Page 30 of The Bride's Desire

He started to worry when tears filled her eyes, but then she smiled. “I love you, too. I have for so long.”

He couldn’t last another second without kissing her. He cupped her face and lowered his. Just like every other time, the desire burst between them, and their embrace got tight. When he heard a moan, not sure if it was himself or her, it snapped him out of the haze of passion.

He stared down at her. “We’ll continue this when we’re in our bedroom.”

A smile grew on her face at the same time she blushed.

His nose twitched at a foul smell. “Is something burning?”

Naomi gasped and turned, stirring the potatoes. He could tell the bottom of the pan was scorched, but otherwise, the potatoes looked good.

“What can I help with?” he asked.

“You can get us drinks.”

He opened the refrigerator and looked inside. “You’re drinking milk, right?”

She scrunched up her nose and nodded. “It’s not myfavorite, but it’s good for the baby.”

Joe sat at the table eating and talking to his fiancée—God, he loved the sound of that as much as “wife.” The meal was the most relaxing, wonderful experience he’d had in so long. One thought kept going through his head.

He helped her clean up. “Sweetheart, why don’t you go into the family room? I have to make a quick call, okay?”

Naomi smiled and nodded before walking off.

Joe walked into his office and opened the safe hidden behind a picture. It took him a moment to find what he was looking for. He pulled the ring out of the box and stared at it. The diamonds in it weren’t big but the ring was pretty. The fact that it was a family heirloom made it even better, and he bet Naomi would feel the same way.

He picked up his phone and dialed his mother.

“Hello, dear, do I need to come back and fix something?” Carolyn asked.

Joe snorted. “No, Mom, I’m being good.”

“That’s nice to hear. What do you need?”

“I want your permission to give Naomi Grandma’s ring.”

He waited and got worried when she stayed silent and then heard her sniff.

“Oh, I think that’s a wonderful idea,” Carolyn said.

“I’m going to ask her tonight…”

“Maybe you could make it special.”

“How?” he asked.

“Take her somewhere, have a picnic or something like that. It will be something she remembers for the rest of her life.”

Joe thought about one of his favorite places on the ranch. “I love that idea. I’ll do it tomorrow.”

Carolyn paused. “Is there a reason you’re in a rush?”

Joe grinned. This was his chance to poke at her. “Well, no. Not that I can think of.”

He thought he heard his mother growl in frustration and wanted to laugh.

“Nothing at all?” she asked tersely.

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