JOHN

Okay, so this is how it all went down. I'll keep this short and sweet. Maybe you can help me figure it out, ay?

I realize Riley really wants this Bed and Breakfast in Vermont, right? So, I steal a copy of her business plan, contact a few of my Brothers to take a good look at the building and give me their honest opinion, and they thought it could be fine. I get an attorney to look over the business plan my girl's been working on for, oh, like her whole fucking life, and they give it a seal of approval. I asked Isobel if I could use Temple funds to bankroll the B&B. She says, hell yes. Then I get sweet Izzy to come up there with me (during our Family vacation in Niagara Falls, mind you), to do the final walk through and sign the closing papers. And that's when I think things got fucked up.

See, I wouldn't have access to the keys until the papers were legally filed the next business day. Since Lachlan (my Riley's best friend in the whole fucking world, yeah, I'm rolling my eyes!), flew Iz and me up there on Friday, I had no clue how I was going to get the keys in my hands without Riley figuring it all out. I did tell you that this was all a big secret, right? Right. Anyhow, my plan was to drive Riles there, right after we left the Falls on Tuesday. Take this long, convoluted route so that she'd have no fucking idea we were going to Vermont. My intention was to take her right to the house and carry her over the threshold.

Yeah, yeah. I know. So I'm a real romantic guy. Well, as it turns out, I may be romantic, but not very considerate, ay? See, Lach offered to fly up to Vermont on Monday during our Family cruise to pick up the keys. That way, I wouldn't be giving anything away by having to stop at the real estate office before we got to the house. Are you seeing where this is going yet? Let me explain further.

Riley and Lachlan have been having this hot and heavy love affair through the U.S. Mail since before I even met her. I know how she feels about him, and I can assure you, Lach makes no bones about his feelings for her. So I got this jealousy thing going on, all right. I'm fucking human, ay? Anyway, they have never even laid eyes on each other yet. So maybe I should have thought about that before I jumped at his offer to get the keys. But I didn't. Fuck.

We were probably fifteen minutes into the cruise, the Maid of the Mist hadn't even left dock, when I notice Riley looking around. I hadn't seen hide nor hair of my Number One since I left our suite on Friday morning. It took everything in me not to drag her ashore and into that cave under the falls for a quickie! And there she was, looking for Lachlan. Well, the minute I swallowed my jealousy, I fucking knew I was in trouble. See, rather than hurt my feelings, Riley asked Thorne where Lachlan was. Know what that prick said?

"Riles, he's doin' a favor for John. He should be back by dinner, love."

Oh shit.

I wish I could tell you she flipped out on me, blew a gasket, exploded. But fuck, it was worse than that. Way fucking worse. She just turned to me, the hurt in her eyes far more effective than any words she could have shot my way. It tore at my heart. "Ah," I opened my mouth, but nothing else came out. What the hell was I going to tell her?

She spend most of the cruise chatting pleasantly with her Sisters, Jack, Colin, Bud, Cort. Anyone but me. I leaned over the railing in my stupid fucking yellow rain jacket and my stupid fucking yellow hat, looking away from the Falls and wishing I could fall overboard. Jesus, this was my fault for sure. I encouraged her to play this Game, to live in this world, love her Brothers and permit them to love her. And I promised her I'd always come home to her, always love her most. We talked about secrets and how insecure I was feeling about Lach, and she even asked for a visit with him. For me. To help me get over that feeling that what they had together might take her from me. Granted, his visit was still a few weeks off, giving me enough time to get used to the idea. But I never, not once, realized that she might have really wanted to see him this vacation. Like I said a thousand times. I'm one fucking selfish prick.

Darcy joined me at the rail. She knew something was up, and as much as I love her, I wasn't interested in hashing it all out. I knew the facts. All I needed to do was hope it would all work out. I even considered finagling some way Riley and Lach could spend the night together. But of course, my dear Brother Lachlan managed to fuck that plan up too. After the cruise, there was a note at the hotel front desk for me.

John,

Fogged in here, mate. Should lift before morning. Keys will be in your hands before you leave. Promise.

Lach

I looked out the hotel window. Clear as a fucking bell. Niagara Falls is west of Burlington, Vermont. Since when did weather move against the rotation of the planet? Fog, ay? I'll tell you about the fog. Lachlan couldn't take his eyes off that real estate woman. Some fog. A fog with long legs and pretty green eyes.

