Tri Me (Primrose, Minnesota, Book 4) (19 page)

“I’ve been carrying this around for days, waiting for the perfect moment, only to have it screwed by the lunatic prank caller. So I’ve decided this is the perfect moment. I love you.” He extracted the ring and offered it to her. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes, Jackson.” Her smile almost split her lips in two. “I love you and I want to marry you.”

He slid the ring onto her finger and then cupped her face with both hands. Suddenly the whole world stood still when he took her lips between his and spun the perfect fairy tale. No girl in the world could wish for a happier ending.

“I’m expunging your record,” she told him as he ended the kiss.

“Yeah?”

“Your list is empty.”

“Nice!”

“Don’t get too excited. I’m starting another tomorrow.”

He grinned. “I wouldn’t have thought differently.”

“Let’s not tell anyone our news yet. It’s Shane and Liberty’s day.”

“Agreed. Are you ready to go inside?”

“Yes.”

Alex grabbed the baby’s gift and accepted Jackson’s hand as he helped her out of the truck.

“Stop smiling,” she told him as they stood on the doorstep. “You’ll make them suspicious.”

Marnie flung open the door. “You’re late.”

“Really, Marnie? Haven’t you learned by now?”

“Yeah, but you’re missing out on the pictures.”

“What pictures?”

“Ryker took some really great pictures at the lake.” Marnie grinned.

“I’ll be sure to thank him for capturing the moment,” Jackson mumbled.

“The guys are downstairs.” Jackson quickly disappeared and Marnie pulled Alex in for a hug. “I’m so glad that’s over. Are you hanging in there?”

“Of course.”

“I’m impressed by your vicious right hook.”

“Alex!” Five female voices screamed as they descended upon them.

“Stop fussing,” she insisted. “I want to see the cake.”

Alex quickly stuck her left hand in her pocket. Liberty grabbed her right hand and pulled her toward the kitchen. “It’s so cute! We’re going to have trouble cutting it.”

“Not me.” Dara gave a sheepish grin. “It’s
cake
!”

“Just wait until you try my rum punch,” Annie blurted.

Reagan’s mouth flew open. “You spiked the punch?”

“Shame on you,” Marnie scolded. “Liberty can’t have any.”

“Don’t worry.” Bri giggled. “We made a small bowl for her without rum.”

They filled up their cups while Marnie cut the cake. Then they all took a seat around the dining room table.

Liberty stuck a piece of cake on her fork. “I had another ultrasound this morning.”

“And?” Reagan leaned forward.

“The baby was turned around. Again.”

“I still say it’s a boy.” Dara took a bite of her cake.

Alex pulled a twenty dollar bill out of her purse and slapped it on the table. “Nope. It’s a girl.”

Five more twenties hit the table.

Liberty shook her head. “I can’t believe you guys. You’ll bet on anything.”

Alex looked around the table at each of her friends, puzzled at the lack of laughter. Too late, she realized she’d placed the money with her left hand.

“Alex, is there something you’d like to share?” Of course Marnie demanded an explanation.

“I wanted to wait until tomorrow. This is Liberty’s day.”

“Nonsense.” Liberty dismissed her with a wave of her hand. “Today is for all of us to share. One big happy family.”

“In that case,” Bri placed her left hand on the table. “I need to confess.”

“Oh geez!” Marnie’s face paled. “I was right, it’s contagious!”

A warmth like Alex had never felt wrapped her body as she placed an arm around Marnie’s shoulder and squeezed. Contagious or not, the love bug was on a roll. No one was safe. Not even Marnie.

Ryker shifted as he reached down and moved the seat all the way back in the cramped quarters of the tiny, two-door, four-wheeled contraption he’d been
nominated
to drive to John Adams Elementary School. He smirked as he repositioned the rearview mirror. More like
conned
. Conveniently, all three of his teammates voiced obviously-practiced, previous obligations which left him as the only logical solution to deliver Cinderella’s chariot.

Once he could stretch his legs enough to prevent injury, he jammed the key into the ignition, started the engine and maneuvered into traffic. He released a heavy sigh while he made a left turn. Miss Carpenter’s sharp tongue had quite a reputation and past experience told him that his gentlemanly gesture would not be taken at face value. He only hoped he escaped without battle scars.

He drove the short distance in nothing more than a full minute, parked at the curb in front of the school, and took several seconds to prepare himself for her arrival. Normally a snatch-and-grab such as this would only take minutes but not this time. No, instinct kept his head out of the clouds.

He drummed his thumbs against the steering wheel and turned his wrist to check his watch. He’d purposely waited an extra fifteen minutes just to be sure she’d be waiting, sarcasm and all. So where the hell was she?

He bent his head to gaze for several seconds out the window at the stairs leading to the entrance, still devoid of one Miss Marnie Carpenter.
Damn.

With a heavy, impatient sigh, he managed to untangle his legs and leave the car, intent on giving her a lesson in tardiness. Not that he had anything better to do, just because she was just so darn sexy when she gave him grief. Those electric blue eyes flashed a distinct invitation she probably had no intention of issuing but that was her bad – he’d gladly RSVP.

He took the steps two at a time then flung open the door, pausing briefly to analyze his surroundings and attempt to discover a direct route to her classroom. Luckily, signage took the guesswork out of his task and he followed the bright red paper arrows pointing the way to the sixth grade pod.

Once he stood under the
sixth grade here
arrow, he peered down the hallway and counted classrooms opposite a row of windows.
Four. Damn.
He smirked while he folded his arms over his chest and balanced one hip against the nearest window pane.

“Come out, come out wherever you are.”

He prepared himself for her appearance – a sexy frown on her plump lips, fire blazing in her eyes, and one hand on a hip. His cock twitched behind his zipper and he reached to make a quick adjustment, still bothered that she hadn’t come marching down the hall. He paused in the silence, concerned that he heard nothing. Absolutely nothing. No shuffle of paper, hum of computer or other equipment, or movement of furniture. The complete silence made him one suspicious individual.

He pushed himself off the window pane and took several steps closer to the first classroom. “Marnie?”

Her lack of response toyed with his emotions. It would be just like her to leave him hanging just to teach him a lesson and for that he would be severely pissed off. Yet, something in the bottom of his gut told him that wasn’t the case.

He walked forward and paused just inside the second door, somewhere between relieved and suspicious to see her standing next to a window on the far side of the room.

She turned to face him and years of training pushed him to propel his body into the air.

Their bodies collided and he took her to the ground just as the sound of shattering glass invaded the silence.

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