Timeless Vows: Five Tales of Love (Timeless Tales Book 4)
Timeless Vows
Five Tales of Love
Ruth A. Casie
Lita Harris
Emma Kaye
Nicole S. Patrick
Julie Rowe
Contents
Introduction
Part 1
Preface
Dedication
1. Forsaking All Others
About Ruth A. Casie
Also by Ruth
Part 2
Preface
Dedication
2. Till Death Do Us Part
It Was You
About the Author
Also by Lita
Part 3
Preface
Dedication
3. To Have and to Hold
About Emma Kaye
Also by Emma
Part 4
Preface
Dedication
4. From This Day Forward
About Nicole S. Patrick
Part 5
Preface
Dedication
5. To Love and Honor
About Julie Rowe
Also by Julie
Enjoy more Timeless Tales
Copyright
Introduction
by Jennifer Probst
www.jenniferprobst.com
NYT Bestselling Author of Marriage to a Billionaire Series
With the onset of Spring popping all around us, May is a special month to celebrate some of the greatest emotional events such as graduations, proms, and of course, weddings.
There is something about a wedding that brings a wistful sigh or wraps us up in a past memory of romance. The stunning bride in white, the sweet scent of roses, the line of colorful dresses, the long walk down an aisle toward a new future while poignant music caresses our ears.
In this special collection of five stories, Timeless Vows centers around a weekend wedding that changes each couple forever. We are swept to the remote mountains of Maine at The Loon Lake Inn to rediscover passion, love, forgiveness, and to be healed. Each couple faces their own barriers to love—from the struggles of learning about real commitment and communication, to a heartfelt trip back in time to see if love can once again be rediscovered after a tragedy. Enjoy the thrill of a first college crush returning with the promise of more, and the fight to keep a marriage alive amidst the daily challenges of life, to the journey of forgiveness and second chances.
These stories will remind readers that each relationship is unique, full of ups and downs, and heartbreakingly fragile yet fiercely strong in its beauty. You’re invited to step into The Loon Lake Inn and witness a wedding...and meet five couples who will find their own happy-ever-after amidst the most timeless journey of all: love.
Part I
Forsaking All Others
Ruth A. Casie
* * *
Morgan and Margot are wild about each other. But early on in their relationship, Morgan was focused on establishing himself with one of New York’s most prestigious law firms and Margot was busy making a name for herself in the antiques business. For the past ten years commitment was not something either of them wanted.
A visit to Morgan’s brother and sister-in-law changes both their lives. Now it seems all the two of them can think of is making a commitment—they just don’t know how to tell each other. They are both afraid of driving the other away.
Morgan keeps reminding Margot she doesn’t want a commitment, hoping she’s changed her mind. Margot thinks Morgan needs to see someone else interested in her to force him into action.
In truth, all they need to do is talk to each other and say what’s in their hearts. Will they come to their senses or deny the loving relationship they both desire?
* * *
Dedicated to ~
Jen, Lita, Nicole, Julie, and Desi. You make the hard writing easier, the puns funnier, and chocolate (and wine) tastes better when we’re together.
Olivia and Alex. I love you more than you will ever know.
Mallory Braus, for making me work hard and keep reaching for the stars.
Paul. You are my beloved and my beloved is mine. With all my love that’s always yours.
Copyright © 2015 Ruth Seitelman
Forsaking All Others
by Ruth A. Casie
She didn’t mean to intrude. All she’d wanted was to step out on the wide porch for a breath of cool air to stop her head from spinning. Now she couldn’t leave fast enough. What was she doing here straddling the threshold, pinned to the spot like a fly in amber, a death grip on the French door handles? Leave. Give them a little privacy—but she couldn’t move. Instead she watched Gabe embrace her close friend Viv. His fingertips whispered down her back while his other hand drifted down her side and rested on her hip. But it was the smoldering looks they had for each other that made her breath catch.
It was hard to imagine Viv getting married. They’d known each other for years. She was five years older and would always think of Viv as a flighty kid. But it was easy to see Gabe and Viv’s commitment to each other. Commitment. She blew out the word in exasperation. She hadn’t understood how much she’d wanted that from Morgan—until now.
A burst of loud music behind her broke the spell. She stepped back into the banquet room and closed the doors without making a sound. In all the years she’d known Gabe and Viv she’d never seen them so love struck. Their bed was a playground, but they were die-hard singles—at least that was what Viv had told her. Sure they lived together, but…well, it was convenient. They were good friends with benefits, that’s what they were. What a joke. She turned and glimpsed the bride and groom through the glass doors. How did she not see they were head over heels in love?
With her back to the door, she scanned the crowded bachelor/bachelorette party to see if Morgan had returned. He’d stepped out an hour ago. Business, he’d said. Aren’t you glad we’re not doing this? She thought about his words from earlier in the day. No, damn it. This is what she wanted. Do you hear me, Morgan Stuart? I. Want. Forever.
