.”

She didn’t need to think, and cupped his face. “I should have been more understanding instead of running. I just felt hurt and could only concentrate on you asking me to leave. But I love you, and want to put that behind us and move forward, if that’s what you want?”

“What I want will become very clear.” He smiled and kissed her tenderly on the lips. “You need to look out of the front window.”

She felt a nervous flutter inside her belly. What if she hated his surprise? Only one way to find out.

Her head tilted to the side and then snapped around as soon as she caught a glimpse of where they were, and realized what she was looking at.

“How? What? Why? Oh my, God.” Her hands reached and covered her mouth as she found it difficult to get her head around the fact that she was looking at her cottage, and it no longer was in shambles. “You did this,” her voice broke.

“I did this for us, Sylvia.”

No more words were needed as he released her belt, and carried her down the rose lined path toward their new home.

The porch had been fully restored and so had the window shutters, all of which had been given a fresh coat of white paint. On the porch as Eric carried her up the steps, she spotted two rocking chairs on one side, and a porch swing on the other. It looked so welcoming, and she was having a hard time knowing that he’d done all this for her. It proved that he knew her well because everything was how she envisioned the cottage looking in years to come when she would have the money.