He slid his hands down her hips and over her bottom. “That’s not what I meant, but I like the way you think. Come on, I have a surprise for you.”
He took her hand and walked her down the hall and out the front door.
“Who won the Hot Wheels trophy?”
“Championships are next week. Justin’s second in the rankings behind Jeff.”
“That makes you in third.”
“Don’t remind me.” They walked across the field hand in hand. “You look so pretty tonight, sweetheart. I love that dress.”
“Thanks, Grandma Dee picked it out, but I don’t know why she gave it to me to wear tonight. Where did you go today?”
“You got my note, right?”
She stopped him outside the kitchen door. “Yes. And the flowers. They were beautiful, but I’d have rather woken up with you beside me.”
He slipped his hand under the hair at her neck and drew her close. “Me, too. But I had to do something in Bozeman. It took longer than I thought.” Three different jewelry stores to find exactly what he wanted, along with his other errands. “Come on. Justin is waiting.”
He opened the door and she sighed.
“Oh God, that smells good. Grandma’s been cooking up a storm. I’m starving.”
“Your favorites. Vegetable beef stew, mashed potatoes, fresh bread.”
“Let’s eat.”
“Come with me first.” He kept her hand in his as he walked in front of her to the living room. He stopped and turned to her when they entered.
Her blank face made his gut clench. His heart stopped. Maybe he’d made a mistake. He glanced at Bud and Dee, Justin, his parents, and Gabe and Ella. All their smiles faltered at Gillian’s silence.
The most beautiful sight Gillian had ever seen. Justin stood by her grandparents with a huge bouquet of pink roses. A “Happy Birthday” sign hung over the fireplace. Uncle Lumpy stood next to the mantel. She hadn’t seen him since she and Justin had met him in town for lunch last week. Blake’s parents stood beside her grandparents, smiling at her. Gabe and Ella, back from their honeymoon, sat together on the sofa, smiling at her.
Her grandmother had set the dining table in the other room with her fine china and silver. Crystal glasses sparkled in the chandelier’s light around a centerpiece filled with flowers from the garden. A stack of presents covered the coffee table, beautifully wrapped with pretty, colorful bows.
She stared at Blake as the first tears fell from her eyes.
“I forgot . . . no one ever . . . I didn’t expect . . .”
“Happy birthday, sweetheart. We know it was yesterday. Justin remembered. I thought about taking you out to dinner for another romantic evening.”
She thought about the way they’d made love last night and how she’d woken up to roses and lilacs this morning. He’d been trying to make her birthday special. He’d succeeded in so many ways. She’d never felt more cherished or loved in her life.
“I thought you might like a family celebration.”
She wrapped her arms around him. “It’s perfect. It’s the birthday party I always dreamed of having.” She pressed her forehead to his chin and hugged him close. “It’s better because I have you.”
Justin came forward with his flowers and handed them to her. “Happy birthday, Gillian.”
“Thank you, baby. The flowers are so pretty.”
“Blake helped me pick them out.”
“I love them.” She turned to Blake’s family. “I’m so happy you all came.”
“Happy birthday, Gillian,” Blake’s mother said, a warm smile on her face.
“Thank you. Ella, how was the honeymoon?”
“Amazing.”
“She says that about me all the time,” Gabe teased, and received a friendly smack on the arm from his glowing bride.
The rest of the night was more fun and jokes, food and wine, presents and family. Gillian and Ella talked about her trip, clothes, New York, and horses. By the end of the night, Ella felt like a real friend. They’d even made plans to meet for lunch and go for a ride when Ella returned from a business trip to New York.
Blake had given her the perfect gift, aside from a gorgeous sparkling diamond heart necklace—a beautiful memory she’d never forget.
Chapter 28
Gillian stood outside the new mare’s stall door, her arm outstretched to the spooked animal. The horse blew out her nostrils onto Gillian’s hand and shied away again. Gillian would keep at it.
Dr. Potts had come by the ranch the day after her birthday party. With the support of Blake and Bud, she’d spoken to the doctor about what she’d like to implement here at the ranch. She was determined to see if she could do with another poor animal what she’d accomplished with Boots. Horse rehab. She wanted to rescue neglected and abused horses, get them well, retrain them, and find them good homes, maybe with a young child who’d adore them. Those she couldn’t train and place would live out their lives pampered on the ranch with her.