Blossom Street Brides (24 page)

“And the young man?”

“He’s the oldest in a family of eight children, and from everything I’ve heard he’s responsible and conscientious. Katie could have made a far worse choice.”

“Have they known each other long?”

“Apparently, they met soon after Katie arrived on campus. From what little I know, the attraction was instantaneous. From the moment they met, they were inseparable.”

To Rooster’s way of thinking, that was how he’d felt about Lauren. Their waitress arrived, and even then it was
difficult for Rooster to tear his gaze away from Lauren long enough to give the woman his order.

As soon as the waitress left, Lauren said, “Katie knew the minute she met Dietrich, the same way I knew after—” she stopped abruptly, and her cheeks filled with hot color.

Rooster stared at her long and hard. “Go on,” he urged.

Embarrassed, she looked away.

“Are you saying you felt the same way about me as young Katie did about her Dietrich?” he asked, enjoying her discomfort. It made his head spin to know she had experienced the same feelings he had. Rooster had known, too, and the truth of it had been pounded into him these last few weeks while he’d been traveling. Lauren was all he could think about. It was intended as a business trip, but wine had been the last thing on his mind. All that seemed to matter was how long it would be before he could be with Lauren again.

Without meeting his gaze, she nodded. “I’ve waited for years to meet a man like you,” she whispered, and seemed unable to find her normal voice. “You make me feel things I’ve never experienced before.”

He knew exactly what she meant, because it had been the same with him. “I’ve been waiting for you for years, Lauren, hardly knowing what I was waiting for, never suspecting it would ever happen.”

She stretched her hand across the table, and he gripped it tightly with his own.

“We haven’t known each other long,” she said, as though it was necessary to discount this magnetic attraction.

“Does that matter?” he asked. “Are you going to feel differently a few weeks from now? Is what you feel going to change?”

“No.” Her voice was sure, confident. “You?”

He didn’t entertain a single doubt. “No.”

Their gazes seemed locked together, and Rooster doubted that a fire alarm would have been enough to cause him to break eye contact. His heart pounded hard and strong, and he sensed that this could quite possibly be one of the most important conversations of his life.

Lauren raised her hand to her chest. “I know in my heart what I feel, what I want.”

Rooster was almost afraid to ask what she wanted, for fear it wouldn’t align with his own desire. It seemed obvious to him that they were meant to be together. “What is it you want?” he asked. As soon as the words left his mouth his heart started to race, his pulse pounding in his ear like a military drum, fearing her feelings didn’t match the intensity of his own.

She hesitated and lowered her gaze as though afraid to admit what she was thinking.

“Lauren.” He said her name softly. “I didn’t realize what I wanted in a wife until I met you.”

Her gaze instantly flew back to him. She blinked, and for a moment he thought he saw tears well in her eyes. “Are you … asking to marry me?” she asked slowly.

Now wasn’t the time to backpedal; it was exactly what he was asking. He’d never considered that it would happen like this, in the middle of a coffee shop without a declaration of
love or flowery words, but then he wasn’t a man who was likely to say the things a woman most wanted to hear. “Yes,” he said, being as straightforward as he knew how to be. “Yes, I’m asking you to be my wife, to share the rest of our lives with each other. I’d like us to have children and raise them to be responsible, God-fearing adults, and for the two of us to grow old together.”

No doubt about it now, those were tears in her eyes. Her hands flew to cover her mouth. Rooster was instantly concerned, fearing he might have said all the wrong things. He frowned, wondering what he should do now, if anything.

His eyes didn’t waver from hers, and he held his breath while he waited for her response. When none came, he realized he’d made a terrible mistake. He could easily blame it on the long sleepless flight. He’d been up almost thirty hours. “I know it’s too soon. I apologize if I—”

“It isn’t too soon,” she whispered, interrupting him. “I’d like nothing better than to be your wife.”

He was stunned speechless. He hadn’t known what to expect, hadn’t even considered asking her so soon. A lump filled his throat as he struggled to grab hold of his emotions. As soon as he could speak clearly, he asked, “Okay, when?”

Her hands made a restless movement, as if she wasn’t sure. “I wouldn’t like a long engagement.”

“Me, neither.”

“Next month?” she asked.

