Ruby laughed at the stream, the joy on her lupine features transcended species. She kicked water up at his face and then darted behind a boulder for safety. In response, Wolfe doused himself, ensuring he was as wet as could be before shaking himself dry. Small drops of water caught and reflected off the sunlight giving their bright afternoon a dappled look. Wolfe chuckled inwardly at the look his mate gave him.
Keeping an eye on the sun, Wolfe barked slightly for her attention. When Ruby looked back, Wolfe jerked his head in the direction of his cabin. It was getting late, and he was getting hungry.
Ruby canted her head and paused. They looked at each other for what felt like hours but was probably only a few heartbeats. With a playful yip, she broke into a breakneck speed run. A race was on.
Tongue lolling in happiness, Wolfe trotted after her. He kept an eye out for safety, but once they were within a safe distance from his home, Wolfe picked up speed. He and Ruby ran apace of each other until Ruby put on a tiny bit of momentum and bounded into his house. Their shared joy was palpable as they briefly touched foreheads before parting.
Wolfe shifted back into his human form in order to get dressed. He cleaned up and busied himself while Ruby shifted and dressed for dinner. Reverently, Wolfe knelt in front of his mother’s cedar hope chest. Beneath her cloak, a spare quilt, and her favorite mug, he found what he sought. He opened the box, nodded once, and slid it into pocket.
When she emerged from the bedroom twenty minutes later, she looked nervous. “What’s wrong?”
She paced around the living room for several minutes before pausing to blurt, “I don’t want to go back to Mathilda’s house, but I just realized. All my things are there, and I don’t know where else to go.”
Wolfe heard the unsaid words. “Is it too soon to live here? With me.”
“Yes. No. Maybe? I don’t know.” Ruby bit her lip, and her indecision tore at him. He wanted her—forever, always. But he also knew she had to do it in her own time.
This rare show of vulnerability touched Wolfe. He approached her and embraced her lightly. “How about if you ask Snow or Red about staying in the rooms over their bakery? Then you can decide when it feels right. Yeah?”
Her smile was simultaneously relieved and encouraged. She slipped her hand into his and tugged lightly. “Sounds like a plan. Let’s go get some dinner.”
He paused as they neared their favorite brook. “Here,” he said, coming to a stop.
“Here, what?” Ruby looked around to see what he saw.
Wolfe got down on one knee, and Ruby gave off a high-pitch squeak that didn’t sound quite human. Her hands covered her mouth, but her eyes were clearly surprised. “Now?”
“Can’t do it any younger.” Wolfe winked playfully. He pulled out the small black velveteen box from his pocket before taking her hands in his. “The first thing I noticed about you–”
“Besides my cape?” Ruby interrupted.
He chuckled. “That, too. But it was your beautiful green eyes.”
She blinked and looked shyly at their joined hands.
“I was out exploring, and when I saw this, knew it had to be yours. You barely liked me. Sometimes, I felt like you hated me.”
“I never hated you,” she said, dropping to her knees and tears slipped down her cheeks. “I didn’t know you. Didn’t know your heart.” Ruby placed her hand over his chest.
“And then, when we went on our rescue, I thought we were coming together. Making progress.”
Her smile turned tremulous. “We did. We are.”
He presented the box and thumbed it open. Inside was nestled a tumbled jade stone the exact shade of her eyes. “Jade is considered a healing stone. One that promotes health and good fortune. And every time I see it, I think of you.”
Wolfe slid the ring over the third knuckle of her left hand, where it fit. Perfectly. “I love you, Ruby.”
“And I love you, Wolfe.” Together, they christened their now favorite brook with their favorite memory. She pressed her forehead to his chin, and they savored the moment.
Which was promptly ruined by the growling of her stomach. She giggled nervously. “I think my belly is telling me it’s time to eat.”
“Then let’s eat. And celebrate.” Wolfe helped her up and fell in beside her as they made their way into town. Whatever problems the future and the Witches brought against them, they would face as they always did.
Together.
Epilogue – Ceremony
Two weeks later
“The Baron’s residence is gathering quite the reputation,” Red said as she helped Ruby with her hair. Gem-studded pins decorated her hair and played in the light.
“As what?” Ruby resisted biting her lip. Chewed up lips were not how she wanted to see Wolfe for their wedding.
“As being quite the place to book for a wedding,” Snow said as she entered the antechamber. “You all set? Your mate is looking quite. Uh, anxious out there.”
