After Michelle had driven off, Nanna stood on the front porch waiting for Major to return. She was out of her mind happy, and filled with good anxiety. She didn't know what she was going to do when she saw him. Her stomach was fluttery with butterflies. Within minutes the limousine pulled into the driveway. The driver headed towards the guest parking lot.

Nanna was off the porch before she could even have the thought to move. Her feet felt like they were floating as she jogged towards him. Major was nearing the porch when he saw her. He stopped and opened his arms wide. In minutes, she fell into them. He gave her a good old fashioned bear hug.

"Hello, sunshine."

"Oh Major, this is such a surprise my heart is about to explode." Nanna could not hold back her tears. "I'm so happy to finally see you!"

"Arabella, now don't you go crying on me."

"I'm not sad, Major, I'm very happy. Oh, my God, it's really you."

Waves of emotions soared through Nanna that she hadn't experienced in decades. Now it was just like her romance novels. Her prince had stepped into her world. She had no idea she'd be that carried away. Her body was tingling with excitement. Major rocked her in his arms for a good long while. Then he stepped back.

"You're the most beautiful gal I've ever seen in a long time."

Nanna blushed.

"Darling, I could feel your heart. It's beating as fast as mine. We may be a little too old for this much excitement."

She laughed, then her eyes soaked in her handsome older man. He was wrecking her senses. Well I'll be damned, still feeling attraction at my age. Major was much taller than he'd appeared on line. His thick gray hair was very wavy and his Texas blue sky eyes were filled with adoration towards her. She reached up and touched his face, feeling the softness of the edge of his mustache. Her eyes trailed down his lean body, admiring his neatly pressed grey shirt and black jeans. His pants legs were tucked into his cowboy boots. "You're right, we should go inside and settle down. This is a bit overwhelming for both of us. I'm sorry about what happened with Michelle."

He leaned down, kissed the top of her hair. Major chuckled now knowing that Nanna was an actress as well. "You could have won an Academy Award for that one."

"I simply can't believe that you're here."

"Shoot, you think I'd miss this opportunity with the love blocker gone."

Nanna tossed back her head, laughing.

***

Troy and Keith were sitting in the cafeteria having lunch when Troy's cell dinged. He lifted a napkin from the table and wiped his hands, then proceeded to retrieve the text. He frowned, reading the words. "Shit."

"What?" said Keith.

"She waited until I left for work and now she's in New York. I love that woman but she can drive me insane."

Keith took a swig of his coffee. "What has Deanna done now?"

"I knew I should have deleted that text. Her private detective lost track of Aiden."

"That's not good.

Troy pushed his plate aside, strumming his fingers across the table. He released a heavy sigh, his eyes narrowed. "According to this text, my wife has fired the private detective agency and intends to stay in New York until Aiden comes back to his company. She says, and I quote, he will have to come back to work.

"She's one determined woman."

"Like a pit bull," Troy grumbled. Deanna was strong willed. That was a quality that Troy knew was both her strength and weakness. He beckoned the server over to remove his plate. He had no more appetite. "I don't know what I'm going to do with her and I'm too upset to respond."

"You're going to stand by her until this crazy part of your life is over."

Troy glanced over at his friend. "You're a good man, Keith."

"I appreciate that. You know, you never told me how you and Deanna got together, or about Aiden before you met him."

Troy blushed thinking about how he'd met Deanna. Keith caught his bashful look.

"What?"

He arched his brow. "Nothing."

Keith took a sip of his coffee. "Yeah, right."

Troy grinned thinking about how he'd met her cleavage before he'd met her. He would study at Hooter's restaurant during his med school days. Memories of the first time he'd seen Deanna swirled in his head. She had dropped her pencil, while leaning down to retrieve it from the table, Troy had gotten an eye full. Follow by another dose of lust as he watched her rear in those skimpy shorts swaying away from his table after she'd taken the order. Deanna's beauty had overwhelmed him.

"She used to be a waitress."

Keith laughed, "That's not what you're thinking."

