Not Just My Heart

by Em Taylor

  She laughed again. “It’s not homophobic and it’s fine. I’m hoping he was joking because that would be weird.”

  “So, will you give me a blow job?” I asked.

  “Rory.” Warning laced her tone.

  I sighed. “A guy can dream.”

  “You’ve got a semi as we speak, haven’t you?”

  “Nope.”

  “No?”

  “A full hard on.”

  She rolled her eyes and settled back in her seat. I thought of Maureen and Fraser in the hope of getting my body back under control.

  Chapter 29

  Rory

  “WHAT IS THIS?” LACEY asked for the tenth time as we passed the Welcome to Glencoe sign.

  “Hold your horses, Miss Impatient.”

  “Well it’s kind of obvious, I think,” she said twisting in her seat to look into the back of the ambulance.

  “If it’s obvious, why are you asking?”

  “Has anyone ever told you you’re a fud?”

  “Yes. You mostly, but a few of my pupils when I give them a punishment exercise.” I checked my rear-view mirror and pulled off the main road into the village.

  “This feels like a punishment.”

  “You’ll love it, I promise. And if your parents still don’t come around then you’ll have this to remember me by.”

  She placed her hand onto my knee and leaned closer. “You’re doing this to impress my parents?”

  We were pulling into the side of the road at her parents’ house, since there was no room in the driveway for a decommissioned ambulance.

  Jonas and Simon had beaten us back and had dragged Lacey’s parents out into the street for our arrival. All four of them stood gaping as I put the vehicle in park and Lacey unbuckled herself and climbed out. She gave her mum and dad a quick hug, talking animatedly to them and gesturing to the ambulance.

  I checked my pocket for the box I had picked up earlier in the morning and climbed out after her, taking a steadying breath.

  “So, young man, you think—” started Fraser.

  I held up a hand. “Please, sir, may I speak?”

  “I suppose. Sir is a bit formal, though.”

  “You revoked my right to call you by your first name.” He blanched and I regretted the words immediately. “I’m sorry. You had every right. I broke your daughter’s heart and I hurt you, your wife, and son. I have no right to expect forgiveness, but for Lacey’s sake, I’m asking for it anyway, because I believe she loves me, just as I love her.”

  “I do love him,” Lacey said.

  “You do?” I asked. “I thought you couldn’t say it.”

  “It seems that now Jonas and Simon aren’t the only couple in our family with two sets of balls, I grew a pair.”

  “As long as it was a literal pair. I like you just as you are.”

  Jonas cleared his throat. “I don’t think my family want to know about what’s under our clothes.”

  I looked around her family waiting patiently. “I know you’re all dying to hear about this ambulance. It’s decommissioned.” I led them to the back. “It’s been refitted into a mobile vet surgery, fully equipped. Obviously, there are some things you can’t do here, so we would need to organise a link with a regular vet surgery for certain procedures, but I had help from vets we went to uni with to make sure you have most of the stuff you need. I have some start off funding and have started the process of getting charitable status, but that’s going to take time. I want you to oversee it, Lacey, so I was unable to do very much of that side of the admin. You’ll also have to take your C1 driving test. I took mine this week so I could drive this behemoth up here.”

  She ran her fingers through her hair, tugging slightly as she frowned and bit her lip. “This is great, but I can’t give up my job.”

  “Of course not. I would suggest you start part-time. Maybe weekends or Saturdays. I’ll help as much as I can. We can move in together to save money if you want to go part-time.”

  “Move in together. Again?”

  “Yeah. Of course.”

  She moved closer and placed a hand on my chest. “I’m not sure. I don’t know if I trust your commitment. This is fantastic, but you walked out on me a week ago.”

  “To do this. I am committed. I love you.” I covered her hand with mine. “Tell me, baby, do you want to be with me forever if I can convince you I want this as a forever thing?”

  She nodded and gestured to the ambulance. “This is just frosting.”

  I looked at Fraser. “May I have a word, sir?”

