In Two Weeks (NY State Trooper Series)
Page 23
Her head hit the floor with a clunk, then her arms dropped to the side, while she shut her eyes tight.
“Ryan, you okay?”
She shook her head, covering her face, mumbling a bunch of words he couldn’t understand.
“Ryan, you’re kind of wigging me out here.”
“Sorry,” she mumbled from behind her hands.
He shifted to his knees, pulling her to a sitting position and leaned against the couch. “Come on, what’s wrong?” He pulled at her hands. When she finally looked at him, she had chomped down on her lower lip and had a guilty look on her face. “You lied to me.”
“Not really.”
“Are you pregnant?” He swallowed, not able to tell if he was angry or happy. Or both.
“I don’t know.”
“You didn’t get your period, did you?” He rubbed his hands across his unshaven face.
“I sort of lied to you about that.”
“And if you’re pregnant, were you planning on telling me, ever?” He hated hearing his angry tone, but he couldn’t help it. She’d lied to him about something really important. Not a good way to start out.
She jumped to her knees. “I wouldn’t have kept that from you, but understand I didn’t want you giving up everything just because I might be having a baby. You did that once and look how bad that turned out.”
“I didn’t love Lisa.” He shook his head. “And wouldn’t that be my choice to make?” He looped his arm around her. Staying mad at this woman would be impossible.
“And you could’ve come back, if you wanted to. I would never keep your child from you. I just didn’t want you to give up something for me again.”
“Leaving you would’ve been giving up something, something wonderful. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I don’t want to know what it would be like not to have you in my life.”
“That’s sweet.” She slumped her head into the crook of his neck relaxing. “When I got around to taking the test, I planned on calling you.”
“You’d tell me that over the phone?” He snapped up his head.
“No, I would’ve told you I wanted to see you when you came back to get your other car. You’re not moving, are you?” She wrapped her arm around his middle.
“Nope, and neither are you. Well, actually you are. Please don’t tell me you won’t live with me until we’re married.”
“Oh, good God. No.” She laughed. “Poor Pen. She didn’t want to wait, but her father wouldn’t have married them if she did. He didn’t take the pregnancy too well.”
“I guess I wouldn’t have a pregnancy test lying around the house, would I?”
“I’ve got one in my bag. I was going to take it with Penny in the morning.”
“It’s the morning, so take it now, with me.” He leaped from the floor, pulling her with him. “Where is it?”
“Wherever my overnight bag ended up. Do we have to do this now? I can think of something much better we can do.”
“The bag’s in the kitchen. I’ll meet you upstairs.” He pulled her into his arms. “We’ll get to everything, I promise. But let’s find out if you’re pregnant first. I need to know.” He paused and looked at her soft blue eyes. “I want to know.”
* * * *
Ryan locked herself in the master bathroom, and read the directions three times before putting her sample where it belonged. She left the test strip on the sink, then pushed back the door.
“Well?”
“We have to wait five minutes.” She flung herself on her back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
“You’ve been in there for fifteen.” Jared rubbed the back of his neck.
“Read the directions a half dozen times. I don’t want to screw this up.”
“Like I screwed up my proposal?”
She slipped her hand under his shirt, rubbing his back, feeling truly at home for the first time in her life. “I didn’t know you asked.”
He glanced over his shoulder. “I mentioned it.”
“But you didn’t ask.” She smiled at his wide eyes. “And I certainly didn’t answer.” She scooted to the edge of the bed.
“You want me to do the one knee thing, huh?” He slipped off the bed and reached into his pocket.
Her breath hitched as she clutched her emerald necklace. She’d only been teasing him. She thought it was a given at this point, but she’d let him ask again.
He looked up at her from bended knee, holding up a sparkling diamond.
“Oh, my, God! Where the hell did that come from?” She reached for it, but he pulled it back. “Jared?”
“Stopped at the jeweler’s on the way home.”
She stared at him, her pulse beating fast and furious. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Nope.” He swiped at his eyes. “I think this is about as spontaneous as I can get.”
She gasped when he slid the ring on her finger. “It’s beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful.” He kissed her hand. “Regardless of what that test says, I want to marry you. Will you marry me, Ryan?”
“Yes,” she whispered, pressing her lips against his as he eased her back on the soft mattress.
He lifted his head and stared into her eyes. She felt his love right through to her core. How could she have missed it before?
“You’ve always been right in front of me,” he whispered.
“And that’s where I plan on staying,” she said, drawing his lips to hers, leaving the outside world. This moment would be forever ingrained in her mind as the happiest moment in her life. She’d once said she wanted it all, and now she had it.
And she’d never let it go.
Epilogue
Jared rolled his ring around on his finger, then glanced at the blue sky. No matter how long he’d been wearing the ring, he’d never gotten used to it. But he couldn’t bring himself to take it off. It reminded him of what he had almost lost.
“Da, Da!” Caitlyn squealed, stumbling down the pathway, arms flapping at her sides like a drunken sailor.
“I thought it was cute when she started walking. Not so much now that she’s running.” Ryan let out a sigh as she chased behind the little girl.
