Sweet Surrender Read online

  Barbara looked around her home. “I think we’ve got everything.”

  “In that case, I’ll leave you to enjoy your new home.” Willow waved to Jesse before walking through the front door.

  Barbara had been thrilled when Pastor John told her she would be moving into the next available tiny home. She worked so hard that it was nice to see her happy.

  In the last couple of months, a lot had been happening in the tiny home village. With the extra money they’d raised, six houses would be built over the coming months. But, even better, were the new volunteers who had stepped forward to help build the homes.

  The construction teams were working seven days a week to keep up with the demand, but the waiting list kept growing.

  “Willow!”

  She held her hand above her eyes and squinted at the church. Emma was running across the parking lot, waving a piece of paper in the air.

  She jogged toward her. “Is everything okay?”

  Emma sucked in a lungful of air. “I really need to get more exercise. Pastor John wants you to take this home. It’s his latest fundraising ideas.”

  Willow grinned. John had come up with some unusual ideas about how they could raise money for the tiny home village. “Is it safe to read?”

  “It’s better than it was. He took your advice and removed the chili cook-off from the list.”

  “What about the car-smashing extravaganza?”

  “It’s still there.”

  Willow glanced at the list and smiled. “He left the Miss America pageant on here.”

  Emma smiled. “I’m not going to comment, except to say he’s a man.”

  “Talking about men…” Willow checked her watch and groaned. “I promised Zac I’d meet him at the clinic fifteen minutes ago. I’d better go.”

  “Do you want me to tell him you’re on your way?”

  “That would be great.” She took her keys out of her pocket and rushed toward her truck. She had no idea why Zac wanted to meet her in town but, if he was buying dinner as well, she wasn’t complaining.

  Zac paced back and forth. Every few seconds he peered through the front window, hoping he saw Willow before she opened the door to the medical clinic.

  Megan stuck her head around the corner of the hallway. “Is she here yet?”

  “No. I still can’t see her.”

  Brooke stood beside Megan. “I could call her cell phone. She might have stopped at the general store to buy a few groceries.”

  “She told Emma she was coming straight here.” Zac looked through the window again. It wasn’t like Willow to make a detour. Especially when she knew he was waiting for her.

  His eyes widened when he saw her truck pull into a parking space. “Quick. Hide. She’s getting out of her truck.”

  Brooke and Megan rushed back into the consultation room, hushing the people who were waiting with them.

  By the time Willow stepped onto the sidewalk, he was standing in the doorway.

  “Sorry I’m late. I dropped a basket of kitchen things off to Barbara.” She kissed him and smiled into his eyes. “What have you been doing?”

  “I…ah…” Zac needed to pull himself together. At the rate he was going, Willow would know exactly what he’d been doing. “The new ultrasound system arrived.”

  “That’s great. Did you try it out?”

  “I did.” He opened the door to the clinic and breathed a sigh of relief. He’d half-expected Megan or Brooke to be hovering around the entrance. They were convinced he’d go off-script and ask Willow to marry him on the street.

  “Ooh! I love the champagne flutes.”

  Zac’s heart skipped a beat. Sitting in the corner of the room were four crystal glasses. They must have been left there after everyone finished in the yard.

  “Did you buy them for a special occasion?”

  He hated telling Willow lies, even if they were for a good reason. “Cassie used them as part of a display in her jewelry store. She doesn’t need them anymore and thought The Welcome Center might like them.”

  “That was nice of her. Why did you want me to meet you here?”

  “I made dinner.”

  Willow looked around the clinic. “You did?” She sniffed the air and frowned.

  “It’s on the patio.” The clinic, like most of the buildings on this side of Main Street, had wonderful views of Flathead Lake from the rear of their properties.

  Willow smiled. “We’ll have to buy some new outdoor furniture.”

  Zac raced ahead of her and opened the back door.

  “Last time I sat on one of the chairs, I thought it was going to…” Willow’s mouth dropped open.

  Usually, apart from the view, the best thing you could say about the patio was that it was functional. With red-brick pavers, an old wooden table, and four creaky chairs, it was the type of area where you ate your lunch quickly before heading back inside.

  But not today.

  Their friends had spent the last hour transforming the run-down area into a little slice of France. Red and white tablecloths decorated small round tables. Baskets of baguettes, French cheese, and grapes filled each of the tables, and bottles of champagne cooled in silver urns filled with ice.

  As if on cue, soft, romantic music spilled from speakers they’d hidden in the yard. Brooke had brought the playlist from her wedding. As Nat King Cole sung, “When I Fall In Love,” Zac’s heart gave a nervous stutter.

