Pinky Promise (Riverbend Romance 2) (11 page)

He nuzzled her hair. “Then how about that pretty skirt with the flowers. It draws out the color in your eyes.”

It did? She’d worn it to church a few times and noticed his admiring look. But then, he hadn’t worn any other expression around her recently. “Okay. What time?”

“We’ll be done here about four, and I think we can get everyone settled at your mom’s by five. How much time would you like to get ready?”

She sagged against his arms. “Bubble-bath without interruptions,” she said with a sigh.

Ian laughed. “I was thinking of having the date before midnight, if it’s all the same to you.”

Kelly swatted his arm. “Okay, fine. How long do I have?”

“How about six o’clock?” He rubbed his nose against hers for a second. “I can’t wait.”

Suddenly, neither could she.

~*~

Ian walked around the Jeep in the parking lot of the Water Wheel Restaurant and opened the door for Kelly. He caught her in both hands as she slid out of the vehicle. In those heels she was much closer to his height.

“How did you get reservations here on such short notice?” she asked, eyes widening.

Should he tell her he’d called it in several days ago? That this babysitting gig by the older generation hadn’t been an impulsive decision this afternoon? Maybe later. Now he was too enthralled with Kelly’s beauty and charm to make any verbal detours. He laced his fingers through hers. “I have my ways.”

“You must.”

The May evening was pleasantly warm. A slight breeze lifted off the Sandon River beyond the restaurant, riffling through Kelly’s hair.
 

“We have a few minutes before they can seat us. Come for a little walk.” He glanced down at her footwear. “At least, if you can in those shoes.”

“Oh, watch me,” she said with a chuckle. “Do you want to see all the flowers Vanessa and I have planted out here in the park in the past two weeks?” She swept her hand around the tended flowerbeds.

“They look great, but they’re nowhere near as gorgeous as you are.” He couldn’t take his gaze off her, but that was nothing new. “The hanging baskets around the gazebo are impressive. Those are the same style that will be throughout downtown?”

She nodded. “That’s next week’s plan.”

They strolled toward the gazebo, arms wrapped around each other. When they stood in the very center, he turned and cradled her close. Then he lowered his lips and savored the taste of her.

She clutched him and deepened the kiss.

He pulled away with a groan. “Oh, Kelly. I love you more than I ever imagined possible. I can hardly stand to be apart from you. Will you marry me?” He’d meant to wait until after dinner, but... why? Why, when they had this part of the park to themselves? Why, when more sustenance would come from the answer to his question than from the meal?

Kelly slid her hands around his neck and tangled them in his hair. Her clear blue eyes looked straight into his.

Why didn’t she speak and put him out of his misery? Why toy with his heart lying on the line?

“Ian.” She stretched to kiss him.

He rested his forehead against hers. “Please, Kelly?”

“I say yes.” She swallowed hard, her gaze fixed on his. “I also say, when?”

“Soon,” Ian whispered. “The sooner the better.” He hated to release her even a smidgen, even for a second, but it had to be done. He reached into his pocket and tugged out a small velvet box.

Her eyes widened. “You planned this.”

“Of course I did.” He winked and pulled her into his lap on one of the gazebo’s benches. “Here, want to see?”

“Um, yes?”

Ian opened the lid and angled it so the sun glinted off the diamond nestling between two smaller emeralds.
 

Kelly sucked in a sharp breath as her finger slid across the three stones. “The girls’ birthstones. How beautiful.”

“What do you think?”

“I think yes, Ian. Didn’t I already tell you that?” She kissed his nose, which was a bit awkward since she didn’t stop looking at the ring.

He pulled it out of its nest and slid it on the third finger of her left hand. Then he raised her hand to his lips and kissed the palm.

“It’s stunning,” she breathed. “It makes my heart melt you thought of the girls.” Then she glanced at him, a glint in her gaze. “There is something wrong, though.”

“Does it need adjusting?” He twisted it on her finger. It might be a little loose. “We can take it in Monday.”

“That’s not it.”

“Then what?”

“It looks so lonely. How soon can you place another band beside it?”

