Diamond In The Rough: The Complete Series

by Hart, Rebel

  He turned me back around slowly. “Now you know how I feel every single day I wake up to you.”

  I let out a soft giggle. “Our children are going to be so lucky to have you as a father.”

  I cupped his cheek as tears streaked my own. No matter how much I wiped at them, they wouldn't stop coming. So I simply let them fall. Clint brought his knuckles up and wiped them away softly, only for more to replace the ones he had swept away with his rugged hands.

  “Did you do all of this yourself?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “I mean, I had a bit of help.”

  “Seriously? Only a bit? When I’ve been here every damn weekend for two months?”

  “Hey, don’t forget me. I’m the one who sent you all of that stuff from her Pinterest in the first place.”

  “Wait, you told me you found that stuff yourself. You were in on it, too?”

  I heard their voices, but couldn't see them. I whipped my head around, trying to figure out where the hell they were. Michael and Allison’s voices echoed in my ears as I continuously wiped at the small streams flooding my face and my neck.

  “Where the hell are you two?” I exclaimed.

  They came into the kitchen from the formal dining room with massive smiles on their faces.

  “Sorry, we got turned around in the living room,” Michael said.

  Allison smiled. “Welcome home, beautiful.”

  I screamed with delight and went rushing for her. I wrapped my arms around her neck, burying my face into her shoulder. I hadn’t seen her in months. Life always kept getting away from us and we always had to push back plans. Or cancel our girls’ weekend. Or generally postpone due to sickness or work or life, in general.

  “I’ve missed you so much,” I whispered.

  She kissed the side of my head. “This place looks fabulous. I can’t wait for you to see the bedroom. They really did it up nice.”

  “Congratulations on the new home, man,” Michael said.

  I heard him and Clint shaking hands and clapping backs as I held on to Allison as tightly as I could. I knew she and Michael were struggling. I knew they had been having some serious difficulties. So I hoped they were in town for a few days. I really wanted to speak with my best friend about what I felt she needed to do. Because that conversation had been coming for quite some time now. All Allison needed to do was find a way to be vulnerable again. To open up to this man that had done nothing but support her and love her through all the difficult times they had back in college.

  “We’ll talk later,” I whispered.

  I felt her nod. “With wine, I hope.”

  I pulled back, smiling. “Always with wine.”

  I peered over my shoulder and saw Clint fiddling with something in his pocket. I furrowed my brow as the two men of my life started laughing with one another, and I saw Clint’s cheeks tint a soft shade of red. Was he… blushing?

  It was very rare that I saw Clint blushing.

  What is he blushing over?

  I sighed. “Thank you, Michael. For everything. For helping Clint and generally making sure he didn’t kill himself. This place is beautiful.”

  Michael turned around to face me. “There’s one more thing, though.”

  I furrowed my brow. “What is it?”

  Allison giggled. “Yep. Just one small, teeny, tiny little thing.”

  Michael nodded. “You know, the one thing that’s missing.”

  I snickered. “Missing? What in the world is missing right now? Everything is beyond perfect.”

  Allison rubbed my back. “Almost perfect, at least.”

  I looked over at my best friend to try and pry an answer out of her. But all she did was nod. I turned back toward the boys, and the second I did I felt tears rushing down my cheeks again. Michael had stepped off to the side by the refrigerator, where Allison quickly joined him. And there, in the doorway of the kitchen, was Clint.

  Down on one knee.

  With a box in his palm.

  “Oh, my God,” I whispered.

  “Come here, beautiful,” he said.

  I felt myself moving, but I wasn't sure my legs were working. I felt as if I were gliding over the fresh tiles while the world faded into almost nothing. My heart seemed to be falling out of my chest and my stomach leapt into my throat. Was this happening? Was this real?

  Is he really about to ask?