The DJ had almost everyone—including every woman present—doing a line dance on the packed dance floor. She had a clear view of the bar where the men were hanging out, gawking and making comments while they had their drinks. Nope, he wasn’t there, either. She was about to give up when a movement by the nest of cocktail tables captured her attention.
Morgan raised his bottle of beer in salute. “And I only want forever with you,” she murmured. She ran her hands down her snug black dress—making sure it clung in all the right places—then maneuvered across the crowded room, eager to get to him. She wanted to see if his eyes smoldered when he looked at her. As soon as she reached him she realized she needed more courage. She removed the bottle from his hand and took a swallow.
“Whoa. You don’t like beer. Remember?” Ignoring his outstretched hand, she took another gulp and tried not to screw up her face. The stuff was vile, but she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction.
Those little pink things—the ones with vodka, vermouth and strawberries that she’d had all afternoon—slid down so easily, along with the shots she’d had a few minutes ago with the girls in the bridal party. At the moment she didn’t care what she drank. Something wet and mind numbing was what she wanted.
Maybe the beer would steady the room and stop it from spinning. No, the dancers were a blur and now her stomach was complaining.
Since the beer made her stomach queasier, she placed her hands on the back of the chair and held on fo
r dear life. A sideways glimpse was all she needed to see Morgan shaking his head.
“You’re going to regret this in the morning,” he said, bending close to her. She closed her eyes and tried to control a shudder as his low voice and warm breath bathed her ear. She turned to face him, his lips a kiss away and his eyes…his eyes—
“You two are next. You know why?” They glanced at Dave, a groomsman, who stood beside them looking at the mob on the dance floor. “Because you’re the last holdouts. How long have you been together? Ten years? When are you going to tie the knot?”
The bottle dangled from her hand. Morgan retrieved his beer and exchanged it for a large glass of water. One sip then she chugged it all.
“We’re happy the way we are. You can ask Margot. She’d be the first to tell you she doesn’t need a piece of paper.” Why didn’t he just take a knife to her heart? This wasn’t the first time he put it into words. She didn’t want commitment eight years ago, but now…
“Why spoil a good thing?” she said in a matter-of-fact tone and gave Dave her most dazzling smile. What else could she say? It was obvious Morgan liked the arrangement. She got on her tiptoes and kissed Morgan’s lips. She searched his eyes, trying to see if that special look, the one Gabe had for his Viv, was there. But with Dave next to them, Morgan had his game face on. When it suited him he could be hard to read. He was one of the best corporate attorneys in New York. This evening he was the poker-face master.
She choked down regrets that they weren’t alone. A family. The idea had been on her mind since their trip to Star Island. Now, at the wedding, she knew she wanted one of her own and she wanted one with Morgan. She’d loved him from the start but right now, at this moment, she understood how much. She loved his sense of humor, his unconditional acceptance, his steadfast friendship, his closeness to his family, his Chris Pine blue eyes, his voice, his touch, his…everything.
The doors opened with a burst of air when Viv and Gabe came in laughing. The sudden dip in temperature sent a chill up her back that made her shudder. Morgan snaked a protective arm around her. “You okay?”
She melted into his side and nodded while she inhaled the woodsy scent of his cologne. It was a special fragrance she’d had made for him five birthdays ago. Now he bought it by the gallon and kept a small bottle on his well-organized bathroom shelf. Well organized, compared to hers, that is. His area was neat and orderly. Her shelf—that was another story. She was more the creative clutter type.
For Morgan, everything in his life had a place—everything. And her place was “no commitment.” It was something he’d been telling her over the past few months. Did he know she wanted more?
Or was he warning her off, telling her not to ask because she wouldn’t like the answer? She might have had an idea that he was interested in someone else but she knew he wasn’t. None of the signs were there. He was as engaged with her and their friends as he had ever been. He was attentive and thoughtful. Oh, they had their disagreements and arguments, but they settled their differences before they went to sleep. No, things were going well with their relationship, but they weren’t moving forward. What would it take?
He put the empty bottle on the table, handed her purse to her and moved them toward the door. She glanced around. The crowded room had thinned while the DJ packed up. Her head rang at the sound of clanking glasses as the staff cleaned up and got the tables ready for the morning crowd. “Where’re we going?”
“I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted. I’m going to sleep.” They continued on to the grand lobby. Now that her liquid courage had kicked in, she’d speak to him tonight and tell him she wanted a commitment, wanted to get married, or else. Or else what? She tripped over something on the floor; Morgan held on to her.
“Easy. Are you okay?” She didn’t know if she was or not.
