Done With Men Forever (Clairmont Series Book 3)

by S. Jane Scheyder

  Tank just hoped that she didn’t sense too much of their disapproval, and was grateful that Grace more than made up for their lack of enthusiasm. He also suspected that Becky had been so busy picking up his slack in their classes and teaching her own that she didn’t have a lot of time to think about his parents’ behavior toward her. She’d visited, of course, and they’d shared a meal together one evening, but other than that, she’d tried to leave them to their family time.

  While he appreciated the gesture, what he really wanted was time with her. He was thankful that his parents made the effort to visit and help him out, and really, it was nice that they were the ones to get him through that first week. Once he started feeling more himself, however, he was anxious to reconnect with Becky. She was ready for him.

  He hadn’t revisited the whole proposal thing. It was enough that they were finally, openly enjoying getting to know each other. They spent afternoons and evenings at the coffee shop or at the inn. With all of the activity surrounding the finishing of the apartment, there was little peace at Maddy’s. It was the perfect place to hang out and behave.

  As their spring break approached, Tank decided it was time to celebrate. He made plans to take Becky to a restaurant that John had recommended, and afterwards, they’d make one more important stop before returning to the inn. He’d build a fire - the evenings were still plenty cold - and hold her until she agreed to be his wife. It seemed like a good plan. He’d just started back to the gym, easing into his workout. While it would be some time before his strength fully returned, he figured he should be able to hold Becky still long enough to get a life-long commitment out of her.

  He jingled the extra set of keys in his pocket as he walked up to her door. He was ready to take this next step; never been so sure of anything in his life. He hoped Becky was ready, too.

  ***

  “That was wonderful,” Becky said, leaning back against the headrest in his Jeep. “I haven’t had a meal like that in forever. Thank you.” She turned to him with a grin, and he leaned over and kissed her soundly.

  “You’re welcome. You look beautiful, by the way. Did I tell you that?”

  “You did mention it, I think,” she replied. “Once or twice.”

  “It’s true. That red is fantastic on you. I could hardly concentrate on eating.”

  “And yet you finished that entire seafood platter for two. Poor baby. We should probably stop somewhere on the way home.”

  He gave her a sly glance. “Good idea.”

  ***

  Becky couldn’t imagine what business Tank had at the high school on a Friday night.

  “Seriously, you needed to stop here on the first night of spring break? Did you forget a basketball?”

  Tank leaned over and kissed her until she did her little sigh/groan that told him it was time to retreat at all costs. He got out of the Jeep, walked around to her side and opened the door. “Come in with me.”

  “Ew. No. I don’t want to go back in there for a week. Make that ten days.”

  “Please? I need to do one thing and I don’t want to go in there alone. I’m scared.”

  Becky laughed, and while she was distracted, he lifted her out of the car. She threw her arms around his neck.

  “Sure you’re recovered enough to carry me?” she asked, snuggling into his shoulder.

  “And then some.” Tank shifted her and supported her with his leg while he got the keys out of his pocket. “Here we go.”

  He unlocked the door to the front of the school and carried her into the cafeteria. He set her down at a table. “Don’t move.”

  Becky pulled her coat around her and sat perfectly still.

  “Hey, don’t leave me here,” she called out as he walked into the kitchen.

  “Be right back,” he called over his shoulder.

  She sat in the dark, non-plussed and cold. “I’m cold, you big dumb football player!” she yelled. “Come back!”

  He returned a moment later with a candle and two balloons. “So impatient, Ms. Jacobs.”

  She watched as he lit the candle and set it in the middle of the table. The heart-shaped balloons looked like they could have been leftovers from the Valentine’s Day dance, except that they were new. By the light of the candle she could read, “I love you,” on one. The other said, “Be Mine.”

  Tank moved a table out of the way, creating what she could only imagine was a tiny dance floor. When he attached a small speaker to his phone and started a slow romantic tune, her suspicions were confirmed.

  He finally turned toward her and took off his coat, tossing it on the table next to him. He walked up to her and slowly unbuttoned hers; that in itself almost had her in a puddle on the floor. She waited, hardly breathing, while he gently removed it and set it carefully on the table. He pulled her into his arms.

  He led her around their little dance floor, Tank style, which basically meant that he simply swayed, doing more dancing with his hands than his feet. Becky sighed and melted into him, tucking into his shoulder.

  Tank kissed the top of her head and made an effort to keep his hands still, splaying them across her back, keeping her close. They danced like this for several minutes, until Tank finally brought his hands around and tilted her face up to his. He kissed her gently.

  “I didn’t forget anything.”

  “No. Really?”

  “I also didn’t forget that you said ‘strong possibility.’ ”

  Becky’s heart raced. “I did say that, didn’t I?”

  He kissed her again. “Yes, you did. And,” he pulled a little box out of his pocket, “I would like to turn that possibility into a certainty. Tonight. Now.”

  Becky laughed nervously. “Wow. No pressure or anything.”

  “Lots of pressure. I want to marry you, Becky. I want us to spend our lives together. Please be my wife.”

  He opened the box, and Becky gasped at the size of the diamond he held out to her.

  “That’s obscene.”

  He laughed. “The response I always hoped for when I asked the woman of my dreams to marry me.”

  She looked up from the ring. “I’m the woman of your dreams? Really, Tank?”

  “Really, Becky. Please marry me.”

  “Don’t you want to know if you’re the man of my dreams?”