  “This is amazing,” Willow said softly. “But why is there so much food and champagne?”

  “It’s for later. For after…” He took a deep breath. Running three marathons in a row would be easier than asking Willow to marry him.

  He dropped his hand to his pocket and felt the ring box. At least that was one less thing he had to worry about.

  With Willow’s hands in his, he tried to think positive thoughts. “I love you, Willow. You are the most important person in my life.”

  Her mouth dropped open for the second time.

  Zac didn’t know if that was a good thing or not, but he wasn’t taking any chances. “I know this might be a little early, but I’ve been thinking about it for a long time.” He focused on what he wanted to say instead of the shock on Willow’s face. “I want to tell you each morning how much I love you, how much you mean to me. I’d like to have children with you. And I’d like us to grow old together.”

  When he started to bend on one knee, Willow’s eyes filled with tears.

  “Willow Clarke. Will you marry me?” He opened the box and held the solitaire diamond ring toward her.

  His hand shook while he waited for Willow to speak. But instead of telling him how much she loved him, she burst into tears.

  He clambered to his feet and hugged her tight. “It’s okay. We don’t have to get married. We can—”

  “I want to marry you,” Willow sobbed.

  Zac’s heart pounded. “You do?”

  She nodded and blew her nose. “I’m crying because I’m happy.”

  “You don’t know how good that makes me feel. I thought it was too soon, that you didn’t want to marry me.”

  Willow wiped her eyes, smiling through another set of tears. “It could never be too soon. I love you Zac, and I’ll keep loving you until the day I die.”

  Before he started crying, too, he carefully took the ring out of the box and slid it along Willow’s finger. “If it’s okay with you, I’d prefer a really short engagement.”

  Her smile turned into a grin. “The first stop in my European exhibition is Rome. We could get married before we leave and have a honeymoon at the same time.”

  Zac kissed the end of Willow’s nose. “I like the way you think.”

  “So do we,” Megan said from the back doorway. “Congratulations!”

  Within minutes, the patio was overflowing with their family and friends. Champagne corks popped and Brooke and Megan made sure everyone had something to eat. It was the kind of moment Zac had only dreamed about. But here he was, standing b
eside the woman he loved, ready to start a new life with her.

  Willow wrapped her arms around his waist and smiled. “I forgot to say thank you for the ring. It’s beautiful.”

  When their lips touched, Zac finally relaxed. Willow had become the most important person in his life. And each and every day he would show her how much she meant to him.

  * * *

  THE END

  Thank you

  Thank you for reading Sweet Surrender I hope you enjoyed it! If you did…

  * * *

  Help other people find this book by writing a review.

  Sign up for my new releases e-mail, so you can find out about the next book as soon as it’s available.

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  Visit my website: leeannamorgan.com

  Keep reading for a preview of Christmas On Main Street, Emma and Jack’s story, the first book in Santa’s Secret Helpers!

  Christmas On Main Street

  Santa’s Secret Helpers, Book 1

  * * *

  This Christmas, something magical is happening in Sapphire Bay.

  Emma loves everything about living in Sapphire Bay. The scenery in the small Montana town is spectacular, her communications business is thriving, and her six-year-old twins are happy. When a Christmas Facebook post goes viral, Emma and her friends are swamped with people asking Santa for help. But it’s her twins’ Christmas wish that breaks her heart.

  * * *

  Jack Devlin finds missing people. When his brother asks him to locate Emma’s ex-husband, he thinks it’s going to be an easy case. But the more time he spends with Emma, the more complicated their relationship becomes.

  * * *

  When Jack and Emma discover the truth about Emma’s ex-husband, their lives begin to unravel. With more than one heart on the line, will they go back to their old lives or risk everything for a once in a lifetime kind of love?

  * * *

  CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET is the first novel in the Santa’s Secret Helpers series and can easily be read as a standalone. Each of Leeanna's series are linked so you can find out what happens to your favorite characters in other books. If you would like to know when my next book is released, please visit leeannamorgan.com. Happy reading!

