Laying a Foundation: Bonus volume: Includes series prequel, The Groundbreaking (The Love Under Construction Series) (83 page)
Authors: Deanndra Hall
Tags: #Romance, #Drama, #Erotica, #Erotic Romance, #Mystery
“Good.” She hesitated for a second. “Thanks for coming to see me at the hospital,” she said shyly.
“Thanks for what you did for Nikki. We all owe you.” Vic grinned at her, then turned back to the container. “Hey, put that back!” he yelled at Tony, who was taking his third cookie.
“Share, big boy! If we eat them all, she’ll make more. Right, Laura?” Tony laughed.
“I guess I will,” Laura chuckled, but when Vic had spoken to her, she’d noticed that same weird feeling she’d had before.
Nikki watched closely. There was some kind of chemistry between Vic and Laura, but she wasn’t sure what. She decided she’d have to keep an eye on that.
The clock struck midnight and everyone in the big house cheered. Tony kissed Nikki, Clayton kissed Brittany, Annabeth kissed Katie, and Vic kissed everybody, everybody except Laura, who pushed him away and barked, “I don’t think so.” Nikki couldn’t help but notice how hurt he looked.
Wonder if I can do something to push that along?,
she thought.
They’d all agreed to stay at the big house for the night so no one would be driving after their adult refreshments. When everyone started to calm down, Tony announced, “I have one more surprise for everybody. Come with me.”
He started up the hallway toward the living room, and it hit Nikki. “Is this what I think it is?” she asked him quietly.
“Yeah. It showed up yesterday. I went ahead and hung it. I was sure you’d seen it. Didn’t look?”
“No. I noticed the door was closed, but I really didn’t think anything of it. Shoulda been more curious, huh?” she smiled.
“Oh, wait ’til you see. It’s amazing.”
Tony stopped at the door to the living room and everyone gathered around. “We did this the day after Thanksgiving, before our whole world went to hell. I’d completely forgotten about it until they delivered it yesterday. I know what I think about it, but I’d like to hear what everybody else has to say.” He ceremoniously threw open the doors and everyone stepped inside the room.
There was a collective gasp, and then a hush came over them as they took in the portrait. Every Walters who’d lived in the big house over the years had sat for a painting or photo, but this one was different from anything the family had ever seen.
“Wow.” For once, that was all Annabeth could get out.
Above the fireplace was a photo portrait of Tony and Nikki. Taken from a low angle, the setting was one of their jobsites, with three stories of steel rising in the background. In the foreground sat Nikki’s big blue F-250, its front driver’s side corner facing the camera so that the brush guard, Warn winch, and massive grill were exposed, the angle emphasizing its length. The sun was setting behind the jobsite, and the sky looked like it was on fire.
Standing at the corner of the truck was Nikki and behind and beside her stood Tony, his hands on her shoulders, her right hand on the truck, and her left up on his left, arranged in such a way that the eye was drawn to the rings they wore; they’d put them on just for the portrait. They were both wearing their steel-toed boots and each had on a pair of form-fitting jeans. Tony had on a black tee-shirt with a black and green plaid flannel shirt over it, and Nikki had on a red tee-shirt with a red and navy flannel shirt over her tee. The colors were vivid and bold while still fitting in with the background and the theme of the photo.
But it was them, their countenances, that made the photo remarkable; they were striking. In typical Walters portrait fashion, neither was smiling, but their expressions were heart-stopping. Tony’s eyes were deep and smoky, and he had a seriousness about him that was both alarming and comforting. Nikki’s expression was far more steely and fierce. Her gaze was intense but warm, her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, and one eyebrow was slightly raised. She looked like she was poised for battle against anyone who threatened the people she loved. Lit from the back by the setting sun, Tony’s hair had an auburn sheen to it, while Nikki’s looked like golden silk falling around her face and down to the tops of her breasts. The overall appearance, however, was astounding – one look, and the viewer knew that these were two people who knew exactly who they were, exactly who they loved, exactly who loved them, and exactly where they were supposed to be and what they were supposed to be doing. They knew their path was correct, and they were comfortable with each other and comfortable in their own skin. The sense of power and confidence was breathtaking.
“I see it, but I don’t believe it. That’s really you guys. I don’t know who took this photo, but they captured it – what we all see when we look at you.” There was a reverence in Vic’s voice that took Tony and Nikki by surprise.
“Dad,” Clayton choked out, “that portrait makes me proud to be a Walters.”
“Me too,” Annabeth murmured.
Leaning down to whisper in Nikki’s ear, Tony asked, “Well, whaddya think, baby?”
“Oh my god,” Nikki whispered back, her eyes round. “Look at us. We look like . . .” she stopped and let out a shuddering sob, “like we belong together.”
Tony already had his arms around her, and he pulled her closer. “We do, baby. Forever. Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year to you too, my love.” She turned and kissed him like they were the only two people in the room.
The big house was quiet, everyone in their rooms for the night, and Tony walked back into the kitchen to help Nikki finish cleaning up, but it was spotless and she wasn’t there. He went to the great room, but it was empty too, so he continued up the hallway, looking around, until he came to the living room. When he looked in, he saw her standing in front of the fireplace, gazing up at the portrait again. Quietly moving nearer to her, he saw her face was wet with tears, and he wrapped his arms around her.
