Finding Home (36 page)

We take Red out to our favorite spot. Ben shuts off the engine, and his eyes are everywhere but on me. Touching his face, I force him to look my way. “Babe, what’s going on? You’re acting really strange.”

He kisses my offered hand and then slides me across the seat to the driver door. “It’s all good. Just want to make sure tonight’s perfect for you.”

“Aww … that’s nice, but I’m just happy being with you.” He kisses my hand again and helps me out the door.

“See. When you say stuff like that, it makes me love you even more. Come on. I’ve got something to show you.” Ben takes my hand and guides me to our spot. What I expect to see is the usual picnic basket and blanket, which are there. What surprises me is that there is so much more. He’s transformed the space into something out of a movie. Fairy lights and lanterns hang all around, and soft music plays in the background. Pillows and blankets are laid out along with a vase of my favorite flower—Gerbera daisies. Off to the side I see a movie screen and projector. My stomach starts flipping in knowing he planned such a romantic night for us.

“Oh my God, Ben, this has always been a beautiful place, but you’ve turned it into something magical.” Turning into him, I place my lips on his neck and kiss it tenderly. I don’t want him to see the tears forming in my eyes.

Ben pulls me away from him to look deeply at me. “Do you like it?”

“There are no words to describe how I feel about it. All I can think to say is that I love it, and I love you.” He brings me in for a kiss that starts off innocent enough but rapidly changes to pure sinfulness. Just as I think we’ll take this to the blankets, he stops. He keeps looking at me as if he’s going to say something but can’t seem to make up his mind. “Babe, are you okay? Is there something wrong?”

He shakes his head, taking my hand and leading me to the pillows. “Everything’s great. I just need to put a halt on where things are heading. There’s plenty of time for that later.” He winks at me and gives me one of his naughty smiles that I’ve come to know and love.

I playfully swat him on the ass as we move to the blanket. “Okay, then what’s your big plan for the evening?”

He motions for me to sit down while he moves over to the projector. “This is my plan.” He presses the start button as he positions himself behind me. He takes one of the blankets and wraps it around us—our own personal cocoon. My body instinctively molds into him as I lean back into his body. I feel his lips graze my cheek and earlobe whispering, ‘I love you.’

Then the white screen changes into a perfect image of the winery. Words appear on the screen and kick my heart rate up several notches, because suddenly I feel like I know what’s coming.

I look back at him and he kisses me softly on the forehead. Turning my head back to the screen, I can’t stop the tears from trickling down. Ben has mashed parts of my favorite movies. All the ones that we’ve seen together with some he just watched because he loves me
.
Sixteen Candles
,
The Breakfast Club
,
Dirty Dancing
,
Pretty in Pink
,
Notting Hill
,
The Notebook
, and more, all from my classic collection.

Next, photos of Ben and I appear on the screen. There are baby ones and embarrassing ones from high school and college.
I will get Jenny for this
. Then it rolls into us. Pictures of our time together this past year display on the screen. Our wrapped arms squeeze each other as I watch our story unfold through images that capture our relationship.

The slides stop, and I think that it’s finished, but then a familiar song plays and the scene from
Say Anything
begins. Sobs overcome me as I recall the critical moment in our relationship when he came for me, and we laid it all on the line. Ben turns my head toward his while he kisses away the moistness from my tears.

When the clips end, he gets up to move in front of me. He wipes the tears away with his thumbs then replaces them with tiny kisses. I know without a doubt that I will love him forever.

Sitting back on his legs, he removes something from his pocket. It’s a wine cork with a sparkling ring set on it. My breath hitches as I try to stop the tears from coming back.

“I know I’ve told you before that you’re my gift,” Ben says as his voice catches with emotion. “Sam, I thank God every day that He sent you. I was a shell of a man, just going through the motions, believing my life was over.” He pauses and closes his eyes briefly, as if recalling a memory, but then re-opens them. “The first time I heard your voice you calmed me. Then I met you, and my body came back to life, and when you touched me my soul was reborn.” A lone tear trickles down his face, and I reach up and wipe it away. “You made my life worth living again. You are my everything. I’m complete. My heart is your heart. My home is your home.” I watch him pull the ring off the cork and hold it up. “Please say you’ll keep walking our path with me.” He kisses my hand and then throws in a wink for good measure. “Samantha Cole, will you marry me?”

Big tears fall down my face as I stare at this man who has made me believe again. Walking the path together is all I ever wanted. I touch his cheek tenderly before answering him. “Yes. Of course I’ll marry you. I love you more than anything and can’t imagine living my life without you in it.” I place my hand over his heart and say, “My home is your home, Ben Foster.” He places the ring on my finger. It’s a perfect antique round setting with smaller diamonds surrounding it. He kisses the ring on my hand then holds up the cork.