  He took my hand in his free one as he smiled up at me. I kept wiping away at my tears, trying not to let them drip on him. And I could’ve sworn I saw his own eyes line with tears. I heard Allison sniffle beside me. I watched in my peripheral as Michael held her close. And my heart grew twice its size when I turned my head and saw Allison melt into him, relying on him for comfort and support and strength.

  Bringing a massive smile to Michael’s face.

  “I didn’t know what happiness looked like until you walked into my life, Cleaver.”

  My eyes fell back down to him as I snickered. Making him smile brighter than I’d ever seen.

  “I knew only darkness before you shined your light into my eyes. And I have to admit, for a while, it hurt. It hurt to look at you and it hurt to touch you and it hurt to kiss you because I’d never experienced that kind of light before. My knee-jerk reaction was to shield it away from my eyes. Pull away from the source of my pain. But you kept coming. You kept knocking at my door. You kept fighting with that strength I admire every single fucking day, and I adjusted.”

  I giggled. “You make me sound like a virus.”

  He chuckled. “You came into my life and your light illuminated my darkness. You showed me the absolute hellscape I was living in and showed me a better way of living. A better way of existing. A better way of loving. And I want to spend the rest of my life bringing you the same light, and the same hope, and the same happiness you bring me.”

  “Oh, Clint.”

  “I want to love you like you deserve to be loved. I want to protect you the way you deserve to be protected. There’s no other woman I want in my life--or for my children--but you. And everything I have is yours.”

  I sniffled. “I love you so much.”

  He stood to his feet. “I want to build our family with you under this roof. I want to bring you home after our wedding to this place. I want us to grow old here. To make memories here. To live out the rest of our days in one another’s arms here.”

  I watched him pop open the black velvet box, only to reveal the most gorgeous ring I’d ever seen. Well, from what I could see out of the bottom of my view.

  Because my eyes never left his face.

  “Raelynn Anne Marie Cleaver. Will you marry me?”

  I smiled brightly. “Yes!”

  I threw my arms around his neck as Michael and Allison clapped. I buried my crying face into the crook of his neck and his arms cloaked my back. He swayed us side to side. I thought my heart might burst with too much happiness. I clung to his broad shoulders. He picked me up off my feet. And after swinging me around a few times in the middle of our new home, he set me back down.

  Before taking my left hand within his.

  “I believe this is yours, then,” he said.

  I sniffled and wiped at my face as he slid the beautiful, sparkling diamond ring onto my finger. I wiggled it in the sunlight streaming through the windows behind me, watching it twinkle, like Clint’s eyes did every morning. I couldn't take my eyes off it. The damn thing was mesmerizing. And it wasn’t until I heard Allison’s voice in my ear that I lifted my head.

  “I love you so much. Congratulations, Rae.”

  Michael patted me on the back. “You deserve it. Way to go.”

  I smiled. “Thank you. Both of you. Really. I love you two so much.”

  Allison smiled back. “We love you, too.”

  Clint tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Ready to tell them the news? Or do you want to wait?”

  Allison paused. “There’s more news?”

  Michael gasped. “You’re not.”
<
br />   Allison furrowed her brow. “What?”

  I looked over at Michael. “We are.”

  He leapt for joy. “Holy shit, you are!”

  Allison scoffed. “What are you two talking about!?”

  Clint laughed. “We’re pregnant, Ally.”

  She gasped. “Oh. My. Goodness!”

  We rejoiced in the kitchen as Michael kept swinging me around. Hugs were exchanged, love was confirmed, and tears were shed. We wrapped ourselves up in a group hug before jumping up and down. Something we always did whenever we first got together after spending so much time apart.

  But a rough knock at the door pulled us from our trance.

  “Whoops,” Clint said.

  Michael chuckled. “That the movers?”

  I sighed. “Guess it’s time to get to work, right?”

  Allison took my hand. “Not for you. You get to rest. I’ll help the guys with some of the smaller things.”

  Michael slapped Clint’s back. “Guess you knocked her up at the right time, huh?”

  I furrowed my brow. “What?”