No, it isn't. His thoughts were on the first time he'd kissed her breasts. "I remember thinking, that a girl like her doesn't need to be waiting tables." Troy had immediately felt something special about Deanna. Almost possessive, like he had to protect her. Troy didn't feel right about her working there. He knew how men thought. He knew how he thought. Somehow, he felt that was not the attention she deserved – like he knew she was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

"I wanted her all to myself. I had a hard time getting her to be with me. She didn't trust men."

"What did you do?"

"Worked my ass off proving to her that I was a good man and treated her with value and respect."

"Wow."

"When we finally fell in love it was deep. She's a wonderful woman. I couldn't get enough of her then, and I can't get enough of her now."

"That's beautiful, man. And Aiden?"

"She's never shared anything about his father with me. I've tried to get her to talk about him but she won't. I've just concluded that it must've been bad."

***

Deanna booked three weeks stay at the Ritz Carlton. She'd never walked out on Troy under any circumstances. She knew that she was pushing the boundaries but felt obligated to find her son. When Troy didn't return the text, she knew that he was either in surgery or upset. She leaned towards him being furious. All of a sudden nervousness flooded her. She picked up her phone and called her best friend Kathy Osborne.

"New York, what do you mean? You just got up and left without telling Troy?"

"I was afraid that he would try to stop me from going."

"Deanna, I know that you were upset when the P.I. lost track of Aiden, but you need to think that your actions affect more than you. Troy Sparkman loves you very much, Deanna but don't test him too far. You don't want your obsession to cost you a good husband."

Those words were quite sobering to Deanna. She sat on the edge of her bed thinking about it. "I'm going to reel myself in."

"I don't know if you can, but you damn sure better try."

***

The cool night air couldn't offset the heat of the hot tub that Aiden and Jas were relaxing in. They were on his lower balcony. The blaze from the fire pit and the moonlight slipping between the rustling trees set the romantic vibe that Aiden had longed for. The reality of his dream coming true lifted his heart, making him crave to keep Jas forever. She was cradled beneath his arm. Her soft skin resting against the silky black hairs on his chest had him enflamed. Jas was wearing one of his old T-shirts. There was something sexy about it that turned him on even more. He slipped his other arm lazily about her midsection, with his hand gently stroking her thigh.

The water bubbled high, jetting up to their shoulders. Steam floated above them as heat condensed against the cool air. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

"This is exhilarating."

"No, having you here is exhilarating."

Her eyes sparkled and she smiled. "I feel like you had this all planned. This really isn't about work, is it?"

"It most certainly is about work."

"How so."

"I'm working very hard to get you back in my life." She had absolutely no idea of the weight behind those words. He knew things that she didn't about what lied ahead. Fall for me, babe. You'll thank me for it later.

Jas laughed and splashed water in his face. He retaliated by dunking her head under the bubbles. She popped up squealing with delight. By the time they finished splashing around water was everywhere. She was laughing hysterically. Then said, "You know I wasn't talking about that."

He stopped playing for a moment and got serious. He caught her hand before it sent another wave of water against him. He drew her hand to him and kissed it, watching her eyes grow dark. Fire shot through him. "It's the most important work that I will ever do." The water surged as he pulled her on top of his lap. He heard her breath catch in her throat. "You're more important to me than anything, babe."

He lowered his lips and took hers. The gentleness of the kiss made her yearn for him. His lips melded over hers softly at first, then with a little more urgency. Her blood began to feel as hot as the liquid surrounding their bodies. As they parted, Jas's mind was lifted to such incredible heights causing words to stumble out that she knew she'd later regret. It had come out in a whisper, she hoped that with the rumbling of the jets he didn't hear it.

"I could stay here with you forever."

***

Major patted his stomach. "Dinner was fantastic, Arabella. I feel stuffed as a Texas tic."

Nanna smiled as she cleared the kitchen table in her quarters. "Since you came so far, I wanted you to have a taste of the south."

"I've never even heard of Brunswick Stew. I'm going to have to take that one back to the ranch. Could I trouble you for another slice of that creamed cornbread?"

"You really know how to flatter a woman." Nanna walked over to the stove and sliced a thin piece of cornbread, placed it on a napkin and carried it to him. "I want you to have room for my new apple pie recipe."

"Thank you kindly, ma'am."