“I’ve been saving this cork for a long time now. This is from the day we first kissed. He chuckles and shrugs his shoulders like he’s embarrassed. “I couldn’t bring myself to throw it away. That kiss changed me, so I knew I needed to keep it close to me.”

Taking him into my arms, I pull him down with me. We place light kisses on each other as we look up into the night sky.

“I love you, Sam.”

“I love you, too, but can you hit play again? I cried so much the first time I think I missed half of it.” Laughing, he reaches over and presses play again. Letting out a heavy sigh, I relax into his arms as we watch the story of us with my very own happy ending.

Stay tuned for Jack and Jenny’s Story.

Book 2 in the Home series, coming spring 2014.

This book would not be possible without the love and support of my husband and our two amazing daughters. Their lives were turned upside down when I started this process and I'm forever grateful for their understanding of my passion and craziness.

Another big shout out to my parents who encouraged me and told me I could do it.

For my friends. They had to listen to my constant blabbering about my book and how the characters had completely overtook my head. Thanks for always having a smile on your face and cheering me on.

To my friends from CPYC, you are the best. Summertime Madness!

My large overextended family - thank you for sharing and spreading the word about my book. I'm so lucky to have cousins who are like the brothers and sisters I never had. To my Aunts and Uncles, thanks for your love and support.

To my fans who liked my page on Facebook right from the beginning. This book is made for you. You obsess over, dream about and love books - just like me!

And now to everyone else. I really hope I don't forget anyone.

Bloggers. Where would I be without you? Several have given me support right from the beginning. Thanks to: Reading Past My Bedtime, Two Crazy Girls With A Passion For Books, Book Addict Mumma, Bree Loves Books, Romance Book Addiction, For the Love of Books by Jaime, Booked on Romance, Romantic Book Escapes, Submit and Devour, Bookish and Bushy Tailed, Fictional Boyfriends, Life Becomes Me, We Art Books, and finally the Book Bitches Blog.

A special shout out to Chrissy from Reading Past My Bedtime. Thanks for being there from the beginning. You are an incredible lady!

A super special shout out to the two ladies from the Book Bitches Blog who have been supporting me through this crazy process. Jennifer LaFon and Jennifer Harried. What would I do without my personal cheerleaders? Words cannot express my over abundant love for you two. (Blubbering)

My Beta Bitches: Ladies, you are rock stars! Thanks for your help, support, laughter, sharing of naughty pics and passions for books. Your insight is invaluable.

Kim, Alicia, Mallory, Deena, Beth, Angelisa, Chrissy, Jenn, Kizeeta, Jennifer, and Ellen I'm sending you big, huge hugs!

To my friend Kathy who read it before anyone else. I love you, lady.

To Kim, Beth, Holly, and Katy, thanks for always encouraging me and telling me that I could do this.

My editor Madison Siedler and spit shiner Chelsea Kuhel, thanks for all your help and hard work.

To my cover designer, Sarah Hanson, thanks for talking me off the ledge and for sharing the love of Joseph Gordon Levitt.

My blog tour coordinator, Debra from the Book Enthusiast. Thank you doesn't seem to be enough. You are fabulous even though you’re a Yankees fan.

Angela McLaurin from Fictional Formats. Thanks for making my inside look so pretty and helping with my technical glitches. You are an amazing lady!

Jim McLaurin … thank you so much for your final proofread and your encouragement!

And now the authors - there are so many of you to thank - so here I go.

Katy Evans, Lauren Blakely , Deena Bright, Melanie Dawn, Kimi Flores, Anne Leigh, Mallory Grant, Violet Duke, Katie Ashley, Nyrae Dawn, M. Leighton, JB McGee and Sawyer Bennett.

To the ladies in my Independent Authors Group. Thanks for answering all my questions and your unwavering support.

Kimi Flores. Thanks for welcoming me into your author group and helping me through this crazy process.

Anne Leigh. You complete me. Your support and kindness blow me away. What more can I say?

Deena Bright. You rock my world. Love you bunches. Thanks for reading draft after draft with a smile on your face.

Mallory Grant. We started this together and made it to the other side.

Nyrae Dawn. You are wonderful. Love my boys.

JB McGee. Words cannot truly express how I feel about you. Thanks for everything. Your help and support mean so much to me.

Sawyer Bennett. Wow. You are my wow. I stalked you from the beginning and you welcomed me with open arms. I love you, lady. You are my rock. Thanks for being my inspiration and helping me pursue my dreams.

Extra shout outs.

My bestie and soul sister Alicia. I love you.

To Mark M. Thanks for my many firsts.

To Snoopy. You came into my life when I needed you most. Thanks for your friendship.

For everyone else that I forgot I am sorry. Just know that I appreciate all the support and passion that you have shown me.

I love you all fiercely! Big Hugs,

Aine

xoxoxo