CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
-:- RUGER -:-
Friday morning and I’m at work tonight, so I have to get everything done before I start my shift. First thing to do today is shop for the ring with Sybil.
“You know you should get matching rings, Ruger. It shows you are telling everyone you are taken. You are hers as much as she is yours. Men that don’t want a ring often are the ones who have something to hide,” Sybil says, but I can see she’s conning me because she’s got that row of crinkles showing on the side of her eyes.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever!” I snap, keeping up the pretense she has going on. “I don’t mind a ring too, Sybil. In fact, I would really like that.”
We go into the shop, and the rows and rows of jewelry baffle. But the young woman who gives us a smile as we step towards her somehow settles me. I’d rather a young woman help me choose than an old fart who goes for something from the bygone era.
“Good morning. It is lovely to meet you. Can I be of help? Point you in the right direction?” The name tag on her collar says Margarita, and I’m thinking that’s a nice drinkable name.
Sybil elbows me. “We’re here to look at wedding bands, matching so he can wear one as well as his wife.”
Margarita points to a cabinet with a glass front and top, and inside are rows and rows of matching rings. My eyes flick through each row, left to right, until I stop at a matching pair that really takes my eye. “Can we look at that pair, please?” I ask, keeping my voice polite.
“This is a 14k rose gold meteorite ring set. It is a stardust material and ancient Gibeon meteorite. Each of the rings will stand the test of time. They are handmade wedding rings and will be appreciated by anyone who loves to study space, the stars and having romantic evenings. The style is, in my opinion beautiful. Inside is gold, a pair of outer rows of stardust and a single band throughout the middle of the Gibeon. We have a matching engagement ring, with a beautiful solitaire diamond. It is outstanding, and anyone who could wear this would be a very lucky person.” Margarita looks up, and I can see the honesty on her face. She really loves this set of rings.
“What do you think, Sybil?” I ask, but I already know I’m going to buy them.
“Ruger, they are truly gorgeous, and I cannot imagine Penny not loving them.” Sybil looks a little wet-eyed, and I give her a scowl to cut that shit out.
“Okay, these are the sizes I need.” I take my wallet out and rifle through for the piece of paper with the ring sizes.
Taking the piece of paper, Margarita checks the sizes on the rings we are looking at, then places them back into the display cabinet. Locking it before turning to a large cabinet that she opens with her thumb print. Very secure, I’m thinking!
“You are lucky. I have your sizes. But it’s a limited edition set, so I was a little worried we wouldn’t have them.
Only eight pairs of these were made, and that is why the price is so high.
” Placing the rings, including the engagement ring, on the counter in front of me, I don’t hold back the smile.
I give Margarita a nod. “Yeah, I’ll take them.” I take out my card and hand it to her. Damn happy with my purchase.
“That is twenty thousand, six hundred and fifty dollars.” Margarita looks at me to be sure I know what they are costing, but I think that’s fucking cheap for what they are. I nod that yeah, it’s all good.
Back at the clubhouse a while later, I hide the rings ready for the wedding day. Sybil kept gushing on the way back here about how much Penny is going to love them, and I hope she’s right.
Thankfully, it’s only two weeks until the wedding, and we’ve a lot to do before then. Get all the furniture purchased and into the place. Make sure everything is right for Punkin because the last thing I want is something not right for her.
Walking into the kitchen, I’m surprised to see Hammer and Harris sitting drinking together. “You two okay?”
Hammer smirks and looks at Harris, who in turn smiles and taps the table with his knuckles. I take a seat right as he says. “Well, we have finished your house. Here are the keys, and if you find anything you need us to look at just give me a shout.”
Taking the keys from Harris has me with the biggest damn smile on my face. I whoop right before jumping to my feet, slapping his back and dashing out of the door directly to our house.
I’m standing in the huge basement and I’m thinking it will make a great games room, or gym, or both. It covers the house’s footprint, and could be made into an apartment apart from the fact that it has small windows.
