More than words seasons.., p.10
More Than Words (Seasons of Hope Book 3),
p.10
He took her hand, standing beside her. “Look out there. What do you see?”
“Honestly? My dream home.”
“I know.” He dug into his coat pocket. “I do too.” He handed her the papers. “I’m getting custody of Daisy Ray. Joint custody. I told Lori I’ve forgiven her.” He’d actually said it. I forgive you. He’d told her he’d made huge mistakes and played a part in their failed marriage. He apologized. That had been excruciating. Humiliating. He’d been the one betrayed. But still. And he’d asked for joint custody. He was in this dad-thing for the long haul, and he wanted Daisy Ray. Officially. Legally.
Lori had balked, but she knew he’d win. There was no point fighting in court and it wouldn’t be healthy for their daughter. They were securing attorneys to draw up the papers. She’d asked if any of this had to do with Cassidy.
Truth? Yes.
It was Cassidy who’d babbled into his life and shown him how to love. To love Daisy Ray better. She’d shown him how to extend grace and mercy. Because he’d seen Jesus in her. And it was Cassidy who’d helped him find his way back to his Savior. To Jesus. That was why he’d been able to sit at a table with Lori and not raise his voice.
Lori had cried. Hadn’t spilled her guts or admitted she was wrong. But he hadn’t done it for Lori. Or Cass. Or even Daisy Ray. He’d done it for himself and for God. A weight had lifted. No longer did he feel like a shaken Coke bottle. That was what forgiveness was all about anyway, he supposed. For him to get better. He wasn’t saying what Lori did was okay. But he was okay. Or he was going to be. With each day. Each breath. He could start over. Because he served a God who forgave and extended grace. Mercy. Hope. Second and third chances.
She took the papers. “What is this? The custody papers?”
“No.” He waited while she looked over them. Her eyes widened with every line.
“You bought seven acres of land? This land? From Knox?” She stared at him, mouth hanging open.
“It’s a land agreement. The purchase is in the works.” He tipped her chin toward him. “For you.”
“For…me?” she whispered, and tears sprang into her eyes.
“For us. I love you, Cassidy. I think since the day you hired yourself. But I’ve been afraid that I’m not enough for you. So I’ve kept you at a distance.”
But no more. God had given him the courage.
“You want to know why I show up and clean your gutters or build you a porch or fix the squeak in your door. I do it, because for me, love is more than words. Anyone can say they love you, but words are meaningless unless you can back them up with action.”
She blinked. Once. Twice.
“You love me?”
“Like a crazy fool. I’d have to be knowing I’m going to spend a lifetime of endless chatter, and you’ll probably take all my drawer space with fuzzy people socks. But I love you. I love the yammering. I love the socks. I love that you sit on a counter to eat because food tastes better there, and I’m gonna build the widest counters you’ve ever put your butt on.”
Cassidy laughed and wiped a few tears.
“I am. I’m going to be a man you can count on. A man who will show you the rest of your life how much you’re loved. If you’ll have me. Grouchy. Grunty. And if you’ll have my sweet baby girl who wants a Mama Cassidy in her life.” He dropped to his knee and opened the box with the diamond he’d purchased after his talk with Lori. “Marry me. This is me fighting for you. For us. I will never stop fighting for you. For your dreams.”
“I don’t know what to say!”
“This is not the time to fall short on words, Cass.” He stood and drew her against him until they were almost one person. He framed the side of her face and brushed her long beautiful blonde hair behind her ear. “At least give me one word.”
“Yes. Jax, yes. I love you. I want to be your wife. I want to be Mama Cassidy. I want the land.” She laughed. “More than all that, I want your heart.”
“Baby, you’ve got it. You’ve had it.”
He brought his lips to hers, gentle, slow. He’d missed her taste. Like hope. Like home. Her hands slipped into his hair and he skimmed her jaw line tasting his way to her earlobe. “I love you,” he whispered.
Turning her head, she found his lips again and possessed him with an intensity that fueled an overwhelming need for her.
Before he moved into dangerous waters and crossed a line, he broke the kiss, his heart beating wildly against his chest.
“I don’t think we’re gonna have an issue communicating in some areas.” Her eyes glazed over like a drunk.
He framed her face. “Just so long as you know I love you. I’ll always love you, Cass.”