In a few minutes, she brought over two slices of pie. "What do you think?" She forked into her pie.

Major slid his fork through the thick layer of crust, juicy apple filling spilled over the plate. He filled his fork and ate a piece. Nanna chuckled at the dreamy looked that flickered over his face.

"This is a million-dollar pie. My lord, I'm not just saying this to be kind. How'd you come up with this?"

"I can't take all the credit. Aiden and I have been working on this for weeks."

Major chuckled. "That boy can cook? From talking to him, he looks and acts like a city slicker."

"He's a country boy at heart. Don't forget I half raised him. He spent a lot of time helping me and Jas in that kitchen."

"I really like Aiden. Above all, I just love how he adores you and Jas."

Nanna reached over and squeezed Major's hand. "He thinks highly of you, too." Her mind drifted to the conversation that she'd had with Aiden.

"I didn't think I was capable of falling in love again. I mean who does that at eighty something years old. The grave was before me, Aiden."

"Don't say that Nanna. I know you weren't expecting it, but it's never too late to fall in love."

"But I went too far, and now I've committed to him. I feel awful. I was so out of my mind happy that I didn't think about Jas. This is going to crush her. I'm so selfish."

"I'm going to be there for Jas. You're not selfish."

"Yes, I am."

"You're in love. You want to spend the rest of your days being cared for by a man with a big heart."

"Jas doesn't even want to hear your name. It's like she's stuck in time, hating you."

"You let me worry about that."

"But what if I'm making a big mistake. What if he's some crazy man that I've met on line. I shouldn't have even been on line. Oh my, Aiden, I shouldn't have been reading those romance novels. I'm just a big sinner."

She could hear Aiden laughing in her head. "You're not a big sinner. You are a woman that wants to be loved and is in love. How about if I check him out for you? Would my approval be enough to make you feel better?"

Nanna jumped at hearing the clinking of Major tapping his spoon against his coffee cup. "Sunshine, where have you been. I've been calling you for the last few minutes."

"I'm sorry my love. I was just thinking about you and Aiden. He's being the good son that I no longer have."

"He is a wonderful guy and I hope that pig headed Jas figures it out. I can't wait to finally meet her." This time Major got up and cleared the plates from where they'd eaten their pie. "You know what I normally do after dinner?"

"What?"

"I take a leisurely walk around the ranch. I think we should take an evening stroll on your lovely properties."

"That would be nice, Major."

They bundled up for the chilly weather. Nanna couldn't stop smiling. His unexpected visit warmed her to her soul. I can't believe that this wonderful man is really in my life. She rested her arm in the crook of his elbow, then he escorted her out for a nice relaxing walk.

***

They returned about an hour later, laughing and talking as they'd always done. This time it was so much better because it was face to face. Nanna's cheeks were as flushed from the chilling air, as it was from blushing at his constant terms of endearment. When she was with Major, age seemed to vanish. All she felt was the fire and intoxication of love's delirium.

He stopped at the door to Nanna's quarters. His rugged hand smoothed over her back and shoulders. "I'm having the time of my life, sunshine."

"Me too."

"I'll see you in the morning, my sweet Arabella."

Though he said those words he didn't step away from the door. Her stomach was turbulent like rolling waves. She might be old, but she still remembered what happened at door ways. She blushed, her hands were perspiring. "Good night, Major. It's been nice." Nanna watched his eyes twinkled, detecting her wretched nervousness.

She stepped back to enter her room, but he stepped forward and lifted her chin. Her throat went dry as he hoovered about her lips. "It's been thirty years, my love...I"

"You never forget how to kiss, darling." His deep south western drawl was absolutely making Nanna drunk. Was this heat pulsing through her veins?

Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Nanna's heart was beating out of her chest. He just waited patiently for her to meet him half way. He moved an inch closer, his strong hands caressed her shoulders. She heard his light chuckle at her shyness. The smell of his alluring cologne was overwhelming. Nanna wanted to bury her face in his neck just to inhale it. Oh, my dear Harvey. Thank you for the beautiful years we had together. Then she closed her eyes and tipped up. Major, sweetly took her the rest of the way.