  Clint grinned. “Yeah. Perfect timing, actually. I knew she wouldn't say ‘no’ to the ring if she had my spawn in her belly.”

  I slapped his chest. “You take that back, Clinton Clarke. Right now.”

  Allison laughed. “Ooooh, the last name. He’s in the doghouse already.”

  Michael shook his head. “First night in the new home and you’re already on the couch.”

  Clint smiled brightly. “You know I love you.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”

  Another loud knock came at the door and I pushed through everyone. As I walked around the beautiful round mahogany table in the middle of the foyer, I already pictured the vases of flowers I’d decorate it with every week. I unlocked the door and opened it up, only to find a shocking revelation behind the door.

  “Hey, Clint?” I called out.

  “Yeah, beautiful?”

  I furrowed my brow. “Didn’t we only have two movers?”

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “Because I’m definitely looking at six. With their hands full of stuff.”

  Clint trotted up behind me. “Well, let them in and get to work. You’re bossing everyone around, right?”

  The mover grunted. “Where do you want your stuff?”

  I moved to the side. “The red boxes go into the kitchen. Oh! And that bed goes all the way down to the hallway, last door on the right.”

  Michael walked up with Allison. “Sounds like you’ve already got a handle on your work.”

  Allison paused. “Where did the other four men come from, though?”

  And right at that moment, the last mover came in. He had a red box in his hand, but there was a letter on top of the box. It had mine and Clint’s name on it, so I slipped it off the top. Then I pointed the man toward the kitchen.

  “Thanks,” he said breathlessly.

  Clint peered over my shoulder. “Who’s it from?”

  I opened it up. “Guess we’re about to find out.”

  Rae and Clint,

  I’m sorry I can’t be there this morning. I took a slip in the shower and bruised my hip pretty badly. Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious. But I’ll probably be at the doctor’s office still by the time the movers show up. I know it’s not like having me there, but I promise I’ll come by with dinner since you two probably won’t feel like cooking. And tell Clint not to worry. Brent’s accompanying me to the doctor, so I’m not alone. I’ll see you two tonight for dinner!

  Cecilia

  Clint shoved his hand into his pocket. “I should give her a call.”

  I placed my hand against his wrist. “Brent’s with her. Let him take care of her.”

  “I need to make sure she’s okay.”

  I held up the letter. “She just said she is. I’m sure she’ll call if it’s more serious. So let’s focus on what we have to do today and we’ll see her tonight. All right?”

  Allison piped up. “Everything okay?”

  I held up the note. “Clint’s stepmother took a fall. So I guess she sent four other movers to help us unload in place of her being here.”

  Michael shrugged. “That’s pretty nice. She all right?”

  I nodded. “The note says she is. Brent’s with her, so…”

  Allison giggled. “Oh, yeah. She’s just fine, then. A woman is always fine when her man’s doting on her.”

  I watched her shoot a look up to Michael and he smiled.

  “I read you loud and clear, cutie pie,” he said.

  And when the two of them shared a kiss, I didn’t think today could get any more perfect.

  Until night fell upon us in our new home.

  10

  Clinton

  I flopped down into the chair out on the back patio before I felt her hands on my shoulders. The way her thumbs dug into my muscles made me moan. And before I knew it, my eyes fell shut. Feeling Rae’s ministrations against my sweating muscles felt like heaven. Plus, every time I felt her ring slide against my shirt, it made me smile.

  “So, what time should we expect Cecilia?” she asked.

  I sighed. “I figure around the time she actually eats dinner. Which won’t be until eight.”

  “Well, that sounds terrible. We should find a snack.”

  My eyes slowly opened. “What about your mother? Where did she end up today?”

  She snickered. “Hell if I know. I haven’t heard from her all day. I’ll give her a call tomorrow if she doesn’t resurface.”

  “You think something’s wrong?”

  “Actually, no.”

  I chuckled. “Well, if you’re not concerned, then I’m not concerned.”

