Janie’s head whipped around to see who he was speaking to. As her gaze landed on Penny, her mouth dropped open. Looking back up at Asher, she said, “You’re with her? The cripple?”
Gasps sounded out from the others in the room, but Asher’s face darkened as though he were ready to explode. Moving forward, Penny slipped her arm around his waist and gave a little squeeze.
Before anyone had a chance to speak, a thunderous boom sounded as Mr. Weatherby walked into the room. “Janie, you’re fired. Clear your things and leave today.”
The young woman opened and closed her mouth several times, then, shooting a livid glare around the room, she stalked away.
Stunned, Penny stared in her wake before shifting her gaze over to Mr. Weatherby.
“Penelope, I’ve been an idiot and ask your forgiveness. How would you like to be the new office manager? And yes, that includes the raise you deserve and the office space you should’ve always had.”
Still stunned, she was silent until it was Asher’s turn to give her a little squeeze, jolting her just enough to say, “Yes! Thank you.” Looking up at Asher who was smiling down at her, she glanced toward at Mr. Weatherby, and said, “And now, if you have no objections, I’m going to lunch with my boyfriend.”
She and Asher turned together, arms about each other’s waist, and walked out of the office to the applause of those inside.
* * *
Five Months Later
“Asher, this is gorgeous!”
Penny climbed off the back of Asher’s motorcycle, unsnapping her helmet as she looked around at the property. Looking over her shoulder, she grinned as she handed him her helmet. Not long after they declared themselves a couple, he had taken her out for her first motorcycle ride, and she had discovered a new love...flying down the road on the back of his bike, snuggled close to him with her arms wrapped tightly around his waist.
The appreciative wink he gave her as he took her helmet told her that he enjoyed having her pressed tightly against him as much as she did.
It was early spring, but with the temperate weather and rains, the wide lawn was already lush and green. She knew that he had been working on this property ever since he bought it months ago, and she could see why he fell in love with it.
Standing on the sidewalk, she looked around at the older neighborhood, recognizing that they were not too far from Miss Ethel’s neighborhood. There were mature trees in all the yards, and many of the houses had been redone.
Turning her gaze back to the house, she admired the picket fence along the front and sides. Walking closer, she spied the flower beds dotting around some of the trees and along the front walk. “You’ve already been working on the landscaping,” she exclaimed. “It’s gorgeous, and the curb appeal will make anyone who sees it fall in love with it.”
He escorted her up the walk, and she took his hand as they moved up the steps to the wide front porch. A hanging swing was on one end, and a small gathering of wicker chairs was on the other. A sudden longing filled her at the thought of wanting a house with a porch swing, something she had never thought of before.
Moving inside, she clapped her hands in delight with every room he took her through. The original hardwood floors had been refinished and shined in brilliance. The large living room held a brick fireplace with built-in bookshelves along the entire wall. Large windows let in natural light, and the tall ceilings gave off a feeling of space.
A downstairs bathroom and the kitchen had complete upgrades, and she once again delighted in the countertops, handcrafted cabinets that Cas had built, and tile floor. The downstairs also included a formal dining room as well as a breakfast room right off the kitchen.
The walls were painted and ready for a family to hang their pictures and treasures. Upstairs, she snooped through the three large bedrooms, exclaiming over the master bathroom and large master closet. “Asher, this is so wonderful! But this house is so much bigger than anything you’ve ever bought and redone. Are you sure you’re going to be able to rent it for enough money to make it worth it?”
He nodded and said, “Don’t worry. I got it covered.” He took her hand and said, “Check this out.” He led her up another set of stairs to the full attic, where she discovered a large space that had been completely finished. Twirling around with her arms spread out wide, she said, “There’s so much a family could do with this space! It can be a playroom, or offices, or a spare bedroom.” With her hands on her hips, she turned around slowly and added, “Or it could be all of those things, it’s so big! Oh, I hope whoever gets this place from you appreciates it.”
They linked fingers once again and went all the way back down the stairs, past the laundry room and out the sliding glass doors to the wide, brick patio in the backyard. More lush lawn met her eyes, extending to the privacy fence in the back. She walked to the edge of the patio and looked around, suddenly feeling a strange melancholy come over her.
