Free Bossy Bridegroom by Mary Connealy

for you so fast. I was so proud of you. You’re a leader, but you’re generous, too. The way you’ve helped this town is just your nature. You have great vision and enthusiasm. I saw that in you when you were nineteen years old, and it’s still there … that charm, the work ethic, the joy for life.”
    Brow furrowed, Michael said, “Our life together wasn’t joyful. I don’t want you to forget that. I’m almost afraid to let you love me. I want it so desperately.” He hugged her again, lifting her to her toes. Then he set her down. “But I’m afraid I’ll forget what a jerk I can be, and it’ll happen all over again.”
    “I won’t let you forget.”
    “Good girl.” Michael lowered his head. “I love you, Jeanie. And this time I really know what that means.”
    Jeanie set aside her doubts and stretched up to meet her husband’s lips.
    Moments passed, long wonderful moments.
    Then, his heart in his eyes, Michael asked, “We’re together again, aren’t we?” He ran one finger down her cheek, outlining her lips, tracing her jaw.
    “Yes.” Jeanie turned her head and kissed his palm, but a niggling of fear wouldn’t let her give in to what Michael was obviously asking. “Yes, we’re really together. And this time it’s forever. But I don’t think we’re ready—at least I’m not.”
    Jeanie could see Michael fight the urge to push his wants on her, pressure her into accepting their marriage in all its fullness. But he won that fight. “I’ll wait as long as you need. Hearing you say you love me is enough for now. It’s what I’ve been praying for.”
    Relieved, Jeanie kissed him again.
    Then they separated for their private rooms.

    Michael sang while he worked the next day.
    Only finishing touches to ten proud little triangles of unfinished wood along the creek. Inside, each cabin was one main room with bare stud walls, no insulation or dry wall, twenty-four by twenty-four feet square at the base, rising to a peaked roof. A cement floor covered with cheap linoleum. A tiny bathroom—each cabin’s only amenity besides a bed and electric lights—was partitioned out of each main room.
    He’d rented these out so fast he knew he could build fifty more and keep them full. Line the whole creek bank on both sides. Maybe build a swinging footbridge and create some hiking trails. It was a beautiful, rustic spot. He had plans to polish the cabins up a bit, make them tight for winter and add heating and a tiny kitchen area. Rent them to tourists in the summer, ice fishermen in the winter, and hunters in the spring and fall. The smell of fresh wood and the outdoors was like the finest perfume. He was sure the customers would love them.
    And speaking of love …
    He pressed his hand flat to massage his heart. He’d glanced behind him a hundred times all through the morning, waiting for Jeanie to finish at the senior center and come to him. He could barely breathe when he thought of how madly in love he was.
    God, forgive me for that awful excuse for love we shared before. Thank You, thank You, thank You for blessing me with my wife back. I didn’t deserve it
.
    His eyes welled with tears as he remembered and cherished the new beginning.
    God, thank You, thank You, thank You
.
    He couldn’t say it enough times. He couldn’t say it humbly enough. He couldn’t ever begin to be worthy of this blessing.
    He felt her and turned. Of course he’d turned around a hundred times before, thinking that he’d felt her those times, too.
    She walked toward him, her hair pulled back in its no-nonsense ponytail, dressed in the jeans and T-shirt she wore to work. He dropped the broom he’d been using to sweep wood chips away from the front doors of his cabins and ran toward her. She was already nearly jogging, but when he ran, she raced to meet him.
    Michael swept her into his arms in front of the refurbished gas station. When the kiss ended, Michael swung her in a circle. “I’ve been watching for you all