On to plan B. But there was no plan B. I had a plan Z, though. That was telling Riley the truth about the B&B. There had to be at least 23 options before I resort to that. Right?

Ready for the hard stuff? Well I wasn't. It was the first night since knowing Riley that I lay beside her and didn't make love to her. God sakes, she was so distant. It was fucking killing me. I finally got up and walked down to the lobby. I sat in the bar till they closed, then sat and watched the fake water fall till dawn.

When I got up to the room, she was in the shower. I figured, enough was enough. She hadn't spoken a word to me since that fucking cruise. We needed to talk. I turned the bathroom doorknob. Locked.

Okay. Plan C. Wait.

I dropped into a chair. Suitcases were on the bed, opened and loaded. At least she'd packed my clothes too. Guess she hasn't tossed me out. Yet.

Riley came out of the bathroom fully dressed. She put her toiletries into a suitcase and zipped it closed. "I think we should hit the road soon. Do you want to take a shower first?" She didn't look at me.

Soon? Soon? Hell no! The keys weren't there yet. "Riley, baby. Please come here."

She opened every drawer, making sure that she hadn't forgotten anything. Then she zipped the second suitcase, heaving it up. I reached for it; the damn thing weighed more than she did. My fingers touched hers, and I heard her sigh. Setting the thing down, I reached for her.

"Come on, talk to me," I begged. What followed was like a fist to the gut.

She looked into my eyes. "What's there to talk about, John? You asked Lach to stay away from me, didn't you?" Tears fell from her beautiful eyes and I almost dropped to my knees.

"No! Riley, no! I swear."

"What other favor could you have possibly asked him to do for you?"

Fuck! Now, you tell me what I should have done, ay? 'Cause it turned out that Plan D was to do nothing. I didn't move, didn't speak, didn't even blink. Not till she huffed and charged out of the hotel room. For a tiny woman, she can stomp pretty hard; I heard her feet all the way to the elevator. That's when I started to panic. "Fuck!" I shouted. But I looked on the bright side. Her little outburst did buy more time for the prodigal Brother to show up with my fucking keys.

At ten o'clock I was still pacing the room. I'd called Darcy and Bud, twice. Bud was out looking for Riley. I called Lachlan's room like six hundred times. Nothing. Well, it was no use going over the edge here. I was in our room; I had the luggage, the jeep keys, and her purse. I knew she wouldn't go far without that. Just as she walked in, the phone rang. I grabbed it, expecting Bud to tell me she was back. It was Lach. My keys were at the front desk.

Now I had a plan E. Wait it out. "Let's hit the road, baby."

I took the luggage; she picked up her purse and followed me.

***

I'd figured out a really complex route to Vermont, but trashed that idea as soon as we hit the road. Hell, I couldn't take much more of this. All I wanted to do was take her to the house and make every fucking apology I could possibly think of.

I know she knew we weren't going home, but I don't think she had any idea where we were going. For the fist time, I actually hoped beyond hope that someone, anyone, had told her my secret. We stopped for lunch at a diner and I couldn't swallow a thing. We both pushed food around our plates then left with coffees to go.

Sucking from a Styrofoam cup, I started to think this had gone far enough. She wasn't acting furious; she wasn't shouting or being nasty. She just wasn't saying anything at all. When I asked her a question, it was followed by a head nod or a tiny grunt. I swear I was in fucking hell. When the coffee got to me, I pulled into a gas station to use the restroom. "You need to go, baby?"

Not even a nod that time, she just climbed out of the jeep and walked to the ladies room. I rubbed my eyes and again considered just telling her the truth. But as I climbed behind the wheel, waiting for her, I realized we were less than an hour from the house. I could wait one more hour, couldn't I?

I waited, and waited. I looked at my watch. Jesus, she'd been in there for over twenty minutes. I jumped out of the jeep, panic making me charge for the ladies room. Locked, of course.

"Riley?" I called. I heard her crying and fucking lost it. Got the manager and followed him to the door. The second he unlocked it, I plowed inside, scooped her up from the floor in the corner and ran to the jeep. The manager wasn't letting us out of his sight.

