You're Busting My Nuptials (Tizzy/Ridge Trilogy Book 2) (18 page)

“The stripper from the party?”

“No, someone she worked with.”

Ridge kissed the top of Tizzy’s head again. “I’m sorry you’ve had to go through all this.”

“Do you remember anything?”

Ridge shook his head. “No, not a damn thing. My last memory is Bubba and Jinx getting me in the car after the party. After that, I came to inside the box.”

“I don’t understand why you weren’t killed.”

“When I get out of here, I’ll find answers to every question. For the last few days that’s all I’ve thought about and I’m worn out. My brain needs a break.” Ridge ran his finger along the swell of her breast. “Right now, I just want to love on you.”

Tizzy kissed him, and ran her hand across his cheek. “I like the beard you have going.” She tried to change the subject, but the truth was she loved what he was doing under her shirt.

“You do? I was going to get you to bring my razor so I could shave. But hey, I’ll keep it just for you.”

“You look sexy.” She tugged at the whiskers.

“I think with a little added conversation, I might talk you into more than cuddling,” he said.

Before Tizzy could say anything, the door opened and a chill colder than the October air filled the room. Erica and Hazel strode in.

Tizzy jerked Ridge’s hand from beneath her shirt. “Oh hi,” she said, and removed herself from the bed.

“Hi, Mom, Erica,” Ridge said.

They walked over to him and Tizzy stepped aside. She grabbed her shoes and put them on.

“Oh, Honey, how are you?” Hazel asked, and kissed Ridge on the cheek.

“I’m doing okay.”

Erica kissed him. “We’ve been worried about you.”

“I’ll step out,” Tizzy said.

“Before you go, come here,” Ridge said.

She walked back to his bedside. He pulled her face close to his and whispered, “When you come back, wear that black skirt and blouse I like so much, and bring me some clothes to wear home tomorrow.”

“Okay, she said. “I’ll be back in a little bit.” As the door closed behind her, she couldn’t stop herself. She paused in the hallway and listened to their conversation.

“You’re being released tomorrow?” Hazel asked.

“Probably. I imagine the doctor will tell me when he makes his rounds.”

“I want you to come home with me until you’re completely recovered. I can take care of you until you’re back on your feet.”

“I appreciate that, but I’m not going to Waco. I want to go home to Tizzy.”

“Ridge, don’t be silly. She works. She has a child . . .”

“Why don’t you like her?”

Tizzy’s hand flew to her mouth. She was interested in Hazel’s answer, so she leaned her ear closer to the door.

“Ridge . . .” Hazel said, but he cut her off.

“Don’t deny it. You don’t like her and for the life of me, I don’t understand why. If you’d give her a chance, you’d love her. You couldn’t help yourself.”

“Ridge, I don’t really know her.
You
barely know her.”

Tizzy could hear the stiffness in Hazel’s tone.

“I understand, Mom. You loved Jenny and your heart was broken when we divorced, but we weren’t right for each other. Tizzy’s right for me. Perfect, actually. And it would be in your best interest to like her, or at least try too. She’s going to be the mother of my children.”

“Oh no, is she…?”

“No. She’s not pregnant, but it wouldn’t make any difference if she was. Bottom line is this. As soon as I can marry her, I will.”

“Ridge,” Erica said. “I’m sure once Mom gets to know Tizzy better, she’ll love her. Just give her a little time.”

“I hope so,” he said. “Mom, when you remarried and moved to Waco to be near Erica, I relocated to Texas because you were the only family I had. But, that’s about to change. Tizzy saved my life. Seems like everyone was willing to accept me as a jerk, leaving her at the altar. Thank God, she believed in me. I love you Mom, but I love her too. I intend to spend the rest of my life with her. So, don’t ask me to choose between the two of you, because you will not like the outcome.”

There was steel in his voice. The man didn’t lack backbone.

By the time Tizzy returned to the hospital, Hazel and Erica were gone. Apparently eavesdropping was getting to be a habit, because now she stood outside the hospital room and listened as Bubba finished telling his story.

“A deputy friend of mine over in Anderson County called to tell me about a stand-off they had last night. Seems some guy broke into a mobile home, forced the occupants to leave, and ransacked the place. After an hour of trying to get him to come out, he took off out the back door. When the cops caught him, he was naked, smeared in butter, wearing a bowl on his head.”

Rowdy laughter filled the room, then Jinx said. “I’ve got one better than that. Take a look at this.”

“Holy crap! Is that my wife taking Tizzy’s blouse off?” Bubba gasped.

“Forget them,” Chief Ramsay said. “Look at Synola. Damn! That girl has some moves.”

Tizzy pushed the door open as the group broke into laughter again. Gathered around Ridge’s bed were Bubba, Police Chief Ramsay, Jinx, and C
aptain Reynolds.

“Jinx! You recorded us?”

“Yeah, ain’t phones great?”

She crossed the room and tried to get the phone away from him. “Erase that right now!”

“No can do.” He held it out of her reach. “Fool with me and this thing could go viral.”

Her eyes went wide and she fisted her hands. “Jinx, I’m going to kill you.”

Captain Reynolds grabbed her shoulders. “Whoa, Tizzy.” He held her in place and turned to Jinx. “You’d better watch out. You’ve seen her in action. Hell, leave her at the altar, she’ll track the groom down and bring him back.”

Tizzy smiled at Reynolds and he released her.

Jinx put his phone in his pocket.

Ridge motioned Tizzy closer. When she reached the bedside, he hooked his finger in her belt and pulled her down for a kiss.

“Do we need to leave you two alone?” Chief Ramsay joked.

“Sorry,” Ridge said. “I’ve had plenty of alone time in the last few days, and I’ve decided I don’t ever want to miss an opportunity to kiss the woman I love. So, if you guys stick around, you’re going to witness a lot of kissing.”