~*~

The girls had spent the night at Kelly’s mom’s house. Ian didn’t see Sophie again until after church on Mother’s Day when the children’s church attendees came into the main service and offered each mom a little pot of pansies. Both Sophie and Elena had handed theirs to Kelly, and she’d hugged them both equally, pressing a kiss to each soft cheek.

Now they were down at Riverside Park again with Chinese take-out. His treat for the three moms in his life: Kelly, Roberta, and his own mother. He and Kelly had talked to their parents last night, telling them of their engagement, and asking for their temporary silence.

Roberta, spreading a tablecloth on the picnic table, could barely take her eyes off the sparkling ring on Kelly’s finger. Ian’s dad winked and mouthed “congratulations” at him.

Ian grinned and held out his hands to his girls. “Let’s go for a walk down to the playground while your grandmothers unpack the food.”

Elena pouted and crossed her arms. “Mommy won’t let me climb the monkey bars in this dress.”

He chuckled. “Come on. I have something to show you.”

Both the seven-year-olds latched onto his hands before he could save one for Kelly, but the look she gave him over Sophie’s head showed she was fine with it. The four of them strolled toward the playground. When he reached the teeter-totter, Ian leaned against it.

“What, Daddy?” asked Sophie.

“I’ve seen this old playground before,” Elena complained.

Ian’s eyes filled with the vision of Kelly. He nodded to her, and she squatted between the girls. Then she held out her hand.

Elena tipped her head and examined the ring. “That’s pretty.”

Clearly she had no idea what it meant.

Sophie looked from the ring to him. “Grandma has a ring like that, but not with green bits. She says it’s her wedding ring.”

“The green bits are called emeralds. They represent two little girls who have birthdays in May.”

Elena’s eyes grew wide as she turned to Ian. “Are you going to be my—?” She choked off the word with both hands over her mouth. Her eyes begged Kelly for an answer.

Kelly held up her hand and wiggled her baby finger. Elena hooked hers around it. “I release you from your pinky promise.”

Elena whirled and flung herself at Ian so hard he nearly toppled. “Are you going to be my daddy?”

“Would you like that?”

“Yes, because then Sophie is my sister, not just my twin. Right, Sophie?”

Sophie nodded, her eyes fixed on Kelly.

“C’mere, little girl,” Kelly whispered, and Sophie walked into her arms.

Ian twirled Elena in a circle, her feet flying out. But each revolution gave him a glimpse of Sophie snuggled up against Kelly. His heart was full. So full.

“What does that ring mean? I want to see it again,” asked Elena when he set her down, grabbing her mom’s left hand.

“It’s a promise,” Ian said. “It means I promise to marry your mom and that the four of us will be a family.”

“Or else what?”

He frowned. “What do you mean?”

Elena shook her head and plunked her hands on her hips. “What happens if you break your promise?”

“I won’t.”

“But what happens if you do?” She glanced at Sophie. “Real promises have con-se-kanses. I think you should pinky promise.”

Dangerous words. He managed to keep the laughter from bubbling all the way up to his face. “Okay, it’s a deal.” He squatted down and held up both little fingers. Elena took one, and Kelly the other. The circle was completed when Sophie hooked Elena and Kelly’s fingers.

“Pinky promise I will love you and your mommy forever. Okay?”

Elena stared at him. “Or else your baby finger will break, and it will hurt.”

“Remember fingers can break other ways, too,” Kelly cautioned.

“I’ll accept that punishment if I break my promise.” His gaze met Kelly’s, and a slow smile spread across her face. He leaned over and caressed her lips with his own. Let the girls watch. “But I won’t.”

“Kissy stuff,” said Sophie. “I think they mean it.”

Thank You!

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Pinky Promise: A Riverbend Romance Novella 2
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If you’re familiar with BC, Canada, you’ll know Riverbend, Castlebrook, and the other towns don’t exist. I took the liberty of redrawing this region of the province, pulling my favorite parts of towns I know and love into one community — with a healthy dose of imagination. I hope you adjusted to the new topography.

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Sweet Serenade: A Summer Riverbend Romance Novella (3)

Chapter 1

“Please tell me today was better than the rest of your week.”

