by Jen Talty
“You did?” Her heart raced in a panicked frenzy. “Why?”
“To do this.” He walked over to the For Sale sign, kicked it a few times, then lifted it from the ground.
“You sold the house?” she asked, anger surging through her body.
“Usually when that happens, a ‘Sold’ sign goes up for a while. I’m taking it off the market.”
“What?” She put her hands on her hips and shook her head. Nothing made sense. “I’m tired. I need some sleep.”
“Might happen, eventually.” He tossed the sign behind the garage, then sauntered over toward her with the weirdest smile on his face.
“I must have fallen asleep, because this doesn’t make any sense.”
He laughed and pressed his hand on the small of her back. “Come on, I think I have some explaining to do.”
“Can the explaining happen when I’m awake?” she mumbled, unable to believe any of this was real. “Are we still at the hospital and I’ve just fallen asleep on that ugly blue couch or something?”
He pushed open the kitchen door and nudged her forward. The bright lights forced her to blink a few times before she adjusted to the brightness.
“Let’s go intp the family room. Would you like a drink?”
She shook her head, letting her body relax into his strong arm. “I hope you won’t get in trouble with your new boss.”
Jared laughed.
“I don’t think that’s funny. I know what that job means to you.”
“You mean more,” he whispered, pressing his soft lips against her neck.
Dropping her head to the side, she closed her eyes, getting lost in the sensation.
“Sit down,” he said softly, easing her back onto the couch. “Open your eyes.”
“I don’t want to wake up. Jared just told me I meant more to him than his job.” She curled herself in a ball, fiddling with what she assumed was a pillow and let herself drift off into a land where Jared loved her.
It was nice to dream.
Jared listened to the soft, even breathing of the woman he knew he couldn’t live without, waiting for her to wake up. He shifted, hoping to upset her sleep, but she just kept snuggling in, using his lap for a pillow.
“Great,” he mumbled, letting out a long breath and threading his fingers through her hair. He couldn’t sleep if he tried. How the hell could she? He tossed his head back and stared at the ceiling. Hours had passed since Frank had dropped them off. Jared couldn’t wait any longer. “Ryan,” he said.
“What?” She jumped, smacking the back of her head against his nose.
“Damn it.” He covered his nose as water welled in his eyes. “Sleeping with you is going to break my nose yet.”
“Huh?” She sat up, recoiling to the other side of the sofa. “What happened? What’s going on?”
“I was trying to have a serious conversation with you, but you fell asleep on me.”
“Oh.” She adjusted her hair, tucking her feet under her butt. “I do remember you telling me you wanted to talk. Then I had the most bizarre dream.”
“I don’t think it was all a dream.” He rubbed his nose, satisfied it wasn’t really hurt, then scooted closer to her. “Tell me about your dream.”
“No way.”
“Was I in it?”
“I’ll take the Fifth.” She reached out and ran her finger down his nose. “I’m sorry about that.”
“Seems to be a habit with us.”
“Did you take the house off the market?”
He nodded, inching closer. “I’m not taking that job.”
Her lips pursed together and her nose flared.
“I took a different one, right here. And it’s not because of you, well, not entirely.”
She rubbed her temples. “That job was everything to you.”
“Not when some lunatic was waving a gun at the woman I love.” His heart skipped a beat and his hand trembled when he touched the bruise on her face. “I do love you, Ryan.”
She met his gaze dead on. “That’s not love. That’s guilt.”
“Oh, no, you don’t.” He cupped her face. “I won’t let you tell me how I feel or don’t feel.”
She laced her fingers around his wrists. “You care about me, always have. But you don’t just all of a sudden fall in love with someone in a situation like that.” Then she pushed him away.
“Damn it, Ryan.” He stood up and started to pace. This wasn’t going quite like he had planned. Then again, he didn’t know what he was doing. “You’re right.” He stopped and stared at her. “But that’s not when I fell in love with you. Hell, I have no idea when it happened, and I sure as hell didn’t want it to happen. I pulled over on that damned highway half a dozen times before I decided I had to tell you I loved you. Now, either you love me or you don’t. So just tell me one way or the other.” He let out a puff of air and planted his hands on his hips and waited.
She just sat there and gaped at him with an open mouth and wide eyes.
The longer she sat there, the faster his pulse raced. “Well,” he said. “I can’t stand here much longer. Do you love me, yes or no?”
She blinked a few times, then shook her head. “You came back because you love me? Not because you knew that Tom wasn’t who he said he was?” She stood, facing him dead-on.
“Yes,” he said. “I wanted you to know, and hoped you’d let me spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”
“Are you suggesting we get married?” Her brows shot up.
“Well, yeah. I’d like that.” This really wasn’t going as planned.
She turned from him and did her own pacing on the other side of the coffee table.
“What about my job? I mean, I won’t quit.”
“Wouldn’t ask you to,” he said, with a scowl.
“What about kids? That would be a deal breaker.” She locked gazes with him.
“I didn’t realize we were making a deal.” He swallowed the large lump in his throat.
She narrowed her eyes. “This isn’t a joke, Jared. I’m not putting myself out there for you to tell me I can’t have what I want.”
“I want to give you everything,” he admitted. “I want it all, and I want it with you.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and stared into a pair of scrutinizing blue eyes. He couldn’t blame her for being suspicious. He’d given her every reason to believe that love, marriage, and kids weren’t for him. Hell, a few weeks ago he thought the same thing. “I love you. I don’t know how else to say it.”
“That works.” She put her foot on the coffee table, then hurled herself at him.
“Humph. Good Lord, woman, are you trying to kill me?” He stumbled backward, landing on the couch with her on top of him.
“Just wanted to let you know I love you, too.” She smiled, tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Don’t cry.” He kissed the salty tears, needing to taste every inch of her. “I don’t like it when I make you cry.”
“Trust me, these are happy tears.”
He pushed the coffee table back with his foot, then rolled her to the floor, setting himself between the softness of her legs, where he belonged.
She ran her hands across the top of his head, then down his back. “Tell me again,” she whispered.
“I love you.” He pressed his lips against hers. “I think I always have, I’ve just been too stubborn to admit it.” His pulse hammered in his ears so fast he didn’t think he’d be able to breathe. But the softness of her body pressed firmly against his gave him everything he needed.
“Condoms are upstairs,” he said with ragged breath. “Unless you want to work on that aspect of our lives right now. Not sure I want to wait.” Tears filled his eyes. “I want to have children with you.” He stroked his thumb across her bruised cheek, then kissed it with tender care. “Whenever you’re ready. Don’t want to rush you or anything.”
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 as he sat next to her.
“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 sat, and 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.
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.
Dark Water
Note from Author
Welcome to Frank and Lacy story! Shortly after I published In Two Weeks, the first book in the New York State Trooper series I received many fan letters asking for Frank’s story. This story was a challenge for me as it pushed me deeper into the suspense, but I loved writing it and Frank and Lacy are super strong and so perfect for each other. This book is set in Hauge, on Lake George in an area I visited often. I hope you enjoy!
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.
Dark Water: New York State Troopers Series, Book Two
COPYRIGHT © 2007 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.
Jupiter Press
Publishing History