  The older man nodded, and I gestured a little down the street. He followed and fell into step with me.

  “I love her,” I said solemnly.

  He turned around and glanced at the ambulance. “Where did you get the money?”

  I was tempted to tell him I stole it and the petulant child in me had to be tamped down. “Some of the fixings and equipment were donated, but I had some savings for most of it.”

  “You spent your savings on my daughter?”

  “Like I said, I love her.”

  “What were you saving for?”

  I rolled my eyes. He wasn’t going to be impressed, but I had to tell the truth. “Since you think my Audi is crass, you’re going to love this answer. I was saving for a second-hand Porsche. You can pick up a Boxster for under thirty grand.”

  “How much had you saved up?”

  “Nearly the full amount.”

  “And you spent some of it on my daughter?”

  “I’ll spend the rest on a deposit on a house for her too, if you’ll let me marry her and if she’ll have me. We’ll need a place we can have a big, heated shed to keep animals in if they need to be kept overnight. I would have put a deposit down already, but Lacey needs to choose the house, or she’d hand me my arse on a plate.”

  “That’s true. At least you understand women, son.”

  He slapped my shoulder and I scratched my chin. He hadn’t answered my question. However, I wasn’t sure I had asked one.

  “So, can I marry Lacey?” I asked.

  “It’s up to her. She’s thirty-one and would do me damage in the tender parts if I stopped you from asking, whatever her answer.”

  “All the same, I would like your blessing. I am sorry for hurting you all. I was stupid and selfish.”

  “And young.” He nodded. “By the way, you would have looked good in a Porsche.”

  “Yeah, well it might not be such a great vehicle for lugging around cat boxes and dog cages.”

  “Or child seats?” Fraser prodded.

  “She’s not pregnant. That’s not why I’m asking.”

  “I know, but kids are in your future, aren’t they?”

  “Are you hoping I’ll get spooked at the idea and head home without asking?”

  “No, but I need to know your intentions.”

  “If Lacey wants babies, I’m happy to provide. I’d love to have kids.” I held my hands up.

  Fraser nodded and considered me for a moment. “You should ask her.”

  “Thanks, sir.”

  “Call me Fraser.”

  We headed back to the others, and I was trying hard to hide my grin. One hurdle down.

  “What were you two talking about?” asked Lacey when we returned to the group.

  “Whether you should move in with me,” I said.

  “What has that to do with my dad?” She looked between us.

  “I’m fairly sure your dad still thinks you deserve better than me. However, I’m what you’re stuck with. I love you, and I want to make this project work because it’s your heart’s desire. I know I’ve been a bit flaky, and it’s my commitment making you concerned about taking this leap, but I’ve grown up. I know what I want. And that’s you. Forever.” I got down onto one knee and pulled the jeweller’s box out of my pocket.

  She started to back away, but I caught her hand and halted her.

  Opening the box with one hand, I held the sparkly solitaire ring
in a white gold setting up to her. “Will you marry me, Lacey? I love you.”

  Lacey glanced from the ring to my eyes, tears welling in hers.

  “Oh, Rory, I don’t know. There’s so much to think about. So much to work out.” She tugged her hand away and I let it go. She backed away slowly, maintaining eye contact until she was at the back of the ambulance. I could hear Fraser whispering to Maureen, but I concentrated on the woman I loved.

  Lacey climbed into the ambulance and studied all the equipment She opened cupboards and drawers. “You thought of everything.”

  “I got help, sweetheart. It had to be right for my girl.”

  “I can’t afford to do this.”

  “You can if we share the bills. We can sit and work out a proper action plan. My original figures are pretty sketchy, but I think we can make it work. If you agree to marry me, I have savings. We can put a deposit on a house with a shed, put heating in it, and you can house pets who need to stay with us overnight. Or maybe a garage. I don’t mind.”

  “Do you have a house in mind?”

  “No. I assumed you’d want to pick it.”

  “Help pick it. You need a say too.”