That might require lying. Carly Thorbergsen rolled her shoulders and shook her head at her cousin. “No wonder Neil Maddrey couldn’t find anyone local to fill the position at Base Camp Outfitters. Everyone in Riverbend knew he was an idiot, right?”

Brittany plucked her phone off the table and swiped it on.

“Just the fact you’re ignoring me proves I’m right.” Carly sighed. “I’ll survive until I can find something else.” Or move on. That was definitely an option. That’s how she and Dad had survived for years. There was always more to see in Canada’s west.

“Okay, the man does have a bit of a surly reputation. I’ll grant you that. But the job itself sounded right up your alley. Taking tourists out on Sandon Lake in a canoe. Leading day hikes into the mountains. You won’t spend much time with Neil once your orientation is done.”

Hopefully. Carly crossed the small living room into the apartment’s galley kitchen. Good, there was still some of the sun tea she’d made yesterday. “Want a glass?”

“You put honey in that, didn’t you? I’ll grab a diet cola, thanks.”

Because a zero-calorie diet coupled with a gym membership and a jog every day was healthy? Brittany couldn’t be more than a size two.

Carly’s idea of a good time didn’t mesh with her cousin’s. Eat healthy and play outside a lot was Carly’s motto. Let the chips fall where they may. Which meant sometimes consuming actual chips from actual potatoes. Oh, the horror.

Brittany reached past her for a cola and a container of chicken breasts. “These have been marinating all day. I’ll grill them and we can put them over salad. Sound good?”

Carly’d been paddling all day in the hot sun, not sitting in an air-conditioned library. She could inhale an eight-ounce steak and a baked potato without blinking. “Sounds good. Mind if I make myself a sandwich while you cook?”

“Be my guest.”

Weren’t they past the guest stage? “Hey, I bought some groceries.” Even though she was sleeping on the living room floor until she could get her own place. If she stayed in Riverbend.

“I know, I know.” Brittany carried a pair of tongs and the chicken to the patio door then stepped out onto the third-floor balcony. “This will be really good. I promise.”

Carly didn’t doubt it. It sounded great, but not enough. She headed into the kitchen, slathered peanut butter on two slices of sourdough, and followed her cousin out to the tiny balcony. In the distance, the Sandon River flowed southward, curving around the town of Riverbend. Hills crowded the horizon. The locals called them mountains, but they were nothing like the glacier-clad peaks in the Rockies near Jasper. She could make out gaps between the hills where other creeks and rivers joined the Sandon. Farther up the valley lay the lake.

She closed her eyes. Traffic was muted this far from the busier streets. A hummingbird zoomed to the feeder at the neighbor’s balcony. The chicken breasts sizzled on Brittany’s portable grill. A gentle breeze loaded with the fragrance of mock orange caressed her face. Peace. She could almost taste it.

“A bunch from the church’s singles group are getting together tonight. Want to go? Meet some people?”

Carly glanced at her cousin. “Um, maybe? What’s the scene?”

“Swimming in the river. Bonfire. S’mores. Guitars.”

With every word, Carly relaxed a bit more. “Oh, that sounds awesome. My kind of night out.” She had to admit it didn’t seem to match Brittany, though. Her cousin would hate to break a nail outdoors.

Brittany shot her a look. “Yeah, it would be. Not that many unattached guys, but what do you expect in a town this size? Sometimes I think I should’ve gone to college in Calgary or even Castlebrook instead of staying here.”

“Why didn’t you?”

Her cousin shrugged. “Because Joseph was staying. And then we broke up anyway.” Brittany grinned and arched her perfectly-plucked eyebrows. “But I hear he’s back in Riverbend for the summer.”

“And you want to see him.” Carly drained her glass of iced tea.
 

“Of course. But my gang often does this on Friday nights in summer. You’ll like them. Just stay away from Joseph. Oh, and forget Reed Daniels. He’s the hottest looking guy and ice cold in every other way.”

Check. And check. “What time is the get-together?”

“You’re seriously into this.”

“Why not? I like rivers and s’mores. Unless all the guys wear pants pulled up to their armpits and taped-together glasses, it should be fun.”