I LOVE LUCY (The Bachelor Pact) by Rita Herron Page B

Bannister.
    “He’s in the pool,” a white-haired man shouted.
    Reid hauled Emmet to the pool steps and shoved him over the edge. When he looked up, Lucy was waiting. So was the Marshal who’d interrogated him at the police station.
    “I can’t believe you’re here,” Lucy said.
    He climbed from the pool and reached for her, but she slugged him, sending him flying back into the water.
    “Oh, my goodness,” DeEtte tittered.
    “Hon, I think we’d better have that talk about how to get a man again,” Mae said.
    “Maybe they do it different now,” Ellen commented.
    “Let me know if you two need a house,” Sue shouted.
    Reid flung water from him as he pulled himself out of the pool. “What the hell?”
    “You could have gotten yourself killed,” Lucy shouted.
    But tears streamed down her face, and she was trembling.
    Reid’s heart melted. “I had to do something,” Reid said with a smile. “I couldn’t let that guy in the lampshade steal my girl.”
    He dragged her into his arms and closed his mouth over hers. Lucy fell into him, and kissed him back, the fear that had driven him here turning to passion.
    When he finally ended the kiss, applause and cheers erupted around them.
“Well, maybe we should take man-hunting lessons from Lucy,” Ellen said.
    “She has a great right hook,” Willene muttered.
    Heat climbed Reid’s cheeks when he realized that everyone was watching.
    Lance was talking to the police officers on the side, obviously explaining what had happened.
    Then Lucy pressed a hand to his cheek. “What was it you said about me?”
    Reid narrowed his eyes. “I…hmmm…”
    Lucy slapped at him. “You remember, something about me being the girl you were going to marry ?”
    “Get down on one knee,” Ellen whispered.
“Tell her you love her,” DeEtte yelled.
    “Do you have a ring?” Nelda asked.
    “Promise her forever,” Willene said.
    “And trips, lots of cruises,” Sue added.
    Reid threw his head back and laughed. “I love you, Lucy. But this is not the way I planned this.”
    “You planned it?” Lucy whispered.
    He shrugged. “Yes. But … here goes.” He dropped to one knee and took her hand in his, then removed the diamond he’d bought the day before. “Will you marry me, Lucy?”
    She knelt in front of him, then looped her arms around his wet neck and nodded. “I love you, too, Reid. And yes, I’ll marry you.”
    She kissed him so hard they fell backward into the pool. But neither of them minded.

    Lucy laughed as she and Reid climbed from the pool. Someone started a chorus of It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas , and Sophie raced toward her and dragged her into a hug. Lance and Chase and Maddie followed, then Deseree.
    “What’s going on?” some of the Silver Sneakers finally asked. “We thought your name was Taylor.”
    Wallace motioned from the back that he had Emmet in custody. Then Lucy explained about her stalker.
    “I’m sorry I put you all in danger,” she said. “I didn’t think Emmet would find me here.”
    Moon and Mae and all the people she’d come to love assured her it wasn’t a problem.
    “It’s time to reveal your Secret Santas,” Lucy said. “But first, I have to ask. Who was mine?”
    Mae slipped up beside her. “We all chipped in to buy you a gift because you’ve done so much for us.”
    Tears sprang to Lucy’s eyes. “I didn’t do anything compared to what you’ve done for me. I feel like I have a new family here.”
    “You do, dear,” Mae said.
    Lucy hugged each one of them in turn, then encouraged them to reveal their Secret Santas and have refreshments, at least what they could salvage. The blueberry cobbler and punch were goners.
    Lance and Sophie, Chase and Maddie and Deseree followed her and Reid back out by the pool with their drinks.
    “I can’t believe you all came,” Lucy said.
    “You should have told us the truth from the beginning,” Sophie said.
    “Yes,” Maddie added. “We’re your family, and