“Whatcha doing, babe?” he whispered into her neck, then kissed it ever so lightly.
“I can’t believe that’s us. I can’t believe that’s
me
,” she whispered back, her voice coarse with tiny sobs.
“Why can’t you believe it?”
“That woman in the photo, she looks confident and smart and strong. She looks like she doesn’t have one question in the world about her tomorrows.” She turned and looked at Tony. “What do you see when you look at it?”
“I see everything you said, and I see you.” He pulled her closer and kissed the other side of her neck. “When I met you all those months ago, I saw a shy, quiet, simple woman with a good, kind, strong heart. But when I got her, I got so much more. I got everything a man could want or need in a woman, and surprises I didn’t know I wanted but I’ve come to love.”
“Like?”
“Like the fact that you’re the most complex person I’ve ever met. You’re a fabulous mom, and an even more fabulous grandma. You’re brave, and gutsy, and determined – when you set your mind to something, you make it happen. You’ve got the touch of a light spring breeze and the power of a hurricane. And you love me – you really love me, not to mention that most men would kill for a lover as hot as you. You are absolutely the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my life. This is the first time I’ve ever felt really happy, and I hope it never ends.”
“So,” Nikki giggled a little, “do I rock your world?”
He turned her to him and laughed. “Oh, beautiful girl, you definitely rock my world – every second, every minute, all day, every day, twenty-four seven, three sixty-five! What about you? Have you got what you want? What you need?”
“You
are
my world.” She pressed her cheek against his chest. “I love you so much. I just want to go upstairs, make love with you and fuck you like there’s no tomorrow, but we’ve got a house full of guests,” she sniffled.
“Yeah, I know,” he said, kissing the top of her head. Then he grabbed her and looked down at her, a huge, naughty grin spreading across his face. “But there’s nobody in the barn! And there’s all kinds of rope, and riding crops, and plenty of hay . . .”
Nikki grinned back at him. “Grab a blanket and let’s go!” she squealed, breaking away and running for the back door.
Tony snatched a throw off the sofa and ran after her. “Right behind you, Mrs. Walters!”
The Love Under Construction series consists of a prequel and four novels, the prequel and first novel of which are now available as a combo volume (although the prequel can still be had alone and free). You’ll learn the backgrounds of the characters by reading the introductory volume, and then see them continue on in the remaining books. These books are not stand-alone stories; while they can be read independently, there will be aspects of each that will not be clear unless they’ve been read in order. Enjoy them fully by reading them that way.
Introductory volume:
The Groundbreaking – Summer 2013 (still free as an ebook)
Book 1:
The Groundbreaking & Laying a Foundation – Summer 2013
Book 2:
Tearing Down Walls – Fall 2013
Book 3:
Renovating a Heart – Spring 2014
Book 4:
Planning an Addition – Fall 2014
Deanndra Hall lives in far western Kentucky with her life partner and three crazy little dogs. She spent years writing advertising copy, marketing materials, educational texts, and business correspondence, and designing business forms. After reading a popular erotic romance book, her partner said, “You can write better than this!” She decided to try her hand at it. In the process she fell in love with her funny, smart, loving characters and the things they got into, and the novel became a series.
Deanndra enjoys all kinds of music, chocolate, kayaking, working out at the local gym, reading, and spending time with friends and family, as well as working in the fiber and textile arts. And chocolate’s always high on her list of favorite things!
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Mailing address:
P.O. Box 3277, Paducah, KY 42002-3277
This recipe makes two. If you only want one, half it.
6 banana or 3 bell peppers – your choice
1/2 sweet onion (I like Vidalias)
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 gallon zippered storage bag
1 gallon zippered storage bag
2 pounds meat (I use one pound of ground beef and one pound of ground turkey)
2 eggs
1 stack soda crackers (I prefer unsalted tops, but it doesn’t matter)
1/2 cup ketchup or barbecue sauce
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 box/2 packets onion soup mix (any brand, total of about 4 ounces)
Ketchup to taste
4 bread heels (optional)
Cut up peppers and half an onion into small pieces. On medium, heat the olive oil in a sauté pan; put in garlic. When hot, put in peppers and onion. Sauté and stir until they’re cooked down and soft and the onion is translucent. Put them into a bowl and into the fridge to cool while you follow the next steps.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Put the soda crackers in the gallon zippered storage bag. Take a large spoon and beat the daylights out of them until they’re crushed. It would be tempting to use bread crumbs here, but trust me, it won’t be the same.
Put the meat into the 2 gallon storage bag. Smush it around until it’s completely mixed together. Throw in the eggs, soda crackers, 1/2 cup ketchup or barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, ginger, nutmeg, celery salt, and onion soup mix. Smush all of that around until it’s mixed thoroughly. Then take the pepper, onion, and garlic mixture from the fridge, pour it in, and smush it all thoroughly again.
Divide the mixture into two parts. If you have meatloaf pans, use them; otherwise, put it into a loaf pan that has two bread heels in the bottom (soaks up any grease). Bake for 50 minutes at 450 degrees, then remove from the oven, spread however much ketchup you want on them, and put them back in the oven for 10 minutes. Let sit for about 10 minutes before cutting.