“Come to Daddy.” Jared knelt, holding out his arms. Caitlyn flung herself at him. He lifted her to the sky and twirled her around while she belly laughed like there was no tomorrow. “Say ‘Mama.’”
Caitlyn shook her head. “Da, Da.” She cupped his face, then planted a wet kiss against his lips.
“Mommy.” He pointed to Ryan, who smiled.
“She does this because you think it’s cute.” Ryan laughed.
“Onny.” Caitlyn pointed to the car.
“Did she say Johnny?” Jared stared at Ryan.
“Been working on that one all day.” Ryan pulled back the car door. “Show Daddy what you’ve got for Johnny.”
Caitlyn rummaged in the oversized pocket of her dress. “Ca.”
“Car?” Jared questioned.
Caitlyn nodded her head up and down in a wild motion.
“If you can say car and Johnny, you can say Mommy.”
“No.” Caitlyn pursed her lips.
“Come on. Let’s go visit your brother,” Ryan said, slipping into the car.
Jared buckled Caitlyn in her seat, then scowled at her. “Say ‘Mommy,’ please. It would make Daddy happy.”
Caitlyn pursed her lips, then tilted her head looking up as if she was deep in thought.
“That’s the daddy look.”
“I do that?” He glanced to Ryan, who just laughed.
“Mommy!” Caitlyn laughed, covering her face with both hands. “Onn! Ove Onny!”
“That’s ‘love Johnny.’ “ Ryan smiled proudly.
Jared never thought he’d be reduced to tears by two words a little girl could barely manage, but as he slipped behind the steering wheel, he had to wipe away the tears stinging his cheeks.
“I love you,” he whispered, reaching for Ryan’s hand.
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She laced her fingers through his. “I love you.” She glanced over her shoulder. “So, you want more?” Ryan asked.
“More what?” He lifted his chin. “You’re not?”
“I think we need to stop at the drugstore on the way home and buy one of those tests,” Ryan said, her eyes dancing with joy. “But I’m pretty sure.”
“Really?”
“Baby!” Caitlyn bounced her arms and legs up and down. “Mommy! Baby!”
“I guess you and Mommy have been working hard today, huh.”
“She loves to play games.” Ryan shrugged.
“And my life just keeps getting better and better.” Jared cupped the back of Ryan’s head, heaving her toward him for a quick, but passionate kiss.
“Right back at ya, babe,” Ryan said, laughing.
Jared just shook his head, knowing life was as it should be, always having everything he needed, right in front of him.
THE END
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About the Author
Jen Talty co-created Cool Gus Publishing with NY Times Best-Selling Author Bob Mayer, and runs the technical side of the company. She is a published romance author, and teaches Creative Writing at various writing conferences across the country.
Jen grew up in Rochester, NY, a city with the highest murder rate per capita in the entire state. With notorious cases such as The Alphabet Murders, The Genesee River Killer (Arthur Shawcross), The Murder of Kali Ann Poulton by Mark Christi, and the case of funeral homes stealing body parts from corpses awaiting cremation, Jen became fascinated by the darker side of human nature. She brings this fascination to her romances, creating dark villains who wreak havoc on the hero and heroine, and producing page-turning suspense.
Jen received a BS degree in Business Education with a concentration in Marketing and Sales from Nazareth College of Rochester. She taught Business Applications at both the high school level and in Continuing Education. She was a co-leader of Distributed Education Clubs of America and worked with students in developing marketing, sales and public speaking skills. After leaving the teaching profession, she worked as a product and sales trainer for various hardware and software companies such as 3Comm, HP and McAfee, and was the regional merchandising representative for Buena Vista Entertainment.
Cool Gus Publishing was formed as a vehicle to launch Bob Mayer's backlist into digital publication. It was built on the notion that writers produce the product, readers consume the product and everything else is in between. The 21st century has brought the rise of the digital author. It is time to take control.
Write It Forward, a division of Cool Gus Publishing was formed because both Bob Mayer and Jen Talty believe the two most important people in the publishing business are the writer and the reader. The key to being successful in a business where 99% of what is submitted or self-published is rejected or fails is education and understanding. Write It Forward is dedicated to giving writers the tools and information they need to increase their chances of success. It truly is a great time to be an author.
Praise for IN TWO WEEKS
IN TWO WEEKS is a hot, sensuous, suspenseful read that will keep you turning pages until the very end.
~Melanie Atkins, Author
IN TWO WEEKS hooks the reader from page one. This is a fast paced story where the development of the romance grabs you emotionally and the suspense keeps you sitting on the edge of your chair. Great characters, great writing, and a believable plot that can be a warning to all of us.
~Judith Rochelle, Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
In Two Weeks: New York State Troopers Series, Book One
COPYRIGHT © 2006 by Jen Talty, updated 2012
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author or Cool Gus Publishing except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Contact information: admin@coolgus.com
Cool Gus Publishing
http://coolgus.com
Publishing History: previously published by Triskelion Publishing, 2007 First Champagne Rose Edition,
Published in the United States of America
Table of Contents
In Two Weeks
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Epilogue
Other books by Jen Talty
About the Author
Praise for IN TWO WEEKS
Copyright