Page 112 of A Tempting Seduction

“Ruby…” I felt like there was gravel in my throat, but I knew it was tears. “Dang it woman, how dare you say something like that before I’ve bought you a ring.”

Her eyes went wide. “Ford?”

“Don’t act so surprised. You said I was good at building relationships. Well, there isn’t a chance I’m not making sure we are together for the next sixty years.” I sat up with Ruby on my lap. I traced her lips with my fingertip. “Ruby Banks Miller. Will you marry me?” I whispered the question, then held my breath.

“Yes, Ford James Larson. I want to be your wife more than I want my next breath.”

I exhaled. Then proceeded to carry her to our bedroom.

Epilogue

Ruby

“Oh, holy hell!” I looked down at the three plastic sticks that were lined up on the tub. One had the word pregnant on it. One had two pink lines, and another had two blue lines. All positive for results for a pregnancy.

I grinned.

But really?

Really?

I looked down and rubbed my belly, giggling. “You weren’t supposed to happen for another two months. You know that, don’t you?” I didn’t get a reply. Oh, this kid was going to be so like their father.

I washed my hands in the bathroom sink and rinsed off the pregnancy test sticks. Well, that confirmed why making the specialty coffees had been making me want to throw up. Things had tipped from threatening to cause me to barf, to causing me to lose it this morning when I was making Bernie Faulkes his bacon maple latte. As soon as I was pouring in that last bit of syrup, I about lost it right then and there. I couldn’t take the risk of the ladies’ room being in use, so I’d opted for a sure thing, and I hauled rear to my office trashcan where I lost my breakfast.

After I’d been done heaving my guts out, one of the new guys, Turk, asked if he needed to call Ford for me. By that time my brain had kicked into gear, and I’d finally added up all the numbers. I told Turk I was fine to drive myself home. But the young man made me promise to call Ford if I needed him. I really did like the brand of protectiveness that seemed to live and breathe here in Jasper Creek.

I’d made a quick stop to Pigeon Forge to buy some pregnancy tests. If I’d bought them in Jasper Creek, news would have made it to Ford before I’d had a chance to deploy one. At least now I had my confirmation, and the rest of the day off to figure out a way to tell my soon-to-be husband that despite our best efforts, we were starting our family a teensy-eensy bit sooner than anticipated.

I looked up and stopped. I couldn’t believe how big my smile was. I’d better figure out a way to tone it down, otherwise Ford was gonna know something was up as soon as he walked through the door.

I rubbed my stomach again. “Now you be good and help Mama come up with a good way to surprise your Daddy, you hear?”

Ford

I ran my fingers along the intricate lattice detailing I'd been working on for the past three hours. The cherry wood felt smooth as silk under my palms, each joint fitting together with the precision I'd learned from watching Ivan work all these years. The wedding arbor was going to be perfect for Ruby. She had no idea I was building it, hidden here in the back corner of the millwork building where she never ventured.

The latticework reminded me of her. Delicate at first glance, but strong enough to support whatever weight life threw at it. I'd designed the pattern myself, drawing inspiration from the way morning light filtered through our kitchen window. When she walked down the aisle toward me, this arbor would frame her like she deserved to be framed. Like the masterpiece she was.

I checked my watch. Three-thirty. Ruby would be in the thick of the afternoon coffee rush right about now, probably dealing with Jordan's attitude or training one of the kids on some new specialty drink. I’d have to leave soon. Walker and I were meeting with Renzo.

“Ford!” Walker's voice carried across the shop floor. “You back there?”

“Yeah.” I set down my chisel and stretched my back. “What's up?”

Walker appeared around the corner, his face creased with concern. “That young guy from Java Jolt just stopped by. Turk, I think? Says Ruby went home sick.”

My hands stilled on the workbench. “Sick? Ruby's never sick.”

“That's what I thought. Kid seemed worried about her. Said she left around noon and told him she was fine to drive herself home, but he wanted to make sure someone checked on her.”

I was already reaching for my keys. Ruby didn't get sick. In the ten months I'd known her, I'd never seen her take so much as a sick day. She was tougher than most construction workers I knew.

“Walker, can you handle the meet with Renzo by yourself?”

“Of course.” Walker's expression shifted to the same protective concern I was feeling. “You want me to call Doc Miller? Have him stop by?” I loved the one-eighty that Walker had done on Ruby. She now had him wrapped around her little finger. All my family adored her.

“Let me see what's going on first.” I grabbed my jacket from the hook by the door.