Just For A Heartbeat (Piper Anderson Legacy Mystery Book 2)
Page 16
“Nope, when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, you’re in stiff competition. Betty, don’t forget who helped you make the pie crust.”
“You tried to help me make the pie crust to be more accurate,” Betty corrected while wagging her finger. “You melted the butter.”
“It wouldn’t mix in all cold,” Piper argued, her voice raising a few octaves.
“Sure it will,” Betty laughed. “It’s just more work. You can’t use melted butter and expect flakey pie crusts. That’s like using poison ivy for toilet paper and expecting to be able to sit down comfortably the next day.”
“I’m pretty handy with a pastry blender,” Ruby interjected casually. “I find if you cube the butter first it’s a breeze.”
“Well, look here,” Betty said, putting her arm in Ruby’s so the three of them formed a line, woven together as they walked. “A girl after my own heart.”
“Don’t be fooled,” Piper said, leaning forward to shoot Ruby a bogus dirty look. “She’s only after your mashed potatoes.”
Chapter 30
“Roll me up the stairs,” Ruby pleaded, leaning all her weight on Patrick. The restaurant was empty. The lights were turned down and the door locked behind Betty, who’d just kissed them both on the top of the head before saying goodbye.
“I am so full,” Patrick groaned. “Why did I have three pieces of pie?”
“Because there were three kinds of pie,” Ruby reminded him. “I thought I didn’t like pumpkin pie. I’ve spent my whole life turning it down when people offered it to me. Now after tonight I think I’ll have it for breakfast.”
“I won’t eat breakfast until next Sunday,” Patrick said, pulling Ruby to her feet and leading her up the stairs to the apartment.
“You say that now, but you’ll have your fork in my pie in the morning.”
“That sounds dirty,” Patrick laughed. “If I could move without bursting, I’d consider undressing you on the way up the stairs.”
“Pass,” Ruby laughed. “No chance tonight.”
“Fine by me,” Patrick agreed. “We’ve got the rest of our lives. Who cares about tonight?”
“The rest of our lives? Are you going to take a knee? Because your pants might split.”
“No ring here,” Patrick said, patting his pockets. “Not yet.”
“That’s all right by me. I’ve got a little further to go before I’m ready to walk down the aisle. We’ll know when it’s right.”
“When we do,” Patrick said, pulling her in for a hug, “I think we should get married on the ocean.”
“That would certainly show how far I’ve come. But I’m not there yet. I still have nightmares. I still have to fight a lot of anxiety every day. I thought with Wilson’s conviction, knowing he was behind bars would wash away everything.”
“You don’t have to tell me. It was only two nights ago I caught your elbow to the jaw when you woke up from that dream.”
“I’m going to get better though,” Ruby said adamantly, breathing in his spicy musk. “I’ll be fine. I know for sure now.”
“Oh yeah?” Patrick asked, pulling her back so he could see her face. “What makes you say that?”
“Betty’s heart tingle told her so.”
Epilogue
The chilly rippling waves brushed against Ruby’s toes as she half buried them in the sand. “We live in California,” Ruby exclaimed, the metal key to their apartment clutched tightly in her hand. “I can’t believe we actually did this.”
“You make it sound like a cross-country move with no real plan is a big deal,” Patrick laughed.
“We have a plan,” she argued, nudging her elbow into his side. He bent down to roll up his pants, sinking his feet into the water. “You have interviews lined up at all the local papers. I’m meeting with the wedding planner this afternoon about picking up some photography jobs for her clients. We’re going to be fine.”
“I’m not fine,” Patrick said, shaking his head in a way that made Ruby’s stomach drop with anxiety. They’d taken so many leaps of faith together she was worried he’d eventually decide he’d made a mistake.
“I don’t think I’ll be fine until I hear you say yes,” he said, taking her hand delicately in his. He brought it to his lips and kissed it, his eyes fixed on her face. “I won’t be fine until I know you’re ready to be my wife.”
Patrick’s free hand fished in his pocket and pulled out a small black ring box. Ruby Constantine, you are a troubled girl.” He smiled.
“Hey,” Ruby protested, the tears already gathering in the corner of her eyes.
“Let me finish,” Patrick insisted. “One of the biggest joys of my life has been watching you battle your way to this very moment. You’ve conquered every demon. You’ve crossed every bridge. I love you. I want to marry you. I want someone strong by my side for the rest of my life. Together we’ll be unstoppable.” He took a knee right on the shore line and looked up at her expectantly.
“Yes,” she said, losing her breath as he slid the princess cut diamond onto her finger. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you. I love you.”
