Page 19 of The Mountain Man's Bride

I giggle. “You like it just as much as I do when I’m naughty.”

He nuzzles my hair. “Everything is going to be alright. I’ll be with you through all of it. But there’s something you need to know about your future husband.”

“What?” I ask, snuggling into his chest. “You hate my cookies?”

“I love your cookies,” he answers, squeezing me tighter. “But the bad news is you’re marrying a millionaire.”

I laugh. “I’m marrying for love.”

“I know. But you happen to be marrying a millionaire,” he repeats.

I pull away from him to stare into his handsome face. “You’re joking.”

“Afraid not, pixie. Been fixing cars up for pay since I was sixteen. Started my first company by twenty and turned it into a franchise.” He shrugs. “Didn’t care much for the corporate shit so I left it in the hands of a good buddy. He’s the CEO and handles just about everything.”

“Crew’s Automotives?” I say softly as the pieces fall into place. I’ve always heard that the national brand was started out in Kentucky years ago. “You’re that Crew?”

“I’m that Crew,” he says, a smile playing across his full lips.

I shake my head. “I can’t believe I didn’t know this about you.” It still seems so strange to me. Last week I was living my life like normal. Now I’m engaged to a man who feels like he’s the other half of my heart.

“Point is,” he says softly. “You don’t have to worry about your grandfather or the company. I’ve got more than enough money and the rest we’ll figure out as it comes.”

A nurse steps into the courtyard and gestures for me to come inside.

I give Crew a grin. “It looks like it’s time my grandfather met my fiancé.”

He returns my smile and kisses my forehead. “I can’t wait to build a life with you.”

13

MAGGIE

“I feel so bloated,” I groan as I catch a glimpse of myself in the bathroom mirror in Crew’s cabin. The white wrap-around dress is simple and elegant.

It’s been nine months since Crew and I got engaged. The only thing that stopped him from dragging me down to the courthouse was the fact that I wanted my grandfather to walk me down the aisle and give me away to my future husband.

“You’re not bloated,” Iris chides, pausing to adjust the bow on my dress. The baby bump is making it impossible to get the silly thing centered. “You’re eight months pregnant.”

I giggle. I still can’t believe how quickly everything in my life has changed. The family business is once again thriving, and I’ve changed my role in the company so I can work remotely from anywhere.

Now I split my time between my grandfather’s house and Crew’s cabin. He’s been updating and modernizing it. He’s added an extra bedroom and bathroom as well as heated floors throughout.

As soon as the baby comes and we’re settled, he’s going to add additional bedrooms so we can have more babies. Apparently, his plan is to keep me good and pregnant. I have no objections.

There’s a knock on the door then my groom is peeking his head inside. He grins as soon as he sees me. He already knows what the dress looks like. Neither of us were superstitious about this wedding. We both know it’s the start of our new adventure.

Crew lets out a slow whistle. “Damn, you get prettier every time I see you.” He glances at Iris. “I want a moment alone with my woman.”

Iris frowns at my groom. “If you mess up her hair or makeup, they’ll never find your body.”

He grins and gives her a mock salute as she leaves the bathroom.

“What are you doing here?” I ask when he shuts the bathroom door. “I won’t lie. You could definitely talk me into a quickie right now, though you will have to do most of the work.”

Heat sparks in Crew’s gaze but he shakes his head. “Those damn hormones of yours are going to kill one of us.”

“What a way to go.” I waggle my eyebrows at him as I lean on the bathroom counter or rather, I try. It’s not as easy to maneuver these days.

---