She was holding on tight, her face buried in my neck, sobbing and . . . apologizing. I kissed her face, her chin, her lips. "Baby, you okay? Come on, Riles. Shh."

"Lady, did he do something to you?"

I turned to the manager, shocked. Fuck, what the hell else would he think?

"No, no. It's nothing," Riley tried to smile. "Really."

"You sure?" He demanded, glaring at me.

"I am positive." Riley reached up and hugged me tight.

Finally he left. I pulled her close, loving the feeling of her clinging to me, hating the fact that she was shaking with sobs. "Please, baby, please don't. I'm sorry. But it's not what you think, I swear."

She pulled away, her face flushed, wet with tears. Fuck. Breaking my heart. This was not what I had in mind. She looked into my eyes.

"John, I don't care what it is. I swear, I really don't. I just can't take this."

My heart stopped. "Can't take what, Riley?" I nearly choked.

"I can't take feeling upset with you. Dammit! Fuck it all!"

My eyebrows shot up. She took my face in her tiny hands.

"John Biebe, I love you. I love you completely and forever. And I don't care if you sent Lachlan away. I don't care. It's you who matters to me. I'm sorry. So sorry
I --"

"Wait. Wait a minute, baby. Listen to me. I swear I didn't send him away."

"It doesn't matter, John."

"It does. Listen," I pushed her at arms length, looking directly into her eyes, willing her to calm, to listen to me. She huffed several deep sighs, then blinked. "Okay?"

She nodded.

"Riley, I want you to give me one hour, just one hour. And I'll tell you everything."

"You don't have to tell me anything, John."

"One fucking hour. Can you do that for me?"

"Yes," she started to say, but I buried the rest of it in a kiss, one I'd been dying to taste for hours.

Grateful beyond words, I climbed behind the wheel and pulled out, watching the manager take down my license number as we passed. Oh well, I'm glad he was caring enough to do it. Just wish it wasn't me he suspected.

***

It wasn't till I turned the bend into the town of Stowe that I think she knew where we were going, but she didn't say a word. As I slowed the jeep, swinging it onto the private road, I watched her stare at the 'For Sale' sign, a red 'SOLD' banner across it, and she sighed. She climbed out and walked up the battered porch, her hands tenderly stroking the railing, her eyes rising to the profile of Mount Mansfield behind the house.

I walked up and hugged her from behind. She leaned back.

"Thank you for bringing me here. At least I got to see it one more time before the new owners tear it down." She strolled all the way around the two houses, returning to my embrace for a sweet hug. Then she sat on a fallen log.

I went to the car, shuffling around behind the driver's seat for the big manila envelope. I tore it opened then dumped the contents onto the seat. Now here's where I discovered what I'll call plan L, for Lachlan. Because it's my Brother's genius that was going to make this whole thing perfect. On my seat was a large ring of rusty old keys, a note and a square jewelry box tied with a pretty bow. The note simply said; The important stuff's in the box. I want to take this opportunity to thank you Brother.

I tucked the box into my jacket pocket and joined Riley on the log, straddling it to see her lovely profile. "Baby," I started.

"Can I talk first, John?" She turned wet eyes to me and I ran my thumbs along her cheek. "Please."

I nodded.

"Do you know, I was sitting right here the first time I ever heard your voice?"

I blinked.

"I knew it was you the instant the phone rang. Hearing your voice, John, I knew this was all real. And I knew I'd never want to leave this world again. Never. As long as I could be with you."

She sighed and I think my heart nearly exploded. I remember the moment I called her, desperate to keep her from leaving, from going back to the old world. And I remember why I called.

"Riley, it was Lachlan who told me to call, even gave me your number." She smiled sadly and I continued. "And no one's going to tear this place down, unless you want them to."

She squinted.

"See, this place has been sold, Riley. To us."

"What?"

"When I realized how much you wanted this, I got the money from the Temple treasury."

"What?"

I smiled and shifted on the log, leaning a little closer. "See, Friday morning, Lach flew Izzy and me here to sign the papers. But I couldn't get my hands on the keys till yesterday. I wanted to bring you here and surprise you. So Lach offered to come and get them for me."

"What? Izzy knew about this?"

"Yes."

"And Lachlan knew?"

"Baby, everyone knew. Hell, half the Family has already been here, checking things out for me. Colin and Cort, even Doc came to check on the quality of the well water."

