As Right As Rain
Page 19
His question is bold, completely unexpected, and outrageously beautiful, like him. But from his calming touch on that very first day, to the way his eyes claim my soul, to his heartfelt gestures with the flowers and the Christmas tree, to his efforts at making sure I had time to grow, Eli’s been surprising me all along.
I lunge into his arms, plunging my fingers deep into his hair. I have only one response to his question. And I’ve known for a while exactly what I’d say if Eli were to ever ask.
“Yes!” I shout, then squeeze him tightly. Tears fill my eyes as I lean back and slide my hands to palm his cheeks. “Yes. With a thousand yeses, of course I’ll marry you.”
As several passersby offer their blessings, I seal the promise with a heated kiss. It lasts far longer than it should, but I don’t care. This is the moment that will go down as the most beautiful memory of my time in Cleveland.
Once we part, Eli slips a cushion-cut diamond ring up my finger and smiles, pinning his gaze on mine, the glint of happiness shining bright in his eyes.
“I can’t tell you how happy that makes me,” he says, then lowers his voice several notches. “I need to get you back to the tower where I can lock you up and we can make up for a heck of a lot of lost time together. That is, until we find a nice place of our own. I have a feeling your mom is gonna be busy sending Ed to the gallows for me. We should have the upstairs to ourselves for a while, but with her, you just never know.”
I laugh. “I take it you’ve asked my parents for their blessing and my mom has graciously offered a place for us to live.”
“She has. She’s quite resourceful, your mother. When she found out I was staying in a hostel she insisted I move upstairs. It’s cold and lonely up there without you. But that’s all about to change. Is that okay?”
“Well, it’s not the North Coast,” I tease. “But I think it’s a wonderful place for us to start our forever together.”
“Then come on.” He tugs on my hand and guides us along the narrow sidewalk flanked with snow. “We can talk more at the dinner theater.”
“We’re still going to the theater?” I toss him a sideways glance. “Maybe we should skip it.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you haven’t figured out what my favorite flower is and therefore you couldn’t possibly finish my epitaph.”
Eli turns to face me. “While I plan to keep showering you with bouquets of every flower I can possibly get my hands on, perhaps it’s the creosote shrub you’d like to have the most.”
“And why is that?”
He palms my cheeks. “Because much like the expression that floods your beautiful face as you close your eyes and inhale your favorite scent, the creosote shrub releases its own beauty, producing a strong but pleasing smell.”
Intrigued, I lift a brow. “And that smell is?”
“It’s called the smell of rain,” he says, half a beat before sealing my lips with his.
Eli
Here Lives
Makayla Renee (Stan) Barringer
Meteorologist. Storm Chaser.
Professor Extraordinaire.
At my side the way I like it.
ALIVE & WELL
The creosote bush I gave her as a wedding gift…
not so much!
From the Author
I hope you enjoyed As Right As Rain. If so, please leave a review. Word-of-mouth recommendations and reader reviews help books succeed. We can’t do it without you. THANK YOU!
Want to know what happens with Eli’s best friend Ben? Pick up your copy of CURVEBALL BABY.
Most of Addison’s days start the same. She walks to work, brushes off the townsfolks’ disapproval, and fixes any-and-all local catastrophes. But there’s not a single resident in Willow Run who doesn’t know that’s all about to change.
For MLB pitching phenom Ben Peterson, returning to Willow Run is like stepping into another world. Back in town, he’s poised to do more than merely get his head on straight. For the last six months, his thoughts have been centered around one thing—the beautiful small-town girl who taught him there's more to life than hurling a baseball.
Download your copy of Curveball Baby here.
Acknowledgments
All my love to my husband, Jim, whose constant support and encouragement has helped me become the writer I am today. I couldn’t do this without you.
Also by J. M. Maurer
Contemporary Romance
The Emerging From Darkness Trilogy (18+)
Sexual Content, Strong Language, Often Humorous
Seeking Love
Seeking Redemption
Seeking Hope
New Adult Romance
As Right as Rain
Curveball Baby
Standalone, Sports, Holiday
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J.M. Maurer started working as a registered nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit where she cared for critically ill children, transported them from outlying hospitals, and even picked up overtime hours treating patients of all ages while inside a hyperbaric chamber. She loves to write about strong characters and their struggles in life.
When not writing, you can find her spending time with family and friends, exploring the outdoors, or attempting most any sport. She resides in Chicago with her husband and son. She loves to hear from readers! You can follow her writing journey at www.jmmaurer.com.