“I think that’s our cue to leave,” Captain Reynolds said. “We’ll talk to you tomorrow when you get home.”

As the men left, Ridge called after Jinx. “Hey, I want you to hang around for a while.”

“Sure, I’ll go for coffee. Can I bring you anything?”

“No, I’m good,” Ridge said, and beamed up
at Tizzy. “You look beautiful.”

She twirled around, her black skirt swished with the movement and when she stopped, the hem fell back in place and rested above bedazzled red cowboy boots. “This is what you told me to wear, so here I am.”

She sat down on the bed and Ridge took her hand. Her skin warmed when he trailed his fingers along the ruffles of her shirt down to her rhinestone belt. “Will you marry me?” he asked.

“I think you already have my answer.” She wiggled her left hand in front of him. She didn’t know if it was from the cold or if she’d lost weight, but the engagement ring was loose on her finger.

Ridge kissed her hand. “No, I mean now. Right now. Tonight. Here in the hospital.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah. I don’t want to wait any longer.”

“Does this have anything to do with your mother’s visit?”

He shook his head. “No. Why would you think that?”

“Because I saw the look you gave her. It’s the one you give me when I’ve done something you don’t approve of.”

“Like perform in a strip club?”

Tizzy frowned. “I’m going to get Jinx. Sometimes a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. Besides, I only took off my blouse. I didn’t actually
strip.
”

Ridge pursed his lips and twirled a lock of her hair between his fingers. “When I get home, I want you to perform that little number for me.”

“You want me to strip for you? Why? You’ve seen me naked.”

“Babe, you’re like a present. Even if I know what I’m getting, I still love unwrapping it. Let’s go back to my original question. Will you marry me?”

“Right now? Here?”

“Yeah. I’ve arranged for the hospital Chaplain to perform the ceremony and I asked Jinx to stay so he can be a witness and your mom, dad, and Gracie will arrive shortly
and Bubba’s gone to pick up Rayann and Synola.”

Tizzy giggled. “You sound pretty sure of yourself. What if I say no?”

“According to Jinx, you searched two counties and dragged a lake to find me. I don’t think there’s any way in hell you’re going to say no, unless you’ve changed your mind about having a big wedding again. So, whataya say? We doing this or what?”

Since her wedding day, she hadn’t given much thought to when there would be another ceremony. She’d been too busy trying to find Ridge. But now, the way he looked at her, made the decision easy. “We’re doing this.” she said, and kissed him again.

“Good. Did you bring my clothes?”

“Yes.”

“Will you help me get them on?”

“Sure, but answer my question. Does this have anything to do with your mother?”

“Absolutely not.”

“I hope you weren’t ugly to her. She only wants the best for you. Give her time. I’ll win her over. You’ll see. If not with my charm, I’ll get her with my cooking. It worked with you.”

“Darlin’, you won me over the minute you smiled at me.”

The door swung wide and Dan filled the space.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Tizzy snarled.

“Come in,” Ridge said.

Tizzy glared at Ridge. “I don’t want him here.”

“You advised me about my mother, so I’ll give you some advice concerning Dan and use your words. He loves you and only wants what’s best for you.”

“You don’t understand. He wouldn’t help me. I asked him, more than once and he refused.”

“I was wrong about Ridge and I’m sorry,” Dan said, and moved closer. “I respect him as a fellow officer, but I couldn’t help being suspicious about his motivation where you were
concerned. It’s the lawman in me. I question everybody’s motives. Ridge would have been the same way about his sister.”

Ridge took Tizzy’s hand. “He’s right. Dan and I settled our differences earlier. I want the two of you to kiss and make up. We’re going to be family and I don’t want to start off with hard feelings. I certainly don’t want to be the cause of trouble between the two of you. So make nice with him.”

“There’s that damn look I was talking about. It’s getting a real work-out today. First with your momma and now with me,” she said.

“Tizzy?” Ridge scowled.

“Fine,” she said and turned to face Dan. “I forgive you.”

Dan pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. “Thank you. I’m sorry for being such a horse’s ass.”

Tizzy pushed away from him. “Don’t be so damn sweet. You’ll make me cry and I don’t want to mess up my makeup.”

Dan turned back to Ridge. “I understand from Captain Reynolds, you plan to work your case.”

“Yeah, I’ve got a lot of questions and no answers. Since the dead girl was found in Henderson County, she’ll be under your jurisdiction. The storage unit is in Smith County, so I’ll be working with their departments too.”

“Anything you need let me know. Smith County Sheriff’s Department is already processing the storage facility, truck and crate. You should get those results in a few days. My office is handling your truck and the DB from the lake.”

“Thanks, Dan. I’ll call you when I get home.”

Dan turned to go and Ridge called after him. “Hey, why don’t you hang around a while? Tizzy and I are going to get married.”

“Really? Here in the hospital?”

“Yeah.”

Dan reached out and took Tizzy’s hand. “You alright with me staying?”

She shrugged. “Sure.”

“Do I have time to call Mandy? She’ll be pissed if I don’t.”

“Yeah,” Ridge said. “The Chaplain won’t be here for about an hour.”

~~*~~

Thirty minutes later with Ridge dressed, Tizzy checked her make-up in the mirror. “Wait,” she said, “I can’t get married in a black dress and red boots. It’s got to be bad luck.”

Ridge laughed. “Darlin,’ we tried the traditional way and it wasn’t lucky. This time, let’s give tradition the finger and see what happens.”

~~*~~

Later that night, back in the room Tizzy shucked her boots and sat on the edge of the bed.

“What are you thinking?” Ridge asked.

She took his hand and spun the ring on his finger. “The first day I met you, I looked to see if you were wearing a wedding band. I never thought at the time, someday I’d put one there.”