Ruby smiled and hugged her friends. “Yes, we can’t have an anxious mate, can we?” She peeked out of the door. “Hmm. That’s not your mate pacing around and looking anxious, too?”
Snow blushed prettily. “He shouldn’t be. He sneaked in a kiss while I was out checking on things.”
“Ooh, look. Goldie is here with Oberon and Barret.”
Red joined Ruby by the door. “I heard she’s taking care of the boys. Tarron wanted to make sure Oberon was fully healed.” Her eyes took on a playful gleam. “I imagine it doesn’t hurt to have a handsome man like Tarron around, either.”
“Funny, I thought you were trying to pair me up with him,” Ruby accused.
A few notes were played on the Baron’s piano, alerting Ruby it was almost time. She, Red, and Snow got into position.
Red shrugged and grinned, as unrepentant as ever. “I can admit when I’m wrong.”
Snow only snorted. “I knew it all along. Ruby and the Sheriff were perfect for each other.”
“Perfectly perfect,” Ruby agreed, pressing her hand against her heart. It was racing in excitement as a gentle wedding march began playing. After a few heartbeats, Red proceeded.
Snow continued as though there had been no interruption. “I’ll be the first to say that Goldie and Tarron will be amazing together, too.” She winked at Ruby before leaving the small room.
Ruby counted to three before exiting the room. It was time. As Wolfe would say, they couldn’t do this any younger, and she wanted to start the rest of her life as soon as possible.
With him.
Author Introduction – Summer Donnelly
Summer Donnelly was raised in a rural area miles away from any urban centers. It wasn’t until she went away to college that she realized just how precious Small Town, USA was to her foundation. Whether a magical universe in New Jersey or a close-knit foster family in North Carolina, Summer is devoted to spreading her love of small town life. The beauty and wealth of rural living are in the details — fresh food at the Farmer’s Market, Friday night football games, and playing in the marching band.
Summer knows all towns have popular hang outs and other long-standing local traditions. She wants to pass her love of quiet to her friends and readers by giving them a peek into the lives and loves of everyday people. Summer once won an award for “most colorful” Halloween costume at her home town’s annual parade. After reading an article in a woman’s magazine, her mother put her in white tights while wearing a clear plastic bag full of colorful balloons. With a sign etched on her cheek reading “jelly beans 10¢.”
As a result, Summer has a deep-seated fear of showing up places in costume. Old buildings and their history both fascinate and inspire her. When she’s not writing, Summer is glued to watching shows about house renovations. She will moan in pain whenever a host suggests “ripping out those built-ins” and wonders if in twenty years people will complain about the lack of walls in houses.
A life-long reader, Summer quickly graduated from Beverly Cleary books and Tri
xie Belden Mysteries. She turned to teen romance and then the crazy-sauce covered romance novels of the 1980s that she borrowed from her grandmother’s bookshelf. She has been reading and writing romance from the moment she received her first library card. She loves to watch 1940s romantic movies, badly sing-a-long to classic 1980s music, and read romance novels in her spare time. Summer believes in soul-mates, happily-ever-afters, and kisses that leave you breathless. Pull up a seat as she cordially invites you to become a resident in her world.
