Against the Odds A Love Story

Chapter 21

Life is grander when you can share it with your soul mate.

Twenty-one

Over the next few days, I settled into my new home by adding some much needed decor. I started the transformation by adding wildflower arrangements here and there. I hung some southwestern prints on the walls and added thick woven area rugs to each room. I placed a large scented jar candle on a warmer in the kitchen. It made the whole house smell like pumpkin and spiced apples. I also bought a stereo for the living room, and Hayden quickly made it a house rule that we share at least one dance each night. I loved that rule.

In our bedroom, I placed a large vase of silk sunflowers on the dresser, and another on a round, dark wood table in the corner. Other than my toiletries in the bathroom along with new matching towels, my clothes in the walk-in closet with Hayden's, and a few framed photos of Hayden and me here and there, nothing else had been changed. The room was still Hayden, with a feminine touch.

Hayden told me he loved what I did with the house. He said it felt more like home to him now,  not just because of the things I had added, but because I was there. He always melted my heart when he said things like that.

~ ~ ~

The next week we flew to California for a few days and went to Disneyland. Neither of us had ever been there before and were excited about going. It was also the first time I had ever seen Hayden in anything except Wranglers and boots. Dressed in knee-length denim shorts, exposing his muscular calves, a tan, form fitting t-shirt, and a pair of Nike sneakers, he was completely and utterly adorable. I had also bought myself some denim shorts and cap-sleeved t-shirts for the trip, as well as a pair of Mary Jane Sketchers so I would be comfortable waking around the park in the hot sun.

We spent two days at the park, going from ride to ride. Fortunately, I took a tube of motion sickness pills with me, so I was able to handle the rides pretty well and I had a lot of fun. At the end of both days, we left the park with bags of souvenirs to take back home.

We spent our last day in California at the hotel. Earlier in the day we went for a swim in the pool, or rather Hayden went for a swim. I just walked around in the shallow end. Though the water felt good, I told myself that one day I would indeed learn how to swim.

Truthfully, Hayden spent more time admiring me in my bathing suit than he did swimming. And he always managed to stay close by to fend off any male guests that came my way. All he had to do really was get out of the pool and walk his massive body toward me, and that usually got rid of anyone who stopped to chat. I had to smile whenever he did that, and it made me love him all the more.

We lay by the pool and let the sun dry us for a while, then we went back up to our suite and ordered room service.

I sat on the sofa next to Hayden, wrapped securely in his arms.

“Thank you, for bringing me here, Hayden. I've had so much fun.”

“You're welcome, darlin',” he said, pressing a kiss to my brow. “We'll have to come again sometime.”

“I'd like that.” I looked up at him and smiled mischievously. “Just to see you in shorts again would make the whole trip worth it.”

“Is that right?” he said, grinning and tightening his embrace.

“Definitely.” I reached up and pressed a hand to his face, softly brushing my thumb across his lips.

“Well, I wouldn't mind seeing you in that bathing suit again either.”

“Tell you what,” I whispered as I pulled his head down and touched my lips to his. “How about I put it on each day and greet you at the door when you come home?”

He eased back and smiled widely. “Darlin', if you did that, them meals you work so hard to cook every day would go to waste, because we'd be too busy to eat.”

I chuckled. “This is true.” I looked into his eyes and sobered. “I love you. Thank you for marrying me, and for loving me so much.”

He smiled lovingly and swallowed hard. When he finally spoke, there was emotion in his voice. “I love you, too, baby. And thank you for not giving up on me. On us.” He gently cupped my face and lowered his mouth to mine, kissing me slowly, tenderly. I sighed as the kiss deepened and I was quickly lost in the passion between us. With each whispered word from his lips against mine, I was pulled further away from the world around us and deeper into his, into the one his love created for me. And it was in that world that I knew I would always stay.