Chapter 16 #2
“If this is going to turn into ‘girl talk,’ I think I’ll make my exit,” Mason said with an exaggerated shudder.
“Tell Rory I’ll see him at dinner and you really should do something about the cobwebs in your hair, Tess,” he stated, fixing Rebecca with a questioning look as he walked by Tess.
“Whatever were you girls doing while I was gone, hmm?”
Rebecca walked Tess to the door. “Thanks so much for helping me,” she told her, hugging her goodbye.
“But we did not even find the book,” Tess whispered back.
“That’s all right. I know where it’s not and I still have a few weeks to find it. Tess, I hope you and Rory will be very happy, but I have to know that you understand.”
“I know Rory will be head of his household and I know he will probably discipline me at times.”
“How will you handle that, honey?” Rebecca asked, genuinely concerned.
“I intend to be very, very good,” Tess answered honestly, kissing Rebecca’s cheek and heading down the walk.
Rebecca burst out laughing. “Don’t we all?” she called after her. Too bad that was easier said than done.
* * *
Rory found Tess standing on the top step of a ladder, washing the ceiling in the kitchen. “What are you doing?” he demanded. The mail he’d had been shuffling through was quickly forgotten.
Her back was arched, her little butt sticking out as she struggled to reach as far as she could without moving the ladder.
“Making mashed potatoes,” she replied.
“Babe, seriously, sarcasm?” he asked as he plucked her from the ladder with one arm around her waist. Walking across the room he flung the mail onto the counter before setting her down gently before him.
Staring down into her eyes, one eyebrow raised, Tess recalled what she had told Rebecca that very afternoon.
“Sorry,” she said, reaching her arms up around his neck and pulling him down for a kiss. “Why are you home early?”
“I was going to be in court, but it was postponed. I thought we could run a couple of errands,” Rory replied, putting his arms around her waist and lifting her from the floor so they were eye to eye.
“Now, this is the way you should be greeting me when I come home, not with a sassy mouth, but with your sweet lips.” Kissing her thoroughly, Rory kept her dangling, her feet quite a distance from the floor as need swept through her.
“I am sorry,” she offered, nibbling on his lower lip, “but I thought it was a stupid question.”
“Did you, now? Well, you may be right, but I don’t want to come home and find you up on a ladder like that again,” he informed her firmly.
“We’ll get the guys over here on the weekend to help if we can.
Lord knows, I’ve given up enough weekends to help them.
If not, we’ll hire someone to come in. I don’t want to see that again, Tess, and I mean it. ”
Searching his face, Tess decided it was an order and not a request.
“Okay,” she breathed against his lips pulling his mouth closer.
Rory smiled and met her lips, happy she didn’t argue further. There was no way he wanted to have to correct her today of all days.
“Good girl,” he approved, giving her a sweet slap on her bottom before he set her down. “Now, go get cleaned up and put on something pretty.”
“Where are we going?” Tess asked, automatically keeping her hands over her butt.
“It’s a surprise, now hurry up! We only have a couple hours before the stores close.”
“What store?”
“Grrr,” he growled backing her towards the bedroom. “Are you always going to be this nosey? Can I not surprise my bride?”
“Probably and yes,” Tess squealed, darting into the bedroom and slamming the door.
“You’ve got twenty minutes,” he shouted. “Then we’re leaving no matter how you’re dressed, or not dressed, whichever the case may be.”
“Tyrant,” she shouted back through the door laughing, but she was fully dressed in nineteen.
The flirty black skirt was just long enough, that he didn’t insist she change it, but barely.
Silky black stockings and black heels accented her lovely legs.
A soft rose sweater hugged her breasts in a way that made Rory wish he had not even mentioned leaving the house, but today was special and she looked beautiful.
Driving downtown, Tess badgered him about their destination until he turned his stern gaze complete with the tell-tale eyebrow on her.
Huffing in annoyance, she finally sat back against her seat and kept quiet.
Rory pulled into the parking lot of a small but well-respected jeweler and shut off the car.
Tess waited as he walked around to her door and helped her out.
“Rory …” she began.
“Hush, babe,” he instructed her as he led her into the building.
An hour later they left the store, a gorgeous one carat diamond solitaire twinkling on her finger.
The wedding bands were being sent away for engraving, but would be back in ten days, the clerk assured them.
They had an early dinner at a quaint little Italian restaurant, ordering wine with their meal to toast their happiness.
Tess could not seem to take her eyes off her sparkling ring and Rory was amused, until she spoke.
“Really, Rory, you did not have to insist on such an expensive ring. We have so much to do to the house and .…”
Rory cut her off. She had tried this argument in the jewelers and he had slipped his hand down and patted her ass in warning.
“Tess, do you like the ring?” he asked quietly.
“It’s beautiful. I love it, but .…”
“Then shut up, babe! I’m not a pauper and I can certainly afford to buy my bride a nice engagement ring. I only plan on getting married once, Tess, and I want to do it right. I’ve waited a long time for you. Now, I don’t want to hear another word about the damn cost.”
“But .…”
Rory rolled his eyes and shot his napkin on the table. “If you say one more word about it, I swear to God I’ll .…”
Tess held up her hand and zipped an imaginary zipper across her mouth.
Picking at her salad she gave herself a good talking to.
Not everyone had to watch every penny like she’d had to do.
Rory had planned this to surprise her and now she looked like an ungrateful miser.
Tess loved him so very much, but she had disappointed him and ruined his surprise.
Besides arguing with him in the store, she made him angry here with many more people around.
Had she hurt his pride by implying he could not provide for her?
Watching him from beneath her lashes, Tess could see the tic in his jaw.
Raising her head, she looked at him sadly.
“Rory?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, a single tear sliding down her cheek.
“Aw hell,” he growled. Swiftly he stood and picked Tess up out of her chair, settling her on his lap. Pulling her to his chest he rocked her gently as she buried her face in his neck. Glancing around the room his fierce expression dared the other patrons to approach him. No one did.
“Tess, babe, please don’t cry. I’m sorry I scolded you.
It’s just that I love you so and you question everything I do for you.
I think we need to get married right away.
I can see this whole thing is stressful for you.
Do you want a big wedding? I know you have no family here, but I would be willing to fly your sister in from California, if that’s what you want.
You have friends from school you can invite . …”
“No, I want a small wedding, very small,” Tess whispered, her body trembling as she fought the urge to start sobbing.
“We could go to the Justice of the Peace next week, or I could ask the Mayor to marry us? Whatever you want, babe,” Rory assured her, patting her back.
“I would not want to hurt the family, Rory,” Tess sighed, hiccupping. “Can we get married at your parents’ house?”
“When?” Rory asked reaching in his pocket for money.
Tess picked the first day that came to her mind. “Christmas Eve,” she whispered.
“Perfect,” Rory answered throwing some bills on the table and standing. “Let’s go home, Tess. We need a little privacy.” Setting Tess on her feet, he grabbed her coat. Rory dabbed her eyes with his handkerchief and wrapping his arm around her steered her firmly towards the door.
One brave elderly woman stopped him with a hand on his arm as she spoke to Tess.
“Is everything all right, dear?” she asked, concern evident in her wrinkled face. “Do you want me to call the police?” she continued, giving Rory a suspicious glare.
“He is the police,” Tess replied with a small watery smile. “We just got engaged,” she continued, giving the diamond on her hand a little wiggle to catch the light. The last thing in the world she wanted was for anyone to think badly of her future husband.
“Oh,” the woman replied smiling. “Well then, good luck to you, dear,” she continued, patting Rory’s arm in understanding. “I hope you’ll both be very happy.”
“Thank you,” Tess whispered as they went through the door.