Hear My Heart
Page 24
Her attention was diverted as the crowd cheered. A batter had hit the ball toward the outfield and was running full out. She jerked her gaze around as the third base coach told Emily to run. Jumping up and down, screaming and waving, she watched as Emily ran to home plate, scoring a run. Aiden was there and he swung her up in his arms, celebrating. Behind them, the crowd was on their feet, many of them with their hands in the air, waving in the American Sign Language sign for applause.
Tears pricked her eyes as she watched Emily grin, throwing her hands in the air in thanks. At the end of the game, her attention was once more snagged as the man from the outfield jogged closer. Her mouth hung open in surprise as she recognized Scott. He caught her eye and grinned, jogging over to where she now sat with her friends.
“Scott, I had no idea.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt foolish, but he quickly jumped in.
“Well, I tend to not wear shorts to work,” he laughed. He glanced down at his prosthetic leg and shrugged, saying, “My souvenir from Afghanistan.”
Jason walked up and clapped Scott on the back. “Glad you decided to coach. We’re all heading to the pub, will you join us?” With a grin and a nod, Scott agreed, and they walked off together.
Barely having time to process that new information, Emily came running to her. Throwing her arms around her daughter, she congratulated her. As the crowd dispersed, they walked down the street toward the pub with their friends. Emily ran ahead and chatted with some of the others, leaving her to walk alone with Aiden.
He looked at the smile on her face, and asked, “Happy?”
She linked fingers with his, and said, “I don’t think it’s possible for me to be happier.”
He grinned. “Well, let’s see if I can find a way to make you even happier. Grab Emily and we’ll skip the pub. I’ve got something to show you.”
Gaining Emily’s attention, she motioned for her to come back. Promising them a surprise, Aiden herded them to his truck. A few minutes later, they were driving down the road and as they pulled onto her street her house came into view. She and Emily had moved into Tori’s Sea Glass Inn while she worked with the insurance company about repairing her house. The only real fire damage had been the back deck, including the back door and part of the kitchen wall, and the front porch, along with the front door and entryway. There was also water damage in the living room and the kitchen. The rest of the house was fine, but she did not know how long it would take before they could move back in.
As he pulled up to the front of her house, her mouth dropped open in awe.
“Wh…what’s going on?”
“Look, Mama. Our house is getting fixed!”
Looking nervous, Aiden turned to her. “I know I was taking a big chance, but your insurance adjuster is part of the American Legion and so is the owner of North Heron Construction. I wanted them to hurry and start the reparations, so I put up the initial money until the insurance money comes in.”
She turned and looked at him, realizing he was doing everything he could to give her and Emily a home again. Tears pricked her eyes as she said, “Aiden, you’re amazing. Thank you so much.”
The three of them climbed down from his truck and walked a little closer to the construction.
Emily, piping up again, said, “But Mama, our house is getting bigger!”
Paying closer attention to the work being done, she noticed the construction workers were busy not only repairing the front but, from what she could see, were also adding on to the side and back of the house.
“What’s happening?” she asked, facing Aiden.
“This is what’s happening.”
He dropped down on one knee and took a ring box out of his pocket. Opening it, inside was nestled a diamond solitaire. Her mouth fell open and she glanced to Emily to see her reaction. She was looking between the two of them, her gaze shooting back and forth, and grinning widely.
“Amelia,” Aiden said, gaining her attention again. “I hoped one day I would meet someone that I would want to spend the rest of my life with. Amelia, you’re that person. I want to build a life with you and Emily and thought a great place to start would be with your beautiful home. Will you marry me?”
With tears sliding down her face, she nodded. “Yes, yes I’ll marry you.” She stared at her hand as he slid the ring onto to her left ring finger, waiting for him to rise, but he stayed on his knee. So, she bent over, clutching his face, kissing him. As she stood, she was surprised that he continued to stay on bent knee.
He then pulled out another ring box and flipped it open as he faced Emily. Inside was a tiny diamond solitaire on a necklace chain. Emily’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open.
“Just as I love your mother, I love you too,” he said. “Will you let me be your daddy?”
Her tears continued to flow as she watched Emily jump into his arms, holding him tight. Dropping to her knees, their arms tangled together as they held each other close. With Emily squished in between of the two of them, she looked up, and grinned. “Now I can hear both of your hearts.”
* * *
Don’t miss the next Baytown Boys
Guarding Your Heart
* * *
Love is a risk… and might not be worth the heartache.
Sophie Bayles ran from Baytown and the boy she loved when her brother’s death devasted her world.
* * *
Callan Ward was back in Baytown, stationed to the Coast Guard unit, but there was only one thing missing…Sophie.
* * *
Sophie jumps at the chance to return to Baytown for a temporary job, but discovered that in trying to guard her heart, she had only cut herself off from true love.
* * *
As she and Callan grow closer, discovering their feelings had not changed, she stumbles into suspicious activity near her work.
* * *
Promising to guard her heart, Callan and his friends work to make sure Sophie is safe before someone decides to quiet her permanently.
* * *
Please take the time to leave a review of this book. Feel free to contact me, especially if you enjoyed my book. I love to hear from readers!
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Also by Maryann Jordan
Don’t miss other Maryann Jordan books!
Lots more Baytown stories to enjoy and more to come!
Baytown Boys (small town, military romantic suspense)
Coming Home
Just One More Chance
Clues of the Heart
Finding Peace
Picking Up the Pieces
Sunset Flames
Waiting for Sunrise
Hear My Heart
Guarding Your Heart
Sweet Rose
Our Time
Count On Me
Shielding You
To Love Someone
* * *
For all of Miss Ethel’s boys:
Heroes at Heart (Military Romance)
Zander
Rafe
Cael
Jaxon
Jayden
Asher
Zeke
Cas
* * *
Lighthouse Security Investigations
Mace
Rank
Walker
Drew
Blake
Tate
* * *
Hope City (romantic suspense series co-developed
with Kris Michaels
Brock book 1
Sean book 2
Carter book 3
Brody book 4
Kyle book 5
Ryker book 6
Rory book 7
Killian book 8
* * *
Saints Protection & Investigations
(an elite group, assigned to the cases no one else wants…or can solve)
Serial Love
Healing Love
Revealing Love
Seeing Lov
e
Honor Love
Sacrifice Love
Protecting Love
Remember Love
Discover Love
Surviving Love
Celebrating Love
* * *
Follow the exciting spin-off series:
Alvarez Security (military romantic suspense)
Gabe
Tony
Vinny
Jobe
* * *
SEALs
Thin Ice (Sleeper SEAL)
SEAL Together (Silver SEAL)
* * *
Letters From Home (military romance)
Class of Love
Freedom of Love
Bond of Love
* * *
The Love’s Series (detectives)
Love’s Taming
Love’s Tempting
Love’s Trusting
* * *
The Fairfield Series (small town detectives)
Emma’s Home
Laurie’s Time
Carol’s Image
Fireworks Over Fairfield
* * *
Please take the time to leave a review of this book. Feel free to contact me, especially if you enjoyed my book. I love to hear from readers!
Facebook
Email
Website