He frowned. Even that seemed far too long to wait. “Next week?”

Her eyes lit up with a bright smile, and she placed her hand over her mouth.

“What?” he asked, seeing that she was all but laughing.

“You’re going to think I’ve lost my mind.”

He frowned. “What are you suggesting?”

“What’s wrong with tonight?”

He was astounded. “Tonight? You mean … today. Now?”

The waitress delivered their meals, which they both ignored.

Lauren nodded. “I’m not giving you a chance to change your mind, Rooster Wayne.”

Change his mind? Was she out of hers? If anyone would be susceptible to a change of heart, he would think it would be Lauren. Clearly, after so many hours awake, the drastic time change, and everything else, he wasn’t himself … wasn’t thinking clearly. “My immediate reaction is to do it. But I don’t want us to get caught up in some craziness we might later regret, so let’s sleep on it.”

“I’m not changing my mind, Rooster.”

He sincerely doubted he would, either. “It might be hard to arrange at the last minute like this. I’d feel better about it if we waited until tomorrow.”

“Agreed,” she said.

“And if you feel the same way in the morning …”

“I will,” she promised.

“So will I,” he added. “Then we’ll see to the necessary paperwork first thing.”

Again, she concurred.

Rooster rubbed his hand over his eyes. He had one other concern. “What about your parents?”

“What about them?”

“Before we continue, I’d like to speak to your father.”

“My dad?” She sounded shocked.

“Yes. I want to do this properly, Lauren. I don’t want him to think I’ve coerced you against your will, especially if we’re going to rush into this. Have you even mentioned me?”

“I have to my mom and sister, but Dad and I don’t talk on the phone that often.” She sounded uncertain, as if contacting her father wasn’t such a good idea. “Dad can be a bit short-tempered.”

“And he might well be, with me stealing away his daughter, but I’ll chance it. Why don’t I talk to him now?”

“Now?” She was hesitant.

Rooster brought out his cell. “Give me your parents’ phone number.”

She rattled it off and then bit her lower lip while Rooster waited for the connection.

“Let me talk to him first,” Lauren said urgently.

Rooster hesitated before handing her his cell. Her eyes connected with his, and then she relaxed. “Hi, Daddy,” she said, sounding chipper and excited. “I wanted to let you know I’m getting married.”

Unable to hear the other end of the conversation, Rooster waited impatiently.

“No, it isn’t Todd,” she said, and cast Rooster an apologetic look. “His name is John. John Wayne.” Another
brief pause. “Not that John Wayne, Dad. He goes by Rooster. Yes … yes, I realize it’s an unusual name. Okay, okay, I’ll put him on the phone.” She placed her hand over the receiver. “He doesn’t sound happy about this.”

Rooster took the cell out of her hand and winked at her. “Don’t worry,” he whispered before placing the cell against his ear. “Mr. Elliott, this is Rooster Wayne.”

Lauren’s father’s voice boomed over the other end of the cell. “Bill Elliott. Now, what’s this I hear about you wanting to marry my daughter?”

“You heard correctly.”

“Do you love her?”

It astonished Rooster to realize he’d asked Lauren to be his wife and not once had he expressed his love to her. “Very much.”

“Are you employed?” he demanded. “I won’t have my daughter supporting you, so be clear on that.”

“No worries there,” Rooster assured the other man. “I have a partnership in a California wine-distribution company.”

That appeared to satisfy him. “You haven’t known Lauren long, have you? The last I heard she had her heart set on that pretty-boy television newscaster. Have to say I never cared much for him.”

Rooster grinned. He shared the other man’s feelings and sensed that he was going to get along just fine with Lauren’s father.

“When do you figure to get married?” the elder Elliott asked.

“We were thinking, seeing we know our minds, that we’d like to make it soon.”

“How soon?”

Rooster didn’t figure Lauren’s father would be keen on his answer. “Very soon. Tomorrow.”

The line went silent. “Any particular reason you’re in such an all-fired rush?” Bill Elliott demanded.

“Yes. I love Lauren. I’m thirty-nine, and I’ve been waiting for her my entire life. Having found her, I can’t see any reason to delay what we both want.”

The line went still, as if Lauren’s father wasn’t quite sure what to say. “You ever been in jail?”