“Say it again,” she breathed.
“I love you,” he whispered against her lips and claimed them again. Because he could. Because Cassidy James belonged to him. Forever.
CHAPTER TEN
Seven months later
Cassidy drove up the graveled road to their house. They’d cut it from the other side of the lake so they wouldn’t have to drive past Eden’s every time they came home. They’d pave it this summer. January and February had been horrendous months and no real work had been done on the house. But March and April had been fairly decent. A few breaks due to snow. Hopefully, by July they’d be all in and settled.
In April, she and Jax had been married. A small ceremony with just a few friends and family. Daisy Ray had been her maid of honor. Papers had been drawn up, and Jax got Daisy Ray every other weekend. One month out of the summers and they took turns each year with holidays unless something else could be worked out in a verbal agreement.
Cassie wouldn’t say Lori and Jax were friends by any means. But they’d come to a stiff civility. No more screaming matches or Jax losing his temper. She climbed out of her truck. “Who wants food?”
Jax looked up and grinned. He’d stripped his shirt—the sun had been his friend—and sweat glistened across his fit chest and abs leaving him in only dusty jeans and work boots. The damp hair around his temples and forehead had curled. This was her man, and if she wanted to lust all over him, she could. And would. And often did.
He tossed off his work gloves. “Where’ve you been?”
“Up at Eden’s. She’s been asked to plan a wedding and she’s freaking out.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s at the end of August! She asked if I’d help decorate and Audrey is in charge of flowers.” She shook her head. “But mostly I think she’s worried because of who is getting married.”
“Who is getting married?” Jax tugged her to him and nuzzled her neck.
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “I forget.” Tingles ran down her back, curling her toes.
He pulled away and laughed. “Serious?”
“Really? You wanna talk? Now?”
“You say I don’t talk enough.” He winked.
“Time and place, husband dear. Time and a place.” She huffed. “Jemma Alcott. She’s coming home because she wants to be married at the lake.”
Jax took the bottle of water from her and opened it then dumped it on his head. Now he was shirtless and wet.
“You’re a tease,” she said.
He laughed. “Big deal.”
“That you’re a tease? It is a big deal. Don’t start something you can’t finish.” She cocked her head and wiggled her eyebrows.
“Oh, I can finish what I start and you know it. I was talking about big deal on the chick getting married.”
“Well, if Jemma is home. Ezra’s probably coming home.”
Jax frowned. Then his eyes lit with recognition. “Ah. The artist guy I met at the benefit.”
“Yes.” Cassie handed him another bottle. “This one is for drinking.”
The playfulness in his eyes disappeared, replaced with what Cassie liked to call a wolfish gleam. “I’m not thirsty for water anymore.”
Cassie’s stomach swarmed with butterflies. “No?”
“Nope.” He threw her over his shoulder and stalked toward their dream home.
Cassie squealed but didn’t dare tell him to put her down. She was ready for where they were headed.
She was living her dream life. It wasn’t always roses. Jax could be stubborn and they butted heads and even had a few ugly arguments. Generally over stupid things. Like tile or the TV being too loud. But at the end of the day, God had blessed her with a life she never imagined would be hers. He’d been a father when she didn’t have one. He’d been her comfort when she had no comfort. Hope when she felt hopeless. Help when she’d been helpless. Security when she’d been insecure.
And He’d been her very own matchmaker, providing her with a man who wouldn’t just tell her he loved her, but would show her. Because really, that was what she needed. To be shown.
But God had shown her first.
When He’d sent Jesus to the cross. To die. For her.
Was there any greater love than that?
Jax carried her into the kitchen. “Counters were installed earlier.”
He plunked her down, scooting her to the edge, wrapping his arms around her waist. “What do you think?”
She glanced at the black and gray granite countertops. “They’re roomy.”
He pecked her cheek. “I actually listen to most of what you say. I passed on the throw pillows, though.”
Extra wide counters just for her. For them to sit on and eat.
“I’m kind of wishin’ now I hadn’t.” He arched an eyebrow and went in for a glorious kiss.
“Are they heated, too?” she asked in between kisses.
He nipped at her bottom lip then pointed at a switch next to the garbage disposal. “I said I was taking note, didn’t I?”