  Tank thought for a moment. “I just want you to marry me. I want you to be happy. I can’t imagine I’m the man of anyone’s dreams, but I think you’re at least used to me by now.”

  Becky laughed. “Used to you? You think that’s it?” She threw her arms around his neck. “I don’t deserve you.”

  “I know,” he said, holding her.

  She reared her head back and he laughed. “Please put this ugly thing on your finger and say yes. We can exchange it on Monday.”

  “Yes, Tank.” She let him slip the ring on her finger and she stared at it in awe. “Maybe we can exchange it if we need a new car or something.”

  He smiled. “I just want you to like it. I want you to be happy. You make me happy, Becky.”

  She cupped his face, and the crazy ring sparkled in the candlelight. “You make me happy, too, Tank.”

  She reached up and kissed him and they lost themselves in the music in the middle of the high school cafeteria on the Friday night before spring break.

  ***

  “I’ve been thinking,” Becky said as they walked along the beach several days later. The air was cold, but most of the snow had melted. The rest of the country was starting to think about spring. Maine was trying.

  Tank pulled her close. “Yeah?”

  “I’m not sure I want to have your children.”

  “Excuse me?” He stopped in his tracks.

  Becky kept walking and looked over her shoulder. Her blonde hair blew across her face as she called out over the waves. “I said, I’m not sure I want to have your children.”

  He jogged to catch up with her.

  “Well, look at you,” she said, continuing backwards
across the sand. “You’re huge,” she huddled into her jacket, her hands in her pockets, a grin on her face.

  “It took me thirty years to get this big, I wasn’t born this way.”

  “Yeah, well, I want to see baby pictures.” She turned back into the wind.

  He enveloped her in a bear hug from behind. “We’ll take this one step at a time,” he growled in her ear. “It may take some time and ... effort before we have to think about kids.”

  Becky leaned her head back against his shoulder. “Hmm ... time and effort.”

  Tank turned her to face him. “How much time ’til we make that effort?”

  She smiled. “How soon do you want me in that big, beautiful house of yours?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  Becky laughed. “You never caught on that I’m marrying you for your beach property.” She looked out over the water. “I think I finally get the ocean.”

  Tank pulled her close. “Start planning the wedding.”

  She sighed happily. “A winter wedding, I think.”

  “Spring.”

  “Spring is like, now.”

  “I know.”

  “Well, we met in the fall. That would be nice,” Becky offered.

  “How about Cinco de Mayo?”

  She laughed. “Lots of people get married in the summer.”

  “Too hot.”

  “You are hard to please.”

  “You have no idea.”

  Becky smiled and turned toward the inn, taking a hold of Tank’s hand. Linking her fingers through his, she swung their arms and grinned at him.

  “It’s warmer the other way,” he pointed out.

  “I know. I just really like holding your hand.”

  He smiled and they walked up the steps to the porch. “Finishing up on the apartment tomorrow. Gonna be a long day. I should probably go.”

  She sighed. “I guess.”

  “So, we’ll start making a plan?”

  Becky smiled. “We’ll start making a plan.”

  He leaned in and kissed her. “I’ll be back early.”

  “You let me sleep.”

  “We can sleep when we’re married.”

  They gave each other a long look, a quick smile, and then Tank reluctantly turned to go.

  He was halfway down the steps when she called after him.

  “Um, Tank?”

  He turned. “Yeah?”

  “What’s your name?”

  He grinned and walked slowly up the steps. He stopped and looked down into her eyes. They were bright with curiosity.

  He pulled her close for one last kiss. “I’ll tell you when we’re married.”

  The End

  Thank you for reading Done with Men Forever. Your review on Amazon is much appreciated!

  You might also enjoy Maddy’s story in Cafenova, or Grace’s story in You Smiled, also set in the town of Clairmont.

  Sign up at www.andresblanton.com for more information on upcoming events and releases.

  About the Author

  

  S. Jane (Susie) Scheyder grew up in the Midwest, lived for years in the South, and now calls New England her home. Having always dreamed of renovating and running her own B&B, she found the theme of her first novel, ”Cafenova,” the first of the Clairmont series. The series now spans the novella, “You Smiled,” and “Done With Men Forever.” Look for a Clairmont Christmas novella in December of 2015. Susie and her husband and five children live in southeastern Connecticut.

  Acknowledgements for Done with Men Forever

  My heartfelt thanks to:

  Jacob, my cover designer and fearless editor, promotions coordinator and website specialist. I simply can’t express how profoundly you affected this book. You would never allow this cliche, but it’s absolutely true: I could never have done this without you!

  Jan, Linda, Katie, Mary, and Hannah - my tireless reviewers. I’ve learned so much from you! Thank you for your attention to detail, and for embracing Becky and her story. You’ve given me much-needed encouragement and made this story an infinitely better read!

  Bob and Sandy - my sports and medical experts. I love doing research over dinner with you! Thanks for your interest, knowledge, and support!

  Daniel - my football expert, along with Michael and Jacob - my sometimes intentional and often unwitting models for male behavior, from Parker to Tank. You’ve helped more than you know - thank you!

  Paul - my renovations go-to guy, and the one who keeps me believing that romance is worth celebrating. Thank you! I love you!

  All of the wonderful people who helped to make Clairmont a living, breathing community, and Maddy’s Inn a warm and happy place to visit in Cafenova - thanks for coming back with me to tell Becky’s story!

  Finally, thanks to Linda, Becky, Jisue, Donna, and Judy, and many others who prayed this project through to completion.