  “My only stipulation is not in the school catchment area.”

  She nodded. “I love the general idea.” She turned and took a deep breath. “I love you.”

  “Then marry me.”

  “Where did the money come from?”

  I shrugged. “My Porsche fund.”

  Lacey cupped my cheeks. “Rory! You’ve been saving for a Porsche since you got your first teaching job.”

  “I’d rather have you than a fancy car.” I searched her face, trying to read why she was hesitating. “Tell me, do you hate the ring?”

  She shook her head. “No, the ring is lovely.”

  “Then become my wife and we’ll work out the rest as we go.”

  She sighed and nodded.

  “Is that a yes? Because I’m not seeing much enthusiasm, Mrs Thompson.”

  “It’s a fucking yes. I’m scared I’m making a big mistake, but I love you so much.”

  “I love you so much too.” I pulled her into my arms, crushing her in a hug. “Baby, I’ve been such a dick in the past, but I never got over losing you or your parents and Jonas. If purchasing this thing and trying to make your dreams come true hadn’t brought your dad around and shown him how much I’m committed to you, I’d have had to walk away for your sake. I couldn’t let you lose your family over me. I’m sorry I was a jerk before I left. I guess I thought if you hated me, then breaking up would be easier if I had to do it.”

  “You didn’t have much faith in yourself, did you? This is wonderful.”

  “You’re the only person who ever had faith in me,” I said, lifting her onto the examination table. It was strong enough to take a Doberman; it could take her weight.

  I cupped her cheeks and pressed a kiss to her lips. She speared her fingers through my hair and deepened the kiss. Groaning, I pulled her arse towards me. I needed inside her, pronto.

  A male cough from the open back doors of the ambulance made me jerk away from her and drop the ring box that was still held between my thumb and forefinger.

  “Have you accepted his proposal?” Fraser asked.

  “If he ever puts the damned ring on my finger.”

  “My two babies are getting married,” wailed Maureen in the background.

  That was a turnaround.

  I picked up the box, took the ring out, and started to slide it on her finger.

  Lacey cleared her throat. “The question?”

  “Lacey, you are the love of my life. Will you marry me?”

  “Yes, Rory Thompson, pain in my arse and love of my life, I shall marry you.”

  I slid the ring on and pulled her into a hug. “I promise to use lube so I’m not that much of a pain in your arse with my big cock.”

  “Shut it, or you won’t see the wedding, sexy.”

  I decided to take my wife-to-be’s advice. This would be how our marriage was going to proceed from now on. She was the sensible one in the partnership.

  Epilogue

  Nine months later

  Lacey

  I BACKED THE PET HOSPITAL vehicle slowly into my new driveway—correction, our new driveway—and a great sense of achievement filled me. I’d been worried about manoeuvring the big beast at first, but it really hadn’t been that difficult.

  We’d got our charitable status and donations were flooding in, allowing me to go part-time at the vet practice. The partners had been kind and keen to support the work I was doing, and they were our link for when I needed space and equipment I couldn’t have in the mobile hospital.

  However, today the vehicle was being used as a moving van.

  Rory jumped out of his Audi, which was also filled with boxes, and came to inspect my parking. “Not bad.”

  “What do you mean, not bad? It’s great.”

  “You need to be a little farther to the left.”

  “Fuck off. It’s damn near perfect.”

  “If you say so.”

  I play-punched his hard abs and opened the back of the pet hospital so we could start unloading boxes. Rory had moved in with me as we’d house hunted, so we’d only the one flat to bring all our belongings from, and since my place had been furnished, we’d had to buy all new stuff. Luckily, Rory wasn’t the only one with savings.

  “Rory, what’s in these boxes?” I asked.

  “It says on them.” He pointed to the scrawl from a Sharpie.

  “Yeah this says Sentimental shit on it. What does that even mean?”

  “Photos, certificates, concert tickets, magnets, and other shit you’ve collected.”

  “Other shit like, oh I don’t know, a feckless fiancé?”