"What?" She was blinking, probably in shock, so I tried to get back to the important part.

"Anyway, Lach got tied up and couldn't get back till this morning. That's why he wasn't with the rest of us yesterday. Baby, I didn't send him away. He did this because he loves you." I ran a hand through my hair. "I guess because he loves me too, ay?"

She looked up at the house again. "What?"

I chuckled, then stood and knelt at her feet. I handed her the box.

"What's this?"

I sighed deep. "We don't have marriage in our world, but I want you to call me husband, and I swear, till the day I die, you will be my wife. The one I love more than anyone on the planet."

Without taking the box, she leaned in and kissed my lips. "I love you that way too. So much that nothing and no one else matters. John, I got mad because I too had a plan. I wanted to see Lachlan on the cruise so that you could watch me hug him, tell him I was looking forward to our visit . . . then come back to you. You. I wanted to show you how much you mean to me. That as much as I love Lach, I love you more. And I know you love me that way too. I don't need a gift or a symbol to prove that."

I placed the box in her hands. "You need this. Open it."

Again, thanks Lach. She untied the ribbon, opened the velvet box and slid the key from the ring slot. I got the first smile in two miserable days, and it was spectacular.

She walked up to the right tower door, and took a deep breath. The key stuck a bit, I put my and over hers and jiggled it until the tumblers shifted, and the doorknob turned. She pushed the door open, turned to me and simply said, a tear trailing down her face. "It's real."

"Yeah, Baby. It's real and all ours."

Of course I carried her inside. I'm not so stupid I'd forget to do that! Well, the truth is, I almost did forget. She was so excited, she just started to charge inside, but I caught her arm and dragged her back. It wasn't as romantic as I'd planned. I think I just heaved her over my shoulder, Bud-style. It doesn't matter. How I took her in isn't as important as what happened after.

***

After she ran through both towers, inspecting every corner of the place, checking the views from every window, laughing about how much work had to be done, we talked for a while, up in the top floor of the left half of the house. That tower that would be for our Family alone. The room is huge, with windows all along one wall, the mountain outside looked like a perfect mural. We sat in the center of the room and talked about our life. The fact that we'd need to move before the end of September, which rooms we'd convert first for our temporary living quarters. That she'd need to give up her business, and I'd lose a season of coaching. We talked about adjusting to being alone, so far from the friends we'd made in Pittsburgh, so far from Bud and Darcy. And we talked about what we meant to each other. Our commitment to each other.

"Will you be my wife?" I whispered, leaning close over our folded, touching knees, my lips nearly brushing against hers.

"Yes. Will you be my husband?"

"Forever."

I had not felt her skin against mine for four days, and God sakes it seemed like months. I lifted the pretty pink shirt over her head, and undid that pink bra I love so much. Then I laid her back, wishing I'd thought to bring the blanket from the jeep in with me. I slipped the side zipper of her slacks down then tugged them off to see my favorite pink panties and she smiled.

Time seemed to spin like a top around us. I don't remember taking my clothes off, or tucking my shirt under her head. I remember kissing her. Feeling heat move between us, through us. I remember the sun cresting over the mountain, and how it illuminated gold tones on her beautiful face, how I reflected in her eyes. Seeing how she sees me. And I remember feeling good about it. Really good. I remember how she sighed. Soft and easy as I loved her breasts, those breasts that feed me, that heart that makes me fucking whole. How she felt beneath me. How her small hands felt on me.

And I remember tasting her, drinking from the woman I love. Sucking the flavor I starve for, like it was all new, all a surprise. I remember how she came for me, in one explosive cry, shuttering and calling my name. My name. Mine.

And I remember crawling up her body, wanting to kiss her into comfort, wanting to feel her along all of me. Damn. A woman is such a fucking gift. A miracle, and this one . . .

I remember the feel of her around me, tight, quivering. I remember holding off as long as I could, and as darkness hovered from the mountain, protecting the house, our house, I came. Pouring everything I am into the woman who represented everything I will be. Everything.

***

The name of the place is the 1876 Manor at Mount Mansfield. We start construction in mid-March, snow or thaw. We're planning to be able to handle guests in the summer and in full operation before the ski season opens next November. Put us in your vacation plans. We'd love to have you at the inn. Hope to see you soon.

John and Riley