“Nope. My record is clean. I had a bit of trouble as a teenager, but that was years ago.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“Shoplifting. I learned my lesson, and it wasn’t the law that gave it to me; it was my dad.”

Bill Elliott chuckled. “Ever declared bankruptcy?”

“No. I have a savings account and a retirement investment plan as well.”

“Good.”

“We’d like your blessing and, if possible, for you and Mrs. Elliott to join us for the ceremony.”

“You in Seattle?”

“No, we’re in Vegas.”

This information was followed by a short pause. “You’ll go through with this marriage whether you have our support or not, won’t you?” he demanded.

“Yes,” Rooster admitted, “but I’d much rather have your
approval. I’m sincere. I love Lauren, and I will do everything within my power to be a good husband and to make her happy.”

“I have to say you’ve got guts, young man.”

“Your blessing would mean a great deal, sir.”

“By heaven, you’ve got balls. Let me talk to her mother and we’ll get back to you about getting to Vegas within the next twenty-four hours.”

“Then we have your approval?” Rooster asked.

“Yes, you do, but I want it understood there won’t be any wedding until we’ve done a background check on you.”

“Fair enough. I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

“Let me talk to my daughter,” Bill Elliott said.

Rooster gave the phone back to Lauren. She smiled as she took it from him. “Yes, Daddy,” she said. “I love him, too. He’s a good man, and once you meet him you’ll agree with my choice.”

They spoke only a moment longer, and then Lauren returned the phone. “He thinks we’re both a little nuts.”

“Can’t say I blame him.”

Rooster reached for his dinner.

“Mom is calling my sister, and I think the whole family is planning to show.”

“Good.”

“Is there anyone you want to invite?” she asked.

The only real family Rooster had was Max. His parents were both gone, and he was an only child. “Max and Bethanne.”

Lauren nodded and then giggled as she reached for her
fork. “My dad is right, we’re both a little nuts, but Rooster, I have to tell you I’ve never been this happy in my life.”

He nearly melted under the strength of her smile. Truth was, he felt the same. It’d been a very long time since he’d been this excited or this content.

Bethanne was startled out of a sound sleep by her cellphone. Half sitting up, and leaning on one elbow, she glanced at the digital readout of the bedside clock. She hadn’t been sleeping well for the last several days and, exhausted, had fallen into bed after what had proved to be a troublesome week.

“Hello,” she whispered.

“Bethanne, sweetheart, did I wake you?”

Instantly, she was alert. “Max? Is everything all right?” He wouldn’t be calling if it wasn’t important.

“Yes, it’s wonderful.”

She rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “It’s after midnight.”

“I know. Sorry to wake you, love, but what I have to tell you is amazing.”

It must be, for him to call this late. “What’s going on?”

“A wedding.”

“A wedding,” she repeated, sitting upright now. “Who’s getting married?”

Max chuckled as though highly amused. “Rooster and Lauren.”

This made no sense whatsoever. “Hold on a minute, I thought Rooster was in New Zealand.”

“So did I. Apparently, he couldn’t bear to be away from Lauren and flew back, surprising everyone. He met up with her at some conference she was attending in Las Vegas.”

“He flew to Las Vegas?” Bethanne was having a hard time taking in what Max was telling her.

“After Rooster arrived the two decided they were in love and they might as well get married.”

Bethanne was shocked. “It’s a bit rushed, isn’t it?”

“That’s what I said, but Rooster isn’t about to change his mind, and from what he said, Lauren feels the same. He asked me to be his best man.”

“When’s the wedding?”

“Sunday afternoon. Lauren’s parents and sister are all flying in, and I’m going, too. Can you manage a couple days away? I know it’s not good timing for you.” This was the first weekend in two months that they hadn’t been able to be together. Bethanne knew how busy Max was with Rooster out of the country, and she had her own reasons for begging off. It’d been a dreadful week, and she feared her troubles with Annie would only weigh him down.

“Bethanne?”

“Sorry, I was mentally reviewing my schedule. When do you plan to leave?”

“Seven tomorrow morning. It was the only seat available.
Santa Rosa has a small airport, and I didn’t want to drive into San Francisco if I could avoid it.”