Standing, he pulled her against him, his wet pants cool against her legs. The wind had picked up and the air had a chill in it, but the look in his eye was mischievous. “Swim with me,” he said, pulling her a few steps into the water.
“It’s too cold,” she said, waving him off. “You’re crazy.”
“Ironic coming from you,” he teased relentlessly. He backed farther into the water and pulled her along by the arm. “Swim with me.”
“We don’t have a change of clothes,” she argued, already knee deep in the surf.
“We’ll drive back to our new apartment naked.” He shrugged. “Let’s do this.”
“I can’t,” she said, digging her feet into the sand and taking her hand back from him. “I can’t swim with you, get cold, and drive home naked.”
“Fine, I might have a towel in the trunk. Don’t be scared; I’ve got you Ruby.”
“I know you do,” she said, still not moving toward him. “I don’t think now is the time to catch a chill.”
“No time like the present,” he said, putting his arms out straight and falling backward into the water with a huge splash. He was gone for a long moment, lost under the small waves. When he reemerged, he shook with a chill as the wind picked up. “You come in or I’m going to pull you in.”
“I’m pregnant,” Ruby said, watching for Patrick’s reaction, her face frozen in anticipation. “It just happened, and I know this isn’t how we planned it.”
“You’re pregnant?” he asked, still not giving away his feelings. “Right now?”
“Right this minute.”
He steadied his feet against the sandy bottom of the water and charged toward her, pushing the extra water out of his hair. “Get out of the water; it’s cold.” His freezing hands were on Ruby’s shoulders, guiding her carefully back to the dry sand. “We need to get you dried off. I really do think I have a towel in my trunk.”
“You take the towel,” Ruby insisted, gesturing at his shivering body. “I’d like my baby to grow up with a father. If you die of pneumonia that’s going to be very inconvenient for me.”
“How?” he stuttered out. “How did it?”
“I’m assuming you know where babies come from?”
“Yeah, sorry I’m being stupid; I just can’t believe it.”
“And you feel—?” she asked, waiting for his face to show more clarity.
Patrick shook his head in disbelief. “I feel like I’m the luckiest man in the world.”
“You want to be a father?” she asked, her voice small and nervous.
“More than that,” he said, his freezing hand touching her cheek. “I can’t wait to watch you become a mother.”
“We’re going to do this,” she said, wide eyes taking in the sudden joy on his face. “It’s all going to work out.”
“Did you ask Betty how her tingly heart was feeling?” Patrick asked, hi
s brows raised, goading her on.
“No,” she laughed, taking his hand and putting it over her heart. “I have my own now.”
The End
Pre-Order Book 3, Not Just an Echo
Books by Danielle Stewart
Piper Anderson Series:
Book 1: Chasing Justice
Book 2: Cutting Ties
Book 3: Changing Fate
Book 4: Finding Freedom
Book 5: Settling Scores
Book 6: Battling Destiny
Book 7: Chris & Sydney Collection – Choosing Christmas & Saving Love
Betty's Journal - Bonus Material (suggested to be read after Book 4 to avoid spoilers)
Edenville Series – A Piper Anderson Spin Off:
Book 1: Flowers in the Snow
Book 2: Kiss in the Wind
Book 3: Stars in a Bottle
Piper Anderson Legacy Mystery:
Book 1: Three Seconds To Rush
Book 2: Just for a Heartbeat
Book 3: Not Just an Echo
The Clover Series:
Hearts of Clover - Novella & Book 2: (Half My Heart & Change My Heart)
Book 3: All My Heart
Book 4: Facing Home
Midnight Magic Series:
Amelia
Rough Waters Series:
Book 1: The Goodbye Storm
Book 2: The Runaway Storm
Book 3: The Rising Storm
Running From Shadows: Novella
Books in the Barrington Billionaire World
By Ruth Cardello:
Always Mine
Stolen Kisses
Trade It All
Let It Burn - Pre-Order
By Jeannette Winters:
One White Lie
Table For Two
You & Me Make Three
Virgin For The Fourth Time - Pre-Order
By Danielle Stewart:
Fierce Love
Fierce Love - Sweet
Wild Eyes
Wild Eyes - Sweet
Crazy Nights
Loyal Hearts - Pre-Order
Newsletter Sign-up
If you’d like to stay up to date on the latest Danielle Stewart news Click Here.
One random newsletter subscriber will be chosen every month this year. The chosen subscriber will receive a $25 eGift Card! Sign up today by clicking the link above.
Author Contact:
Website: AuthorDanielleStewart.com
Email: AuthorDanielleStewart@Gmail.com
Facebook: Author Danielle Stewart
Twitter: @DStewartAuthor