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The Grifter Sisters
Here Come the Grifter Sisters
A Home for the Grifter Sisters
Back to School with the Grifter Sisters
Finding Trouble with the Grifter Sisters
A Dose of Medicine for the Grifter Sisters
Shifter Falls, Maine
A Gift for her Bears
Shifter Special Forces
A Shifter Special Forces Romance (7 Book Series)
Her Lonely Mastiff
Her Broken Bear
Fighting for Her Bear
Her Mountain Lion Mate
A Home for her Hawk
Having her Jaguar's Baby
Interview with her Bear
Claiming her Leopard
Christmas with his Leopard
Witches of Warren County
Hummingbird Dreams
Hummingbird Lost
Fae and Frost, a Christmas Romance
Dandelion Wishes
Releasing Sloane Harper
Seasons of Love
Loved by Beauty
Under the Mistletoe
The Failed Ex-periment
Honeysuckle and Roses
Hunter's Moon Magic
Earth Angel
The Three Wish Mermaid
Stronger Together [CyberWar: Digital Battlefield Anthology]
Harper’s Mill YA universe
Autumn Kisses
A Snowball’s Chance
Fae and Frost: A Christmas Romance
Spring’s Promise
The Failed Ex-periment
Dear Kitty
He Loves me, He Loves Me Not
Marriage, Moonshine, and Magic
Creek Corner Road stories
(Set in the Harper’s Mill Universe)
Adventures in Bobby-Sitting [Phoenix Romance ]
One Dollar and Eighty-Seven Cents [Holiday Heartwarmers ]
Gifts of the Heart [Holiday Heartwarmers ]
Fighting for Her Bear [Bear Knuckle Brawlers]
The Budapest Brawler [Bear Knuckle Brawlers]
Releasing Sloane Harper
Loved by Beauty
Apple Blossom, NC books
Midnight Honey
Girls Just Want to Solve Crime [Mysterious Hearts Anthology]
By Any Other Name [ Shortshanks and Sweet Porridge]
Let Down Your Hair [Anthousa, Xanthousa, Chrisamalousa]
The Disputed Lands
Adela of Stone Keep
Rune Force
Spilled Tea, Stolen Goods (with Taki Drake and Grant Morgan)
Thistle Grove Tales
Thistle Grove Tales [Red, Snow] (2 Book Series)
Red
Snow
Smashed Prime Classics (3 book series)
Smashed Prime Classics [Babes in the City, Powerhouse Punch, Traveling Man]
The Klondike Bride Series (with Mildred B. Lewis)
Sweet Charity
A Touch of Grace
Anthologies:
Cupid’s Bow [Dear Kitty Collection]
Mysterious Hearts [Mysterious Hearts]
Holiday Heartwarmers [One Dollar and Eighty-Seven Cents, Mysterious Hearts]
CyberWar: Digital Battlefield [Stronger Together]
CyberWar: Black Ice [I Need it Now]
Prime Fantasy [Catenary Tales]
Fairy Ointment [Pixie Battle of Longbow Keep]
Belle-Belle and Geirald the Coward [Battle for the Disputed Lands, The Fairy's Katana]
Anthousa, Xanthousa, Chrisamalousa [Let Down Your Hair]
Prime Fiction [Legal til you're caught]
Phoenix Romance [Adventures in Bobby-Sitting, Waiting for Poppy]
The Goblin and the Grocer [Anya and the Magic Book]
Shortshanks and Sweet Porridge [By Any other Name]
Prime Peek I [The Proper Amenities]
Hearts in the Sky [Can I be your hero?]
Haunted Hearts I [Broomstick Breakdown]
Silent Thanks [Rolling a Turkey]
Babes in the City [Emma]
Bluebeard [The Liberation of Thorn Hill Keep]
King of Cats [Raising Barns and Siblings]
Powerhouse Punch [Nobodies Hero but Mine]
Gifts of the Heart [Miracle at Third on Fourth Street Cafe, A Gift from Mrs. Claus]
Phoenix Romance II [A Hero in Worn Denim]
The Jezinkas [Autumn Daring and the Mystery of the Dragon's Runestone]
Primed for Action: Defending Home [Can't Fool Mother Nature]
Tricky Treats [Broomsticks and Pumpkins]
Sensorium [Daydream on Half Moon Cay]
Against the Tide [Life is a Banquet]
Remembrance Wall [The Theft, For Hannah on the Anniversary of her Momma's birthday]
The Hand You Were Dealt [Betting on her Bear]
Spirit of Thanks [Cloudy with a Chance of a Thanksgiving Romance, Rolling a Turkey]
Special Kind of Love [Cat Haiku, Making a Difference with the Grifter Sisters]
Let Them Eat Pie [A Pie in the Hand is Worth Two on the Dress]
Your Goose is Cooked [Giving Thanks]
Janus Speaks [Off the Map, Her Leopard's Kiss]
Fireside Tales [Christmas in Bear Creek, The Naughty List Hall of Fame, Just in Time for Christmas]
Ticking of the Phoenix Clock [Time in a Bottle]
Keep Connected
Keeping connections is so important today in our digital world. Readers can always reach me at my Facebook Page, Blog, or Pinterest. They may sign up for my [email protected] or contact me on Twitter. I promise that one of these days I will actually stop writing long enough to publish one!
If you would like to learn more about the Phoenix Prime program or authors, please visit pprcollective.com and look for publications, series notes, and book-related merchandise here!
Thanks for joining me for this brief time.
Cheerfully, Summer
Ruby: A Retelling of Red-Ridinghood (Thistle Grove Tales Book Book 3) Page 7
