Part 1: No Regrets(Divine Creek Ranch 2)(48)
Rachel giggled and put her hand to her cheek as she cuddled Matthew against her chest.
“Maybe.”
“He’s pretty wonderful, isn’t he?” Kelly asked as she reached for Matthew so that Rachel could look for a set of sheets and a comforter in the bedding department.
“He really is.”
“You’re in love. I give it two months, and you’ll be married,” Kelly predicted smugly.
112
Heather Rainier
“Think so?”
“I know so. It’s in Eli’s eyes. He adores you, and rightfully so. It’s good to see him so happy, not lonely anymore. He’s always been too solitary.”
“I love him, too.”
“I can tell. Are you gonna say yes if he asks you to marry him?” Kelly looked at her expectantly. Her little pixie face was bright with hope, and she looked like she was about to start bouncing on the balls of her feet.
Teasing her, Rachel asked, “How is it that Eli is like a giant and you are positively elfin? Huh? I see the resemblance in your eyes and the color of your hair, but the similarity stops there.” Rachel laughed at Kelly’s disappointed pout.
“Eli got his height from our dad, but our dad is blond and blue-eyed, very Scandinavian roots there. I got my stature and build from my mom, and we got her eyes, too. Can you imagine,” Kelly snickered, “what it must have been like trying to get it on? Like climbing a tree! What? Am I wrong?”
Kelly laughed, watching Rachel break out in a fit of giggles.
“I know two gals you have to meet while you’re here, Kelly. You
would fit in so well at our get-togethers. Do you like to dance?”
“I love to dance, just not much opportunity lately.” Kelly smiled and pointed at the baby.
“I have two good friends who are also sisters. Grace Warner and
Charity Conners. Eli is friends with Charity and her husband, Justin.”
Kelly’s eyes sparkled. “I remember them from before we got stationed in Abilene! Charity is a nut. I absolutely love her.” Rachel smiled at Kelly and thought there were probably very few people whom she didn’t love.
“My husband and Justin grew up together and were friends with Eli. Eli introduced me to Christopher. They all used to ride together all the time. So has he taken you for a ride on his Harley yet?”
“Well, we’ve only been together a couple of days, if you count today and yesterday,” Rachel answered.
Kelly looked genuinely horrified. “You mean I horned in on your first night together?”
“Well, technically no, because we got to his duplex during the night on Thursday night, but it’s all right. We’ve known each other for a few months, and he’s been asking me out since the moment we met.”
Her Gentle Giant, Part 1: No Regrets
113
Rachel told her the whole story while she picked out a set of ivory-colored sheets in a luxurious Egyptian cotton and found a pretty wedding ring patchwork quilt. She wasn’t sure why she picked that particular quilt pattern over the others and didn’t want to analyze herself too much. She picked out some towels with help from Kelly, who had been surprisingly mute through the whole wedding ring quilt selection process but had looked like she was dying to say something. As Rachel picked out a stack of dark blue bath towels, she couldn’t keep quiet any longer.
“So, are you gonna say yes?” Kelly asked expectantly.
“To what?” Rachel asked, nervous at this line of questioning. She didn’t want to sound desperate.
“When he pops the question, silly!” When, she had said. Not if, but when.
“Kelly, we’ve only been a couple for a couple of days.”
“Yeah, but you’ve been in love since you set eyes on each other two months ago!”
“Nuh-uh!”
“Uh-huh! He’s going to ask you, and I bet you’re married by
Christmas. Ooooh! A Christmas wedding, how romantic! Oh, Rachel, can I help you pick out your dress?” Now Kelly was dancing on the balls of her feet. Matthew squeaked in her arms and drifted back off to sleep.
“Oh, so now you’re planning my wedding?”
“Ooooh! Can I? I’m excellent at planning weddings and parties! You should totally let me do that. You would love it! So? Are you gonna say yes?” She settled down long enough to ask again.
Rachel looked at her and smiled, finding Kelly’s enthusiasm contagious.
What would she say if he asked her to marry him? Oh, hell yeah. She’d say yes.
“I would say yes, Kelly, but I need a little time, and he told me we would take it slow. I don’t know about your Christmas wedding scenario. I mean, he hasn’t even hinted at that. I can’t believe I’m talking to you about it. We only just got together.” Rachel felt like she was jinxing herself, putting the cart before the horse.