Authors: Layne Harper
Colin’s been seeing the new guy for about two months, and seems to like him. We never discuss what they talk about, but I’m glad that Colin has someone besides Aiden and myself to share with.
Today marks the one-year anniversary since we started round two of our relationship. I thought about making a big deal about it, but I decided against it. In some ways, it feels like we were never apart. I’ve long since forgotten what my old life was like. I’m thankful that I’ve always kept a journal, because every once in a while, I take it out and read some of the notes I’ve taken. All I know is this man, sitting next to me, has been worth every damn tear that I’ve ever shed.
We turn off of the main road and start down a shell path. I can’t very well call it a road, because that would be giving it too much credit. Even Pancho perks up, and runs across Bertha’s bench seat, and jumps onto Colin’s thigh so he can see what’s going on.
Dense forest canopies the road. There are pine trees, and other types of trees that prevent light from entering the shell path. It feels otherworldly.
“This is a remake of
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
, and I’m the first victim,” I half complain.
“Ye of little faith, Charlie,” Colin scolds me. The further down the path we drive, the more excited he gets. He starts fidgeting in the seat and tapping his thumbs on the steering wheel. I smile at Colin, enjoying his happiness. Pancho and I can both sense it. Pancho starts barking at the window as we dead end at a lake.
“We’re here,” he announces.
Colin gets out of the truck and places Pancho carefully on the ground, before he walks around to help me out of the beast. I rub my behind, trying to get some feeling back in it as I follow the dog to the lake.
“Need some help with that?” he asks, flashing me the half smile that I love.
“Maybe later,” I reply with a wink.
He takes my hand, and leads me to the edge of the water. I note that he still has a slight limp. It worries me tremendously, but I haven’t told him. It’s been almost four months since The Break Seen Around The World. I keep hoping that the limp will resolve itself. I’m trying hard to be Colin’s wife and not his doctor.
Pancho runs happily in front of us, and heads face-first into the water with no regard for his own safety. Colin whips out his camera phone, like the proud papa he is, and snaps a ton of pictures. He mumbles to himself, “His fans will love these.”
He leads me over to a fallen tree, and we take a seat on it while we watch Pancho play.
“What gives, McKinney?” I ask, after a few minutes of silence. I can’t take the suspense much longer.
He picks up a rock and tosses it near Pancho, making him jump and bark at the ripples that the water makes. It’s really stinkin’ adorable. “You know how Aiden makes investments for me?”
He pauses, and waits for me to reply. “Yeah,” I say, motioning for him to continue.
“Well, I’ve been looking for a vacation home for us for a while. You know, some place where we can go on the off-season, and just get away from it all. I wanted some place private and kid-friendly. I wanted us to be able to skinny dip if we want, without worrying about the paparazzi. Most of all, I wanted a place where we can bring our family and friends, and share the blessings that we’ve been given.”
“That would be nice,” I reply, a little too wistfully.
We both pause and watch two squirrels chase each other up and around a large pine tree.
“So, I’ve owned this track of land for a long time. I bought it about six years ago, with the intention of keeping it until a land developer purchased it from me and turned it into lakefront homes.”
Colin points to the area across the lake. There is a clearing in the dense forest where the lake meets another body of water. “You see that opening over there? That leads to a much larger lake for recreation.”
“Oh. Okay,” I respond, to let him know that I’m following the conversation.
“So, I got to thinking about it. I already own this. Why don’t we build a vacation home here? What do you think?” he asks. Colin has the same look on his face that Pancho gets when I place his dinner bowl in front of him. He really wants me to love this idea as much as he does.
“Colin, I don’t even know where we are. The way that you drove us here confused the hell out of me.”
He looks at me grins. “You really don’t know where we are?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Fill me in.”
“This is part of Lake Somerville. Texas A&M is about forty minutes that way,” he says, pointing.
“Oh.” I nod my head in understanding.
He points to a cliff across the small lake about fifty yards from the opening into the larger lake. “I thought we could put a house up there. It would be far enough above sea level that we wouldn’t have to worry about it flooding. Plus, then our kids can’t just wander out of the house and fall in the lake.”
The cliff is steep enough that we would have to put in some sort of steps to reach the water. It would probably also need a gate.
He points at another area. “That’s where we could put a boat dock.”
“Boat?” I raise my eyebrow. “So now we’re building a house, and buying a boat.”
He looks confused. “You know, something kid-friendly, like a pontoon boat.”
I gently punch him on the arm. “I’m just teasing. Buy a boat if you want a boat.”
He ignores me and continues. “But look at that tree, Charlie.” He points to a huge oak tree that reminds me of the one growing in Doctor Benson’s yard. “Wouldn’t that tree be a great place to hang a rope swing?”
