Chapter 23

Jarom kept himself insanely busy over the next few weeks. He caught up on the work he’d missed and then some. He even started working with his design team on a western wear line. He’d send everything to the Colevilles for testing. He also sent them the huge gift basket he’d planned on. Easton had come out of the coma after two days and he was going to be all right, but the healing from his burns and the brain injury would take a while. He wouldn’t be bull-riding at the finals in Vegas this year.

No matter how busy Jarom was, he couldn’t put Autumn from his mind. She lingered in every part of him, especially his prayers. He never stopped praying for her. He prayed for her to be happy, to know he loved her, to be safe, and if it was the Lord’s will, to please, please, please come back to him.

He wanted her to be the focus of his life, and she didn’t even want to give him a chance to be part of hers.

It hurt. It gouged. But he somehow kept waking up every morning and dealing with a million different things that mattered very little to him any longer.

His parents came to see him and Eli and Livvy. Though he enjoyed both visits, it was hard to keep his love for Autumn close to his chest. If they couldn’t be together he didn’t want his mom’s heart breaking for him or Eli and Livvy’s pity.

He did interviews about his experience with the takedown of Benjamin Oliver, but he never gave away the location or the people he’d worked with, only saying Aiden Porter’s team. He didn’t go to parties or respond affirmatively to any of the hundreds of requests from women to spend time together. He let them down gently, but he was done with casual dating. If he couldn’t be with Autumn, he’d stay true to his word and simply work himself into oblivion.

Returning home late one night, he walked up to the master suite to see the progress that had been made on the repairs. He could go to one of his other houses, but Autumn had been here and he told her he’d be waiting here. Would she ever come, or would he grow old working and waiting for her?

The contractors were working quick, and the entire space had been cleaned out before he’d returned three weeks ago. Now they were framing and it looked to be progressing well. He came up here every night because it reminded him of Autumn and their first meeting. He smiled thinking how he hadn’t been certain if she was going to kill him or kiss him.

Then he groaned and clutched at his heart. It stunk being alone, but that he could deal with. The pain racing through him was what might kill him now.

A wraith in black clothing pushed through the plastic sheeting covering the construction.

Jarom’s eyes widened, and it was all he could do to stay on his feet.

Autumn wore a fitted black T-shirt and tights. Her full lips were turned up in a smile, and those unique molten-gold eyes framed with thick lashes sparkled at him like the most beautiful gem on earth.

“Jarom Love.” She arched a perfect eyebrow, stopping a few feet away. “I know it is with great pleasure that you cast your eyes on my unparalleled beauty.”

Jarom’s fingers itched to touch her, but he remembered his line from that first night. “And who should I thank for the blessing of such a pleasure?”

She pursed her lips, but then she shook her head and her eyes got tellingly bright. “Jesus,” she said softly. “Every prayer He worked on me.”

Jarom blinked to clear his vision, but it was still the same. Autumn, in all her glory, and Jesus had worked on her heart.

“Paul and Aiden as well. I knew how determined those two were, but not how annoying.” She smiled and stepped up to him. She placed a hand on his heart, and it raced out of control. “And thank yourself. If you weren’t so irresistible and I didn’t”—she paused and cleared her throat—“trust you, know you’re my safe space, and know you would never reject me, I never would’ve come back.”

“Autumn,” he groaned. “In what world could I ever reject you? You’re my love and the only woman I want in my heart, my life, and my home.”

She smiled, her lips and eyes soft. “I love you, Jarom Love. I love everything from your charm to your confidence to your kindness to your handsome face .

“I love you,” he said, ready to gush out charming lines but his throat was so thick he found he couldn’t talk, couldn’t say any pretty words. He simply needed her close. He wrapped her up tight and fused their lips together. She came willingly, melting into him. The happiness and joy she brought with her was as unparalleled as her beauty.

He finally released her lips and stared at her in awe. “What changed?”

“I didn’t want to trust in your love, but as I spent time in the most horrific of circumstances, infiltrating a trafficking ring …”

He shuddered, hating the thought of her anywhere near traffickers but knowing she was tough and brave enough to handle it.

“I started to pray, and I felt your prayers. I felt I could be worthy of you, that you could heal and lift me along with our Savior.” She smiled. “Paul was with me and he’s been teaching me about Him. I knew if you loved me half as much as you professed, it might be messy, and we will have to figure out how to make my career work with your glamorous lifestyle, but I’m willing to fight for you just as you fought for me.”

“I love you more than I can profess,” he said. “You are the sun, moon, and stars. I longed for you with every beat of my heart. I love you and my love will never dim.”

“Okay, it’s getting a little cheesy, Adonis. But you should know if you ever leave me, I will hunt you down and hurt you.”

He grinned. “That’ll never happen. I’m much too smart to ever leave the most perfect woman in the world.”

Her eyes sparkled, but then they got tellingly bright. “I believe you,” she said softly. Then a mischievous smile lit her mouth and eyes. “And just for the record, I could never hurt you again. I love you too much. I love you more than you’ll ever love me.”

Then she arched up and kissed him before he could fight with her about it.

He didn’t mind. He’d always been a lover, not a fighter.

Thank you for reading Jarom and Autumn’s story. Ah, I loved them and pray you did as well.

Don’t miss any of the Coleville Ranch Romances.