  Christmas On Main Street

  PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

  Enjoy More Books By Leeanna Morgan

  Montana Brides:

  Book 1: Forever Dreams (Gracie and Trent)

  Book 2: Forever in Love (Amy and Nathan)

  Book 3: Forever After (Nicky and Sam)

  Book 4: Forever Wishes (Erin and Jake)

  Book 5: Forever Santa (A Montana Brides Christmas Novella)

  Book 6: Forever Cowboy (Emily and Alex)

  Book 7: Forever Together (Kate and Dan)

  Book 8: Forever and a Day (Sarah and Jordan)

  Montana Brides Boxed Set: Books 1-3

  Montana Brides Boxed Set: Books 4-6

  * * *

  The Bridesmaids Club:

  Book 1: All of Me (Tess and Logan)

  Book 2: Loving You (Annie and Dylan)

  Book 3: Head Over Heels (Sally and Todd)

  Book 4: Sweet on You (Molly and Jacob)

  * * *

  Emerald Lake Billionaires:

  Book 1: Sealed with a Kiss (Rachel and John)

  Book 2: Playing for Keeps (Sophie and Ryan)

  Book 3: Crazy Love (Holly and Daniel)

  Book 4: One And Only (Elizabeth and Blake)

  * * *

  The Protectors:

  Book 1: Safe Haven (Hayley and Tank)

  Book 2: Just Breathe (Kelly and Tanner)

  Book 3: Always (Mallory and Grant)

  Book 4: The Promise (Ashley and Matthew)

  Book 5: Coming Home (Mia and Stan)

  Book 6: The Gift (Hannah and Brett)

  Book 7: The Wish (Claire and Jason)

  The Protectors Boxed Set: Books 1-3

  * * *

  Sapphire Bay:

  Book 1: Falling For You (Natalie and Gabe)

  Book 2: Once In A Lifetime (Sam and Caleb)

  Book 3: A Christmas Wish (Megan and William)

  Book 4: Before Today (Brooke and Levi)

  Book 5: The Sweetest Thing (Cassie and Noah)

  Book 6: Sweet Surrender (Willow and Zac)

  * * *

  Santa’s Secret Helpers:

  Book 1: Christmas On Main Street (Emma and Jack)

  Book 2: Mistletoe Madness (Kylie and Ben)

  Book 3: Silver Bells (Bailey and Steven)

  Book 4: The Santa Express (Shelley and John)

  Bonus Recipe - Nick’s Kourabiedes Recipe (Greek Christmas Butter Cookies)

  Enjoy this super easy kourabiedes recipe. It’s quick and delicious. Make a double batch for the whole family to enjoy!

  (From mygreekdish.com)

  * * *

  Ingredients

  250g butter made from cows milk, cold (9 ounces) (Lurpak unsalted)

  150g almonds, roughly chopped or almond slivers, roasted (6 ounces)

  50g almonds (whole) or almond slivers, raw (1.8 ounces). Alternatively you can also give pistachios a try

  75g icing sugar (2.7 ounces)

  1 tbsp rose water

  1/2 tsp vanilla extract

  1 tbsp baking powder

  a pinch of salt

  300g all-purpose flour (10.6 ounces)

  lots of icing sugar for powdering

  * * *

  Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 200C. To prepare this kourabiedes (kourabiethes) recipe start by roasting the almonds. Place the roughly chopped almonds (150g/ 6 ounces) or almond silvers on a baking tray and sprinkle with some water. Bake them for 7-8 minutes, until roasted, being careful not to burn them. Set aside or put in the fridge to cool.

  * * *

  2. In a blender, add the raw almonds (50g/ 1.8 ounces) or the pistachios and blend, until powdered. Set aside.

  * * *

  3. In a food processor, add the cold butter and sugar; mix for about 10 seconds, until the butter ‘breaks’ and is completely dissolved. Add the powdered almonds, a pinch of salt, the rosewater and the vanilla extract; mix for 10-20 seconds, until combined. At the end, add the baking powder and flour and mix again for 10-15 seconds.

  * * *

  4. Place the mixture in a large bowl and add the roasted almonds; blend lightly with your hands. For the kourabiedes to remain fluffy, it is important that the butter doesn’t warm up and melt. So wait for a while for the roasted almonds to cool, before adding them to the butter mixture and wear plastic gloves, when blending with your hands, so that the temperature of your hands doesn’t warm up the butter.

  * * *

  5. Preheat the oven to 200C (390F); layer the bottom of 2 baking trays with parchment paper and form the kourabiedes. Roll 1 tbsp of the dough into a ball, place on the baking tray and push with your finger in the middle, to form a little dimple. Continue with the rest of the dough.

  * * *

  6. Place the baking trays with the kourabiedes in second and fourth rack of the oven and turn the heat down to 180C (350F). Bake for approx. 18-20 minutes, until they have a very faint golden tint and are cooked through. Be careful not to overbake them. (Leave the kourabiedes aside to cool down for a while. If you try to lift them, while still warm, they will break.)

  * * *

  7. Spray the kourabiedes with rosewater and sift with icing sugar. Enjoy!