Lifers (50 page)

“What?”

“
Now
, Jordan Kane. But you’d better do it right this time!”

A slow grin stretched across my face.

“You mean you’ll do it? You’ll marry me?”

Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “What part of ‘do it right’ did you not understand?”

I drove into the parking lot and turned off the engine. She was still staring straight ahead, but I could tell she was trying not to crack a smile. I knew that look by now.

I ran around the SUV and yanked open her door. I offered her my hand and she took it, daintily stepping out of the car.

“Um, I need the ring, sweetheart,” I said.

“Well, I don’t have it!” she snorted.

“Yeah, actually you do. It’s in the pocket of my jacket.”

She stared at me in disbelief.

“I’ve been sleeping on it all this time?”

I smiled at her and winked.

“I’m so mad at you right now!” she hissed.

“No, you’re not, firecracker,” I said, calmly.

She passed me my jacket without comment, and I fished around for the small velvet box.

I took a deep breath, trying to make sure I had enough oxygen in my lungs to say what needed to be said, and I dropped down on one knee.

“Torrey Delaney, you give me hope. From the first time I saw your beautiful face, you showed me your beautiful heart, too. I didn’t expect to find happiness in this world, but it’s a gift you give me every single day. I love you, and I want to spend my whole life lovin’ you. Will your crazy heart beat for me? Will you become my wife?”

I offered her the small velvet box and she opened it slowly. When her eyes met mine, they were shining with tears.

“Sapphires?”

“Like your beautiful eyes, sweetheart.” I took the ring from the box, and slipped it onto her finger. “Looks good there.”

She nodded, blinking back tears.

“You’d better get up off of your knees, cowboy,” she said, at last. “We’ve got a wedding to get to.”

“So that’s a yes?” I asked, hopefully.

She smiled. “It was never going to be a no.”

I stood up, not caring that I was covered in dust and dirt from a long drive. I gathered her into my arms and promised myself I’d never let her go. Through thick and thin, this woman was it for me.

“I guess we’d better see if this wedding chapel really is 24/7,” she said, giggling into my neck.

I pulled away slightly so I could see her face.

“You okay with this, sweetheart? You don’t want to ask your momma to marry us or anythin’? I can wait.”

I really didn’t want to, but I’d do it if that’s what she wanted.

She shook her head and smiled.

“That’s not us, Jordan. Anyway, we’re already blessed.”

I walked into that wedding chapel, the happiest man in the whole freakin’ world. My day began and ended with her. And it always would.

THE END

Acknowledgements

Thank you to all the early readers who were so generous with their comments. Including my gal pal team Kirsten, Lisa, Sheena, Dina, Audrey, Barbara, Cori, Shirley, Trina, MJ Fryer, Kelsey, Kandace, Sophie Callahan and the redoubtable Dorota. To my ARC readers: Brittany Topping, Bella Bookaholic, Emma Dach-Harris, Michelle Ocha, Sarah Bookhooked, Kim, Jackie Fiorentini, Thessa Marj-Laj, Carol Sales, M. Robinson and Charmaine Stephens.

To fellow writers A. Meredith Walters, Devon Hartford, Jasinda and Jack Wilder, and G.E. Griffin for their support and friendship.

To Hang Le for her enthusiasm, fabulous cover design and chapter headings – and for her never ending creativity.

To the book bloggers who have been so supportive, especially Maryse, Aestas, Smitten, and Totally Booked.

To the fb friends who have become real friends, especially Ellen Totten, Ana Carvalheiro, Ana Kristina Rabacca, Karen Wright, MJ Fryer, Showdog, Bruninha, Vip and Toni Mehta, Reese Call, Miranda Bing, Angie Lynch, Feifei Le, Erin Spencer, Nikki Groom, Netzel, Soraya Naomi, Christopher Lindsay, Nuw Writer, Stacy Hgg, Liliana Li, Ani Surnois, Alex FF, Sarah Tree, Lorraine Hatt, Vicki Jackieshopper, Lelyana Taufik, Laura McCarthy Benson, Paola Cortes, Wendy Onefitgily, Steph, Mary Dunne and well, so many more of you.

To Ian Hamilton, for information on car engines.

To the very patient Lori Sabin, for editing this book into shape.

To Kelsey’s son (who ought to remain nameless to protect the innocent, but let’s call him Shaun Burns), with thanks for helping with conversion.

Further conversion work by Polgarus Studios.

To Aud, again, for her fab-u-lous trailer video; and to Bruninha, for her Seb & Caro trailers in Portuguese!

Thanks, too, to the wonderful but crazy Stalking Angels. Love ya loads.

And, as always, I must thank my hardy fanfic readers, without whom this book would not exist.

You’ll find free bonus chapters on my website. Please stop by!

www.janeharveyberrick.com

ADULTS

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Lisanne Maclaine is a good girl. She comes from a stable family, and has done what is expected of her. She’s lived a sheltered life, and is looking forward to the independence starting college will bring her. She’s a music major and dreams of making a living doing what she loves, playing the violin and singing the blues.

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