a good day for a wedding, but I can’t kick you out of your house. Josh and I will stay at a hotel.” She glanced at her house. “I already scheduled the electricity and power to turn off tomorrow, or I’d stay here with an inflatable mattress.”
Shep scowled. “Will you accept my word on this? I’d feel much more comfortable with you at the house and me at a hotel.”
“Fine, I’ll stay at your house.” Some issues weren’t worth the argument.
“Good. We’ll swing by the courthouse on the way home, file the paperwork, then start unloading all this.”
She sucked in a ragged breath. I’m getting married.
Chapter Six
Jewelry stores, by their very nature, overwhelmed Shep. After shopping at four of them since the mall opened an hour ago, not to mention the two he’d patronized in other parts of town, he didn’t have much time left to shop. Lyndsey expected him twenty minutes ago.
He retrieved his phone from his rear pocket, sent her a text. They had all day to unpack, but first, he had an important mission to fulfill. Their marriage might not be one born from love, but, nonetheless, it would be full and binding.
That commitment warranted a diamond ring. Lyndsey also deserved a far better proposal than a hastily spoken decision that spilled from his mouth without conscious thought. That’s not to say the marriage caused him to feel trapped, or that he regretted asking. Quite the opposite.
Long after he’d checked into the hotel last night, he’d sat in a thinly padded chair and contemplated the future. When he closed his eye, he could hear Josh’s laughter filling the air, see Lyndsey’s smile lighting the rooms. Her trust in him to join their lives and step in as a father to Josh honored him. He hated the circumstances that brought them here, but he’d do his best to make Josh and Lyndsey happy.
“Do any catch your eye?” A man dressed in a three piece suit approached him from the opposite side of the counter.
Shep shook his head. “None, and I’ve been looking all morning.”
“I’m Kenneth.” The sales associate extended his arm for a handshake. “You are?”
He accepted the hand. “Shep.”
“Let me ask you a few questions, and together, perhaps we’ll find the perfect ring. Are you looking for only an engagement ring or a set?”
“Definitely a set. We’re getting married Wednesday.” Shep bit down on his bottom lip as he scanned the case again, but he didn’t miss the startled look on Kenneth’s face.
“This Wednesday?”
“Yes.”
The flabbergasted associate regained his composure, once again resuming a professional demeanor. “Are you searching for a particular style of ring?”
“No.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I hoped I would know once I saw it.”
“That’s not so uncommon. Many men don’t know where to begin if the woman hasn’t left any hints. Tell me about her.”
“Lyndsey is special. She’s stubborn and prideful, but selfless, responsible and giving. When she allows herself to open up and forget her troubles, she’s full of life and joy. Life hasn’t been easy for her the last few years.” Their story spilled out to the sales associate. After several minutes, Shep made a final statement to the associate. “You see, even though our marriage is unique, a modern day marriage of convenience of sorts, I don’t want her to feel cheated because there’s no love involved.”
“No love, huh?” A sparkle shone in Kenneth’s eyes. “Either way, it’s a fine thing you’re doing, stepping up and creating a new family.”
“Did all that give you any ideas for a set?” He let loose a chuckle, tinged with doubt that Kenneth had garnered any useful information.
“I have the perfect set, just came in yesterday.” Kenneth winked. “It’s still in the back. Don’t leave—I’ll be right back.”
While waiting for Kenneth’s return, Shep looked at the next case over. Dozens of rings and earrings had been positioned in the perfect
Shep scowled. “Will you accept my word on this? I’d feel much more comfortable with you at the house and me at a hotel.”
“Fine, I’ll stay at your house.” Some issues weren’t worth the argument.
“Good. We’ll swing by the courthouse on the way home, file the paperwork, then start unloading all this.”
She sucked in a ragged breath. I’m getting married.
Chapter Six
Jewelry stores, by their very nature, overwhelmed Shep. After shopping at four of them since the mall opened an hour ago, not to mention the two he’d patronized in other parts of town, he didn’t have much time left to shop. Lyndsey expected him twenty minutes ago.
He retrieved his phone from his rear pocket, sent her a text. They had all day to unpack, but first, he had an important mission to fulfill. Their marriage might not be one born from love, but, nonetheless, it would be full and binding.
That commitment warranted a diamond ring. Lyndsey also deserved a far better proposal than a hastily spoken decision that spilled from his mouth without conscious thought. That’s not to say the marriage caused him to feel trapped, or that he regretted asking. Quite the opposite.
Long after he’d checked into the hotel last night, he’d sat in a thinly padded chair and contemplated the future. When he closed his eye, he could hear Josh’s laughter filling the air, see Lyndsey’s smile lighting the rooms. Her trust in him to join their lives and step in as a father to Josh honored him. He hated the circumstances that brought them here, but he’d do his best to make Josh and Lyndsey happy.
“Do any catch your eye?” A man dressed in a three piece suit approached him from the opposite side of the counter.
Shep shook his head. “None, and I’ve been looking all morning.”
“I’m Kenneth.” The sales associate extended his arm for a handshake. “You are?”
He accepted the hand. “Shep.”
“Let me ask you a few questions, and together, perhaps we’ll find the perfect ring. Are you looking for only an engagement ring or a set?”
“Definitely a set. We’re getting married Wednesday.” Shep bit down on his bottom lip as he scanned the case again, but he didn’t miss the startled look on Kenneth’s face.
“This Wednesday?”
“Yes.”
The flabbergasted associate regained his composure, once again resuming a professional demeanor. “Are you searching for a particular style of ring?”
“No.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I hoped I would know once I saw it.”
“That’s not so uncommon. Many men don’t know where to begin if the woman hasn’t left any hints. Tell me about her.”
“Lyndsey is special. She’s stubborn and prideful, but selfless, responsible and giving. When she allows herself to open up and forget her troubles, she’s full of life and joy. Life hasn’t been easy for her the last few years.” Their story spilled out to the sales associate. After several minutes, Shep made a final statement to the associate. “You see, even though our marriage is unique, a modern day marriage of convenience of sorts, I don’t want her to feel cheated because there’s no love involved.”
“No love, huh?” A sparkle shone in Kenneth’s eyes. “Either way, it’s a fine thing you’re doing, stepping up and creating a new family.”
“Did all that give you any ideas for a set?” He let loose a chuckle, tinged with doubt that Kenneth had garnered any useful information.
“I have the perfect set, just came in yesterday.” Kenneth winked. “It’s still in the back. Don’t leave—I’ll be right back.”
While waiting for Kenneth’s return, Shep looked at the next case over. Dozens of rings and earrings had been positioned in the perfect
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