Текст книги "Love's Secret Torment"
Автор книги: Stacy L. Darnell
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Текущая страница: 17 (всего у книги 17 страниц)
It was time. I’d made my decision while sitting around that fire at Riley’s place the other night. The time had finally come for me to ask Sam to be my wife. I was so happy, I could hardly stand it. I walked over to my dresser and pulled the drawer open. Moving aside a stack of white t-shirts, I found the blue velvet box I was looking for.
I glanced around to be sure I was still alone before peeking at the ring. It really was beautiful, and I knew she’d love it. It had a princess cut diamond in the center, flanked by two smaller princess cut diamonds on each side of it, all set in a platinum band that I had the jeweler inscribe with an infinity symbol and three tiny stars on either side of it.
I closed the box and put it back behind my stack of shirts, closing the drawer just as Sam walked into our bedroom with Gage on her heels. I walked up to her and pulled her into me.
“Hey, babe,” she said, smiling up at me.
“Hi there, my sweet Peach,” I teased as I kissed her forehead.
“What are you doing in here still?” she asked. “You aren’t going to have time for breakfast before class.”
“I’ll just grab a coffee to go and one of those breakfast bars,” I replied. “I have a couple errands to run later, so I’ll be home a little later than normal.”
“Ok, maybe I’ll meet up with Tamron and Alison for coffee then,” she said.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea. Then tonight, we’re going out to dinner,” I told her.
“Oh, that sounds great.” She reached up and wrapped her arms around me.
“Keep this up and neither of us will go anywhere,” I teased.
She smirked at me and turned on her toes, walking out of the bedroom. I went into the bathroom and ran a comb through my hair, then met her in the kitchen. As she handed me my coffee and a breakfast bar, I kissed her again heatedly, then patted Gage on the head.
“I’ll see you tonight. Love you,” I called as I walked out the front door.
“Ok. Love you, too.”
The girls and I met for coffee at Starbucks. I nearly laughed the whole time as Tamron kept harassing Alison about moving in with Riley now that she had the apartment to herself. Anyone who knew her could see she wasn’t even close to ready for that step.
As I got in my car to leave, I saw a single yellow rose laying on my passenger seat. I opened the attached note. It read:
I smiled, holding the note close and smelling the beautiful yellow rose. Tamron, riding shotgun in Alison’s car, rolled her window down to see what was holding me up.
I held up my new treasures. “Emmett left me a surprise in my car.”
“Aw, you know, Sam, he really is the sweetest.”
“Yeah.” I smiled. “He is. I’ll see y’all later.” I waved as they drove off.
I went to the Farmer’s Market on the way home to pick up some things for dinner. Walking out with my purchases into the bright Alabama sunlight, I sighed as I took in the striking clear blue sky. I walked over to my car and stopped short when I saw balloons and flowers filling the backseat.
I smiled as I opened the door and spied a big heart-shaped box of chocolates. Good thing I wasn’t in the market long or they would have melted. I opened the note attached to the chocolates.
He was unreal. I felt spoiled and loved, and with a grin plastered to my face, I took a deep breath in and relished the flowers’ sweet aroma. On the seat next to them sat a plush teddy bear.
When I returned home, I saw Emmett’s car in his spot and smiled. He must have finished up his errands early to beat me home. I was happy we wouldn’t have to wait long to eat dinner. I carried the chocolates and rose up to the door, figuring we could come out and bring everything else in together.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I walked inside our apartment. The lights were off and the curtains were drawn. Everything was covered in strands of tiny, white lights, all strung from the ceiling and curtains. With the apartment so dark, and the lights everywhere, it felt like we were in the middle of the universe with countless stars surrounding us.
Emmett was standing in the middle of the living room. I set my stuff down on the table by the door and walked over to join him, looking around in awe of what he had done.
“Hi Peach,” he whispered.
“Hi.” I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him lightly on the mouth. “Today’s been filled with amazing surprises. What’s this all about, babe?”
“You.” He smiled down at me. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too,” I breathed.
I gasped as he dropped to one knee in front of me. My hands flew to my mouth when I realized what he was doing.
“I love you more than the number of stars in the sky, Peach. I always have and I always will. You’re it for me. My soul mate . . . my one true love. I’ve never been more complete than when I’m with you. Sam, would you do me the honor of being my wife?”
I couldn’t believe my ears. My heart started racing, and happy tears filled my eyes. There was only one answer that felt natural and real.
“Yes, yes, I will marry you, Emmett.” I answered as he slipped the diamond ring onto my finger, holding my hand in his. I dropped to my knees in front of him, his thumb rubbed back and forth over the top of my hand.
He leaned forward and rested his forehead against mine. “Thank you,” he whispered. “Thank you for loving me, for letting me love you. For never giving up on us.”
“I love you so much, Emmett, I need you like I need my next breath, and will love you from this life into the next.”
He pulled me close and glided his lips over mine. I straddled his lap, wrapped in his tender embrace as his fingers ran through my hair, holding my head in place for our heady kiss. As our tongues wove together, his minty breath left a cool trail across my lips.
Our love had survived Fate’s cruel torment, and I couldn’t wait to see what our future held.
To my critique partners Tricia Zoeller, Alison Gaskin Bailey, Lisa Regan Prodrutti, and Dana Mason, your help and feedback was invaluable. When I look back on the versions that you read, I kind of want to cringe.
Thank you to my beta readers, John Holmes, Tamron Davis, Michelle Pace, Kim Anderson Bias and Laura Wilson.
Thank you to AL Jackson, you’ve supported and encouraged me from the beginning.
Kindle Buddies group, thank you for your support and encouragement.
Nellie Tice Bailey Zeis and Cindy Darnell-Fagan, thank you, so very much for listening to me read those dreadful early drafts over the phone.
Nancy S. Thompson, my amazing editor, and cheerleader. There is no amount of thanks enough, to show you how grateful I am.
Robin Harper, of Wicked by Design—Fabulous cover design, thank you.
Tami Norman, of Integrity Formatting—Amazing formatting, thank you.
Heather Davenport, of Book Plug Promotions– Fantastic organization of my promotional events.
Brandy Ezelle—Thank you for the Auburn area kayaking information.
Thank you to the Admissions Office at Auburn University—for taking time to answer my questions regarding the admissions process.
To my family, Mike Darnell, Austin Darnell, Nellie Tice Bailey Zeis, Penny Bailey Adamo, Tom Adamo, Kara Adamo, Erica Adamo, Cindy Darnell-Fagan, Dick Zeis, Paul Zeis, Ron Bendixon and Charity Drumm Hale—Thank you for your endless support and excitement of the pursuit of my dream.
To my dear, sweet neighbor, Kim Marie Rodriguez, thank you so much for your support, encouragement and excitement. You may not have known it, but it meant a lot to me.
Stacy L. Darnell
Stacy is a New Adult/Contemporary Romance author. Her debut novel, “Love’s Secret Torment” releases March 17th, 2015. Her second novel, “Sweet Conundrum” due out later that year.
Stacy lives with her husband Mike, son Austin, and chocolate lab Gage, just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. She loves the seasonal weather changes, taking walks with Gage, and spending time with her family and friends.
While happily addicted to Starbucks, writing is her passion, and sharing her stories with the world is a dream come true.
“Love’s Secret Torment” on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22887142-love-s-secret-torment
“Sweet Conundrum” on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23520343-sweet-conundrum
Follow Stacy on social media:
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/StacyLDarnellAuthor
Twitter:
@StacyLDarnell
Instagram:
@StacyLDarnell
Blog:
http://StacyLDarnellAuthor.blogspot.com
Table of Contents
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Acknowledgements
About the Author