  He grinned. “You love me.”

  “Sadly, yes. Foodie shit?” I inquired, pointing to another box.

  “Aye, stuff I found in the kitchen that was weird.”

  I put down the box I was carrying and opened the foodie shit box. I found my stick liquidiser, a mortar and pestle, salt and pepper grinders, a garlic crusher, a panini maker, and a bunch of other things. Poor useless man.

  “This is not weird. This is useful.”

  “If you say so. This will be your favourite box, though.” He held up one, and in great big letters he’d written, KINKY LACEY’S SEX TOYS.

  “Rory! I hate you.”

  He chuckled and ran for the stairs.

  I ran after him and found him in the bedroom on the bed, opening the box.

  “Come and get your toys, kitten.” I climbed on the bed and straddled him as he held a vibrator out of arm’s reach.

  He dropped it and placed his hands on my hips, urging me to sit on top of him. He was hard, and when I made contact, he groaned.

  I hissed at the hardness and began to rock my hips. “We need to christen this bed.”

  “We do.”

  I reached for his belt and undid it. Reaching into his jeans, I touched his flesh and grinned.

  “Yoohoo. Anyone home?” A cheerful voice from downstairs made me freeze.

  “Fuck. Olivia,” I said.

  “We could pretend we’re not home,” Rory whispered.

  “Pretty sure the door being open is a sign we’re home.”

  “If we don’t answer, she might assume we’re ... you know.”

  “Unlikely to stop Olivia,” I pointed out.

  “Sadly true.” Rory eased my hand out of his underwear and pressed a kiss to my temple. “Later.”

  “You bet.”

  I climbed off him and headed for the stairs. “Just coming.”

  When I got downstairs, Olivia, David, and baby Jasmine were on the sofa.

  “Sorry. Were you two shagging?”

  Heat crept up my cheeks, but I shook my head. “No, we were trying to figure out what’s wrong with the toilet.”

  “A likely story,” said Olivia, holding Jasmine out to me. “Here, hold your goddaughte
r.”

  The baby was sleeping, so I gently ran my hand over her head and delighted at the feel of her thick, curly hair.

  “David’s mum keeps telling me I’ll need to learn to braid her hair in a few months,” Olivia said. “David said I can practice on his hair.”

  David removed his ball cap to show his hair was getting long. “My mum’s a good teacher. Maybe you and Lacey can learn together.”

  “That would be fun,” I said. “I chatted to your mum at the wedding for a short time. She’s really nice and immensely proud of you.”

  “So, when are you two starting a family?” asked David.

  Rory walked in, and I glanced up at him, concerned he would balk at the idea.

  He flashed me an easy grin. “Whenever she wants. She’s the one in control.”

  “You want one?”

  He shrugged, sat down, and eased me and the baby onto his knee. “I want whatever makes you happy.”

  “Let’s at least wait until after the wedding before trying. It’s only a few months away.”

  He shrugged. “Fine with me.”

  As we entertained our best friends, I knew he meant it. He had settled back into our relationship with ease, and we were heading towards our wedding in the new year without any bumps in the road.

  We were solid. And if he ever had any doubt in the future, this time we’d talk it out and fight for our love. I would never let him walk away again because I knew it would be not just my heart that would be shattered if we did.

  The End

  A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR – a little bit about me.

  Hi there.

  I live in Glasgow in Scotland. It’s a great city but it rains a bit too much.

  I got into writing in 2011 when I started writing Star Trek Voyager Fan Fiction under the pen name Libby Kim. I then turned to writing my own stories, originally under the pen name Krystal Brookes.

  When I started writing Regency romances, I decided to do it under my own name. Since then I have written different sub-genres of romance- mainly contemporary, Regency and vampire.

  Some of my own favourite authors are Vi Keeland, Penelope Ward, Lauren Blakely, Lynsay Sands, Tessa Dare, Samantha Holt, Em Petrova, Molly Harper, JF Holland, Mary Balogh.