“Sold,” I say, throwing up my hands. “You had me at rope swing.”
He pulls me into his lap and tickles me while I scream with laughter. Pancho doesn’t approve of Colin’s behavior and runs over to us, nipping at Colin’s hands.
I, of course, egg him on. “Pancho, help! Daddy is being so mean to me.” I squeal.
Pancho digs his sharp little teeth in Colin’s hand, hard enough that he draws blood. Colin pulls his hand back, and says to Pancho, “Good boy. It’s our job to protect Mommy. Not even Daddy can make her upset.”
I roll my eyes at the two of them, snuggling together and giving each other kisses. I mouth, “Ob-nox-ious.”
“So, you’re game?” he asks.
“Yeah, Colin. I think that I am.” What’s there to think about? The land is gorgeous. He already owns it. I would love a vacation home for our family and friends.
“Good. I’ll find us an architect so that we can get this project moving.” He sets Pancho on the ground and scoots closer to me. He gets the twinkle in his eye, and flashes me his best half smile. “I believe that you mentioned this morning that you’re ovulating.”
I smile at him. “That’s what the monitor said.”
“You know, a year ago today, I made you come by just playing with your hot tits,” he says. The edge to his voice lets me know that he’s hard as a rock, without having to glance down.
“That you did, but you know how a baby is made, right?” I smile at him, and give an attempt at a sexy wink, using his words from our wedding day.
He scoops me up and carries me back to Big Bertha. He opens the tailgate and sets me down, letting my feet dangle over the edge. He grabs a sleeping bag out of the toolbox and spreads it over the bed of the truck. I study him. He’s a man on a mission. Mr. McKinney has something fabulous planned for me.
“I believe that I have a somewhat good idea how the birds and bees work,” Colin says, as he pushes my dress above my waist and removes my thong panties with efficiency. He holds them up as if examining them, and gives me a smirk. “Lavender, huh? You remembered.”
I look into his eyes. “How could I possibly forget one of the most amazing nights of my life?”
He leans forward, placing a hand on either side of my thighs. “If you thought that night was amazing, then you haven’t seen anything yet,” Colin says, in the cocky voice that I’ve missed.
I lean forward to kiss his lips, but he dodges my advance. I must give him a confused look, because he says, “Not yet. We have to take care of some business first, Mrs. McKinney.”
He walks back to the toolbox, and rummages around for a moment.
What could he possibly keep in there that I would want?
When he walks back to me with that damn limp, he tells me to close my eyes.
I do, hoping that it’s not another surprise. I hear Pancho yelp, using his shrill puppy bark. Colin reprimands him and tells him to behave. A smile breaks out across my face as Colin places Pancho’s wet little body in my lap.
“Open your eyes,” Colin instructs. When I open them, I see Pancho holding a tiny box in his mouth. I quickly take it from him.
“I would ask how you got him to hold the box in his mouth, but no need. Whatever’s in here must be expensive,” I say, shooting Pancho, my Jimmy Choo shoe murderer, an evil look.
Colin takes Pancho from my lap and gives him lots of good boy kisses. I take the lid off the unwrapped box and see a gorgeous ring inside. There are three diamonds of equal size set in a row. I’ll give Colin credit; the stones are a tasteful, appropriate size.
I look up at him, and see him staring at me, love dancing in his eyes. “It’s a past, present, future ring.” He takes it from me and slips my Aggie ring off of my right ring finger. He replaces it with my new one. “Look, I know that it’s not practical for you to wear all the time. That’s okay. I just thought it was important today, of all days, to acknowledge where we’ve come from, and where we’re going together. But, we also have to focus on the present. Right now, we’re not where either of us thought we would be.” He pauses for a second to gather his thoughts running his hand through his hair. He’s struggling with whatever he wants to say next. I reach up and stroke his arm, encouraging him to continue.
When he does start speaking, his voice cracks. “I thought that I would have a Super Bowl ring on my finger, and we’d be preparing to have our baby.” He clears his throat and continues, “Instead, I walk with a limp and we have Pancho the Destructicon.” I crinkle my forehead. “You know the Transformers…never mind. My point is, a year ago, we had no idea how different our lives would be, but it’s okay. I love you more today than I loved you yesterday.”
He throws his hands up, motioning toward the lake and the beautiful trees that surround us. “This is our future baby. This is where we’re going to make memories with our kids, and family, and grandkids and hell, if we’re lucky enough, our great grandkids. This is my anniversary present to you. Here, on this land, is where we’re going to enjoy our present and find our future, together. Our infinity.”
What does the future hold for Charlie and Colin? Find out in the last book in the Infinity Series which will be available sometime in Spring 2014… Follow me on Facebook, Twitter or my blog,
www.LayneHarper.com
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