The ground floor has a stunning open-plan kitchen with granite counters, a dishwasher and two ovens, a microwave, and it has a water filter on the sink to get fresh, clean water. That could save money in the long term. But I do like my bottled water I have to admit.
The utility is great, washing machine and dryer, both under a counter, with cabinets along the length and on the opposite side. A double sink will be handy I’m sure, too. The half bath will be handy downstairs too, for when kids come along or visitors.
The mudroom, which I added on last is going to be excellent. Hanging wet or dirty coats on hooks, boots on the grill where there is a hose to wash them down. A built-in umbrella stand to stick wet umbrellas in and they drip down to the grilled area too.
The dining room is impressive and will have plenty of room for a large table, chairs and any other furniture Penny wants. But walking into the living area I can imagine a large leather couch where we can snuggle up and watch a movie.
The office is good and if I want to branch out on my own I can do that. If I decide to go back to Hammer and construction I can continue in this office designing layouts on the computer system I’ll be having installed.
The playroom is a good size, and I can imagine more kids than Punkin running around playing. I can’t wait for us to have more kids. I have dreamed of a family since I was in my early twenties, and I can see that happening with Penny.
I didn’t bother going upstairs, where there are five bedrooms, en-suites and the loft where I’m sure we’ll have a library or something like that set up.
Back at the clubhouse I watch Jack running around with the Stooges. They are carrying boxes, which they are taking to the playroom. Now that’s a lot of boxes!
As Jack passes me I shout out. “What’s in the boxes, Jack?”
Jack doesn’t even pause in his stride. “Can’t say, sworn to secrecy, and I like my balls where they are and not in Amelia's purse.”
Now, I’m more than surprised at his reply, but I’m also not getting involved, so I head upstairs and get ready to go to BaronsSecure where I’m going to check on Penny. I need to update her on the key to the house and tell her to get a move on with the basics, as she calls them.
Drinking coffee and eating a taco in the canteen, I update Penny on the house. “We can get it ready to move into as soon as we get the wedding done, or before if you are ready to do that?”
Penny gives me a soft smile. “You know Ruger. It’s not that long ago that I was alone, frightened and wondering how the heck I was going to look after Arabella. Now I have found the love of my life, have a great job and a home. I feel like Cinderella.”
“Hey, that makes me Prince Charming.” Now, I give her my best toothy smile, and when I hear someone snicker, I turn around giving Magnus who is at the counter a nasty look. It doesn’t bother him mind you, he laughs and carries on with what he was doing.
Arrow walks into the canteen, grabs a coffee and takes a seat with us. “How’s things, Ruger?”
“Good. We got the keys to the house today. Just gotta do a ton of shopping for furniture and stuff,” I state proudly. “How’s your place coming along?”
“It’s about done, and Hammer said now that we can have a few extra hands it’ll be completed just after your wedding.
I’m going to need some help designing a patio, fire pit, and a cookout area if you’re up for it?
” Arrow smirks, knowing I’d be up for it.
Everyone knows I like designing and understand that I follow building regulations.
“I’ll give you a hand if you still want it when you are ready.”
“Thanks, Ruger. I’ll definitely get with you at that time.” Arrow slaps my back and walks away.
“Are you ready for your shift?” Penny asks.
“It’s not time yet, but I want to check in with everyone. I’m working with Travis tonight, and he’s great to work with. He eats fuckin’ chocolate chip cookies all night. How he isn’t fat I don’t know.”
“You know they all eat such a lot of food. I’ve seen them go for thirds and then have something sweet to round it off.” Penny is a little wide-eyed as she tells me what she’s seen.
I shake my head before I answer. “You know they burn it off quickly in the gym, don’t you?”
Shrugging, Penny changes the subject. “Ruger what do you think about me dropping down to working only two days a week?”
“Why, are you ill?” I turn and study her closely.
“No. But I’d like to spend time getting the house as we want it, and more importantly I want to have more time with Arabella.
I’m missing so much of her growing up. I would like us to be a family where you come home from work and I have a meal ready for you, or we meet in the kitchen at the clubhouse and eat together. ”