  She let her hands slide down my chest and I let out a soft growl. She pressed the smallest kiss against my cheek. One that shivered me to my core and made my body come alive. I leaned my forehead against her temple, reached back with my hand, and threaded my fingers into her hair.

  The night wind softly wrapped around our bodies.

  “How are the boxes looking?” I asked.

  “Nice and stacked.”

  “Good. I don’t want you unpacking without me.”

  She giggled. “Already getting overprotective, I see.”

  “That’s my job. I figured you’d already gotten with that program.”

  She snickered. “Just making a bit of fun. Don’t get all weird on me now.”

  Her lips fell to my neck and I groaned at the feel of her lips. Kiss after kiss, pressed against my pulse point. Causing my cock to rise to the occasion. I gripped her hair and let out a soft grunt. Her hands rumbled down my abs, stopping just shy of the button on my jeans.

  “Oh, what you do to me, Rae.”

  She giggled. “You know, we have a tub now.”

  “Mmm, we do.”

  She lowered her voice. “With jets.”

  I growled. “Perfect.”

  “I think our celebratory bottle of alcohol-free champagne might taste better in a hot bubble bath, don’t you think?”

  I craned my neck to look at her. “You always have the best ideas. You know that?”

  She kissed the tip of my nose. “Race ya.”

  “What?”

  She took off laughing as she leapt back into the house. I scooted the chair out from behind me and raced into the kitchen, scooping up the bottle of champagne. Fuck glasses. We didn’t need any fancy shit tonight. All I needed was her, that bath, and my hands splayed across her stomach.

  A stomach that would grow over the coming months.

  “Can’t catch me, Clint!”

  I chuckled. “Better watch those words of yours. Come here.”

  “Ah!”

  She squealed as I picked her up, swinging her around in our bedroom. I peppered her shoulder with kisses and nips, listening to her soft sighs. Gripping the neck of the champagne bottle tightly, I nuzzled my nose against the shell of her ear and walked her into the bathroom.

&nbs
p; “Celebrating in baby-friendly style, huh?” she asked.

  I pressed my lips to her ear. “Not exactly.”

  My lips fell to her neck as I stripped her out of those clothes she had on. She turned around, running her fingertips along my muscles as she undressed me as well. I watched as her naked form grabbed the bottle. I ran the water in the tub, preparing it with lots of bubbles, while she struggled with the cork. She pointed it towards our bedroom and a resounding ‘pop!’ finally filled our ears.

  Before the cork fell right at her feet.

  She sighed. “Well. That was…”

  I snickered. “I don’t even care. This is the best day of my life. And I wouldn't want to change a thing about it.”

  She turned around. “You took the words right out of my mouth, big guy.”

  “Now, why don’t you come over here and give this big guy of yours some lovin’?”

  She held out her finger to me and tipped the bottle up to her lips. My eyebrows rose as she took one chug. Then, two. But, soon after that, it started spraying from her mouth.

  “Rae?”

  She started coughing before she lunged for the sink.

  “Rae!”

  She heaved into the porcelain concavity as I held her hair back.

  “It’s okay. I gotcha. You’re all right.”

  She spat. “Holy shit, that stuff tastes terrible.”

  I paused. “Wait, you’re not getting sick?”

  She stood up. “Only off of that. You can have it. Ugh. That’s nasty.”

  My eyebrows rose. “I got something to replace the flavor, if you’re up for it.”

  She wiped her mouth off. “Is that a blowjob joke? Because if it is, it’s not as good as your other ones.”

  I chuckled. “Get over here and kiss me, woman.”

  I wrapped her up in my arms and pulled her against my body. My cock pressed against the warmth of her skin, ushering me back home. I picked her up and walked her over to the tub, stepping us both in and settling us beneath the bubbles. I slid my fingers into her gloriously soft locks and gazed into her breathtaking eyes. And when my lips pressed against hers, the whole of the world stood still.

  “I love you so much,” she whispered.