“Sure,” she said with a wave of her hand. What if he didn’t want to marry her? She glanced at his strong profile. What if he walked away? No, she didn’t want to lose him. She loved him. No, no, this arrangement was fine, she tried to convince herself. She bit back the building tears, swallowed around the hot knot in her throat and moved toward the lobby. Things were fine the way they were. She forced herself to think of other, more pleasant things.
The Loon Lake Inn was a picturesque log cabin with two wings of guest rooms joined at the large central area. She took a deep breath to steady her spinning head and caught the scent of flowers scattered around everywhere. They passed the comfortable overstuffed chairs that created intimate conversations areas. The focal point of the room was the large fieldstone fireplace. She could imagine how cozy it would be in the winter, cuddling with Morgan by the fire with a mulled wine or hot toddy. Today, the hearth was cold and filled with a large basket of roses. What had been fragrant two minutes ago had become overwhelming and cloying. Her stomach growled—or was it those pink things she drank that were threatening to erupt? Or was it the possibility of losing Morgan? She hurried and moved on.
She fixed her gaze on the long flight of stairs and knew she wouldn’t make it to the top. She opted for the elevator. “Why would they need an elevator for a building with two floors?” She didn’t know but she could kiss the innkeepers.
“Handicap access would be my guess,” Morgan said as he held the elevator door for her. She nodded and buried her face in Morgan’s chest for the short ride. The glass capsule ran up the outside of the building and the notion of watching the landscape glide by was more than her stomach could take.
“Our floor, m’lady.” He kissed her forehead, draped his arm around her and led her down the hall. By the time they reached their door she noted that her knight was armed with the key. In addition to being gallant and dashing, the man was efficient.
Refusing to play the role of the damsel in distress, she plucked the key out of his hand and tried to insert it into the lock. On the fourth attempt, he put his hand over hers and helped guide her to the target. She turned the key and with a loud click that exploded like the report of a shotgun, Morgan turned the knob. The door opened and they stepped in.
The room was spacious and comfortable. The pale yellow walls and crisp white trim were soothing. The splashes of blue, orange and green floral chintz on the sofa and club chairs made the room homey.
Her heart pounded but she wasn’t sure if it was from her liquid courage or the pouty, sexy expression on Morgan’s face. She wiggled out of her black dress and draped it over the chair. Standing in her lacy underwear, she unhooked her bra, took off her panties and put them on top of her dress. Left in her strappy high heels, she took them off, too, and set them next to the chair. On her way to the bathroom she grabbed her nightshirt from her open suitcase and gave him a wet kiss on his lips. She kept her eyes closed.
“Did you hear? The band Gabe hired had to cancel,” he called to her.
“What are they going to do? They’re not hiring that awful DJ who played tonight?” She had trouble with the toothpaste. Every time she squeezed the tube it squirted into the sink. After the third try she shrugged and brushed her teeth sans paste.
“He wasn’t so bad. But no, he’s not available. Gabe needed help with—” She ran the water to wash up. “…Gabe and I spoke to…” She dried her face with the fluffy towel and didn’t hear a word he said until she glided out of the bathroom. “Everything is all set. He asked me to go over the music with her.”
How nice—the inn had turndown service. She inspected the sheets for the chocolate and when she didn’t find it, shrugged. She scooted under the covers, leaving one leg hanging out over the edge, touching the floor. Coward. She’d talk to him tomorrow. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow.
* * *
Morgan stared at her. He bit the side of his cheek in a Bruce Willis smirk that drove her crazy. Those high heels drove him wild. They made it look like her feet were bare, as bare as she was. His gaze ran up her body. She didn’t have to stand naked in front of him for his body to react, although he had no pro
blem with the view. It made him warm…all over. She’d be surprised if she was aware she was standing there naked. Exhibitionism wasn’t her game. She had a quiet sexuality that screamed to him. He picked up her dress, along with her underclothes, and placed them on the chair, her original target.
He pulled the fancy pillows off the bed, stacked them with care at the side of the dresser and turned down the covers. As smashed as she was, he doubted she’d wait to get under them when she came to sleep.
He got undressed and leaned against the bathroom doorjamb wearing the bottoms of his pajamas, waiting for his turn. Perhaps it was her dedication to her business that got in the way of her making a commitment to him—no, to them. She’d been under pressure—working hard at her antiques business. Her latest project came together this weekend at the Boyles Auction House. It was a big deal on both the professional and personal levels. She’d come a long way over the past ten years. She networked with several rabid collectors who paid her well, not only for the items she sourced for them but for her opinion as well. When she had taken over her parents’ little antiques shop, no one expected her to become a go-to person for high-quality pieces. He didn’t doubt her ability for a minute and he didn’t think the fact that he loved her clouded his view. Yeah, she was pretty special.
In general, she had self-control. The party girl was a side of Margot he didn’t see often. She earned the partying as well as the headache she’d have in the morning. Blowing off a little steam never hurt.