Pinky Promise (Riverbend Romance 2) by Valerie Comer Page A

make my life better, too. Is that what you wanted to hear?”
    “Only if it’s true.” Oh, she was distracting, this one. It was hard to keep enough attention on the road.
    “It’s true.”
    “Kelly—”
    She put her finger on his lips. “Don’t. Today’s not the day, remember?”
    He caressed her finger with his lips for a few seconds before she removed her hand. This might not be the right day, but it had better be soon. He needed her in his life every day, to wake up beside her and pamper her like a princess.

Chapter 14

    Kelly couldn’t take her eyes off her daughter as Elena spun in a slow circle at Holiday’s Hobby Farm. Elena clutched Sophie’s arm. “Look! Baby chicks!”
    Sophie grabbed her back. “Horses! Are we going riding, Daddy?”
    “Good choice of venue,” Mom said to Ian as he nodded at Sophie.
    He smirked at Kelly. “This is right up their alley.”
    Kelly held up both hands and laughed. “You were right. Of course you were.” He also knew why she’d resisted... and why she’d relented.
    Sophie’s grandparents were here, too. They’d come for the weekend to celebrate both girls’ birthdays. Ian’s mom, Joyce, had been none-too-subtle in making sure Kelly knew Elena’s joy in her day was just as important as Sophie’s. Kelly had felt welcomed within minutes of meeting both of them. Now her mom and Joyce were thick as flies as they herded a dozen first graders toward the hay-filled wagon that would give them a tour of the farm before the horseback riding.
    Ian tucked his arm around her. “Do you know what our mothers are cooking up?”
    “Hmm. Should I be worried?”
    “I would say… no.”
    She peered up at him, safe in the shelter of his embrace. “That’s not comforting at all.”
    He grinned, checked the whereabouts of the girls, and dropped a brief kiss on her lips. To her amazement, neither child had caught a glimpse of the many quick moments shared in the past three weeks. Or, if they had, they hadn’t said a word. Kelly couldn’t imagine that being the case.
    “Your mom invited my parents and Sophie over for the evening. She said something about pizza, popcorn, and a movie.”
    “Let me guess. A Disney princess movie.”
    “Close.” He winked. “Something with horses.” He leaned closer. “Nobody invited either you or me, but I’m not overly offended. It sounds like date night to me. What do you say?”
    She’d barely seen him without the girls — other than at work — since the day of Grandma’s funeral. “I’m pretty sure you can talk me into it. But date night has an official sound. Should I get dressed up?”
    The hay wagon pulled out of the farmyard to the squeals of a dozen children.
    “Do you want to?”
    This wasn’t how this conversation was supposed to go. “You tell me.”
    He nuzzled her hair. “Then how about that pretty skirt with the flowers. It draws out the color in your eyes.”
    It did? She’d worn it to church a few times and noticed his admiring look. But then, he hadn’t worn any other expression around her recently. “Okay. What time?”
    “We’ll be done here about four, and I think we can get everyone settled at your mom’s by five. How much time would you like to get ready?”
    She sagged against his arms. “Bubble-bath without interruptions,” she said with a sigh.
    Ian laughed. “I was thinking of having the date before midnight, if it’s all the same to you.”
    Kelly swatted his arm. “Okay, fine. How long do I have?”
    “How about six o’clock?” He rubbed his nose against hers for a second. “I can’t wait.”
    Suddenly, neither could she.

    ~*~

    Ian walked around the Jeep in the parking lot of the Water Wheel Restaurant and opened the door for Kelly. He caught her in both hands as she slid out of the vehicle. In those heels she was much closer to his height.
    “How did you get reservations here on such short notice?” she asked, eyes widening.
    Should he tell her he’d called it in several days