She tossed back her head and cackled; Jax stole the opportunity to explore her neck with his lips. The man kissed like a boss.
“Cassidy Woodall, have I told you today that I loved you?”
“I could stand to hear it again.”
“I love you.”
She didn’t doubt it at all. How could she? She was sitting on extra wide counters with heat sensors for crying out loud, in a kitchen on land she’d dreamed about. “Till death do us part.”
“In other words, till one of us kills the other one,” he teased.
“Sometimes, it’s okay not to use any words.”
Blue-green eyes clearly held his intentions. “Well…in that case…”
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A note from the author
I don’t know where life finds you right now, but I do know that God’s mercies are new every morning. He loves immensely. He forgives grandly. And He heals wholly. We can’t always control our circumstances, or how other people feel about us, or the pain they might inflict upon us. We can, however, choose forgiveness, like Jax. Forgiveness isn’t saying what happened is okay or that the person who did the hurting was in the right. Because it may not have been. Forgiveness is choosing for us to be okay. In time. It’s a day to day process. Sometimes just breathing is a victory. God really does have a good plan for each of us. Even when everything seems to be falling apart. When we feel like we’re falling off the edge. He’s a soft place to land. I pray through this story, you find hope in Jesus Christ.
I love to hear from readers. You can email me at jessica@jessicarpatch.com or visit my FACEBOOK page, my BLOG, and join me (@jessicarpatch) on TWITTER. And don’t forget about More Than Words Pinterest page! Come by and see who I cast for Jax and Cassie, as well as take a peek at some of the fun scenes from the book.
Warmly,
Jessica
About the Author
Jessica R. Patch lives in the mid-south where she pens inspirational contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. When she’s not hunched over her laptop or going on adventurous trips in the name of research with willing friends, you can find her sneaking off to movies with her husband, watching way too much Netflix with her daughter, dominating her son at board games, and collecting recipes to amazing dishes she'll probably never cook. Her novel, Fatal Reunion, with Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense will release in January 2016. She is represented by Rachel Kent of Books & Such Literary Management.
Acknowledgments
As always, I have so many people to thank. A book takes more than one person to come to life on the page. Any mistakes or typos that may have been left are all on me.
To my husband: You are my Jax. I don’t know how many times you give me the deer in headlights face or tell me you can’t understand what I’m saying because I’ve gone into “helium mode.” But you love me. In word and deed. Thank you.
To my children: You always make me laugh and respect my writing time. One day, I’ll cook you dinner.
My agent Rachel Kent with Books & Such Literary Management: You don’t have to read these novellas. But you do. Because you care about me and my writing. I treasure your partnership, your feedback, and your godly wisdom. Thank you.
Susan Tuttle: I don’t have words. Get it. Words. More Than Words. Thank you for millions of brainstorming texts and phone calls. For always going the extra mile for me, even when you’re trying to get your own manuscript written. I owe you an entire Starbucks building. Maybe I’ll sell enough books to buy you one. One question though: can I have free coffee?
April Gardner: You amaze me with your skill and talent. Thank you for zooming through this and whipping my lack of commas into shape, and for encouraging and supporting me and my stories.
Jill Kemerer: Girlfriend, you blow my mind. From your humorous comments to the way you see a story arc and make me better. Thank you.
Michelle Massaro: You are meticulous. I say it every book. It holds true each time. Thank you for putting aside work for me. You tighten them like nobody’s business.
Vickie Carroll: My friend. My confidante. And the woman who caught one of the most important things I let lapse! Thank you for coffee, for making me spew it with your wild comments about Jax, and for helping me make him even more realistic.
Melanie Williamson: You have been my friend and supporter since Day One. I love you so much. You make me laugh. You give me the best feedback and you never say no when I ask you to read something more than once! Thank you.
Carrie Mayville: For inquiring about Cassie first. She wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t.
Melissa Tagg: For bringing a jumbled blurb to beauty. You wordsmith, you!
Table of Contents
More Than Words
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Chapter ONE
Chapter TWO
Chapter THREE
Chapter FOUR
Chapter FIVE
Chapter SIX
Chapter SEVEN
Chapter EIGHT
Chapter NINE
Chapter TEN
A note from the author
About the author
Acknowledgments
Jessica R. Patch, More Than Words (Seasons of Hope Book 3)
