“Now open it,” he said, taking hold of her wrist and nodding to the sandwich-bag-covered jewelry box. “You might change your mind after you see what’s inside.”
“I would never change my mind, Jesse Bryant,” she said.
“Open it,” he said, smiling at her, brushing the tears from her cheek.
With trembling hands, Cozy Robbins removed the red velvet jewelry box from the plastic sandwich bag. Her tears and trembling increased for a moment as the thought struck her of how perfectly masculine it was to put a jewelry box in a plastic sandwich bag.
When at last she was finally able to steady her hands enough to open the red velvet box, she gasped, bursting into tears as she saw one half of a walnut shell inside—the most beautiful diamond solitaire ring she had ever seen nestled inside it.
“You like it, don’t you?” Jesse asked. Cozy looked up to see him smiling with pride. “I thought it was pretty clever too,” he added.
Cozy watched as Jesse removed the ring from the walnut and box, slipping it onto her left ring finger. “Take a walk with me, Cozy,” he said, brushing more tears from her cheeks. “Take a walk with me, and live happily ever after.”
“Okay,” she breathed, trembling as Jesse kissed her.
He paused a moment, gazing lovingly into her eyes. “See? I told you those raspberry almonds would change your life…didn’t I?”
“You did,” she said, smiling at him
“Now kiss me, Little Red,” he mumbled against her mouth.
Jesse growled, and Cozy smiled as his mouth sealed the truth—that their walks together would go on forever.
My everlasting admiration, gratitude and love…
To my husband, Kevin…
My inspiration…
My heart’s desire…
The man of my every dream!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marcia Lynn McClure’s intoxicating succession of novels, novellas, and e-books—including The Visions of Ransom Lake, A Crimson Frost, The Rogue Knight, and most recently The Pirate Ruse—has established her as one of the most favored and engaging authors of true romance. Her unprecedented forte in weaving captivating stories of western, medieval, regency, and contemporary amour void of brusque intimacy has earned her the title “The Queen of Kissing.”
Marcia, who was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has spent her life intrigued with people, history, love, and romance. A wife, mother, grandmother, family historian, poet, and author, Marcia Lynn McClure spins her tales of splendor for the sake of offering respite through the beauty, mirth, and delight of a worthwhile and wonderful story.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A Better Reason to Fall in Love
A Crimson Frost
An Old-Fashioned Romance
Beneath the Honeysuckle Vine
Born for Thorton’s Sake
Daydreams
Desert Fire
Divine Deception
Dusty Britches
Kiss in the Dark
Love Me
Saphyre Snow
Shackles of Honor
Sudden Storms
Sweet Cherry Ray
Take a Walk with Me
The Anthology of Premiere Novellas Romantic Vignettes
The Fragrance of her Name
The Heavenly Surrender
The Heavenly Surrender 10th Anniversary Special Edition
The Heavenly Surrender Hardcover Edition
The Highwayman of Tanglewood
The Highwayman of Tanglewood Hardcover Edition
The Light of the Lovers’ Moon
The Pirate Ruse
The Prairie Prince
The Rogue Knight
The Tide of the Mermaid Tears
The Time of Aspen Falls
The Touch of Sage
The Trove of the Passion Room
The Visions of Ransom Lake
The Whispered Kiss
The Windswept Flame
To Echo the Past
Weathered Too Young