This was exactly the kind of house she always wished she could have grown up in, back before her mother died and her stepfather did not want to care for her. The kind of house that she would have loved to have been in even as a foster child, just because there would have been enough space to escape when she wanted to be alone. Tears stung her eyes as she looked out over the yard and imagined children playing, a father grilling as the mother brought in a basket of fresh cut flowers. It was such an antiquated vision, but she did not care. She was sure that whoever had lived in this house before Asher bought it had loved it, cherished it, and raised a family.
Swallowing deeply as she blinked away the moisture that had gathered in her eyes, she hoped he would be able to find a family that would cherish it as much as it deserved.
Turning around to face him, she gasped at the sight in front of her. Her beautiful Asher, on bended knee, with his hand extended, a ring clutched in his fingers.
Her hands flew up to her mouth, her fingertips pressing to keep the tears at bay.
“I loved you as a child,” he said, his voice shaking, matching the shaking of his hand. “Then I lost you, and my world changed. God granted me the gift of finding you again, and I don’t ever want us to part. So, I’m asking you to be my wife and to share this home with me. From the first moment I saw it, I wanted to live here with you. Have a family here with you.”
Heart pounding, she moved the few steps to where she was directly in front of him and nodded. With tears streaming down her face, she said, “I loved you as a child. Having you back in my life has put all of my broken pieces together.” She blinked again, unheeding as tears fell off her cheeks. “Yes, I would love to be your wife. Oh, God, yes, I’d love to share this home with you.”
He slipped the ring on her finger as a few more tears from her drifted down over his scarred, tattooed forearms. As he moved in to kiss his beautiful Penny, a quote from a childhood story ran through his mind. “I never dreamed of such happiness as this…”
* * *
Three Months Later
The park was beautiful in the summer. The green grass extended to the thick groves of trees surrounding the area. In the distance, near the pond, the sound of children’s laughter could be heard as they fed the ducks and geese.
The gazebo, freshly painted, was decorated with streamers and a floral archway. Several rows of chairs were placed next to the gazebo, filled with a few coworkers, friends, and family. Miss Ethel sat in the front, flanked on all sides by Zander and Rosalie, Rafe and Eleanor, Cael and Regina, Jaxon and Morgan, Jayden and Ruby, Zeke, Cas, and a few of Miss Ethel’s other boys from other years.
Asher, tugging at the neckline of his dress shirt, stood underneath the floral archway with the minister. His eyes landed on Miss Ethel who smiled and nodded toward him before his gaze was snagged by movement along the path he used to run.
Penny, her sleek hair pulled back in the front and a tiara of flowers on her head, walked toward him. Dressed in a simple, silk white gown that hugged her bodice before flowing out to the ground. A white cane with flowers tied n
ear the top was held in her hand as she made her way to the steps of the gazebo. He met her at the bottom and escorted her up so that she was now standing with him under the floral archway.
Exchanging their vows, pledging their love, they became husband and wife. Pulling her closely, he dipped her back over his arm, halting when his lips were only a whisper away, their gaze pinned on each other. “You are so beautiful, Mrs. Penny Swain.” Just as she grinned widely, he kissed her, and the gathering broke into a round of applause and cheers.
Miss Ethel looked toward the pond and watched as two white swans flew down, landing in the water, now floating side-by-side much to the amusement of the children there. The large, snowy-white beautiful birds dipped their necks and nuzzled together, mates for life.
Looking back at Asher and Penny, a gentle smile settled on her lips.
Don’t miss other Maryann Jordan books!
For all of Miss Ethel’s boys:
Heroes at Heart (Military Romance)
Zander
Rafe
Cael
Jaxon
Zeke (coming 2019)
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 (fall 2019)
Lighthouse Security Investigations
Mace
Rank
Walker
Saints Protection & Investigations
(an elite group, assigned to the cases no one else wants…or can solve)
Serial Love
Healing Love
Revealing Love
Seeing Love
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
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
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Asher: Heroes at Heart Page 22