Summer of Dreams Page 12

  The women all laughed making Shelby feel like part of the group. Breakfast today would be at her place if the women would accept.

  CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

  The construction began on Riley’s home the day after Labor Day. Most of the crowd had gone home only to return on weekends. Riley and Shelby stood in front of the property each evening admiring the day’s work. “Would you move in with me, Shelby?”

  “Your house is a long way from being completed, Riley,” Shelby answered laughing.

  “I’m not talking about this house yet. I’m talking about with me and my mom,” she asked hopefully.

  “Riley,” Shelby sighed. “I’d love to live with you, but why don’t we wait until your house is done.”

  “I can’t wait six months for that. I want to have you at my side each night.”

  “Riley, we both can be very,” she glanced to see if anyone was near them, “noisy,” she said quietly.

  “I’ll buy my mother earplugs,” she said pulling Shelby to her body. “Please think about it,” Riley begged.

  “What does your mom say about all this?” Shelby asked looking at Riley’s face.

  “She is the one who brought it up first.”

  “Let me think about it, okay?” Shelby asked laying her head on Riley’s shoulder. “Or you can move in with me on the boat?” she asked tapping Riley’s chest with her hand.

  “I think that might get a little too crowded for us.” Riley shrugged. “I would love to live with you, but if you aren’t ready, I understand.”

  A text arrived at Shelby’s phone as she left the hospital. Have dinner with mom and me? Shelby smiled at Riley’s text and responded quickly. See you in fifteen minutes. Shelby knocked on the back door to the Anderson’s home.

  “Come in, dear,” Ava called from inside the house.

  “Hello, Ava.” Shelby’s eyes scanned the downstairs for Riley.

  “She will be right down. Riley insisted on taking a shower before she sat down. I have you to thank for that.” Ava chuckled. “Riley normally puts her stomach first before a shower and sometimes when she’s exerted herself in the heat,” she held her nose, “it can be difficult at the dinner table.”

  “Hey,” Riley said hearing her mother’s comment when she walked into the room. “Hi, sweetie,” she said kissing Shelby’s mouth softly. “Don’t listen to her.” She pointed at Ava. “I did that once and she’s never let me forget about that.” Riley pointed a finger at her mother. “Besides, I was fifteen or sixteen years old.” The look on Riley’s face started the laughter from the two women in the room. “Yeah, just yuck it up at my expense.”

  “Oh, honey.” Shelby’s hand came out and clasped her arm. “Your mom is only teasing you.”

  “Riley tells me you are hesitant to move in here,” Ava said changing the subject.

  Her words caused Shelby’s head first to snap to Ava and then she glared at Riley. “See,” Riley leaned over to Shelby and said, “it’s not so funny when she turns on you.

  “I think it would be wonderful that you move in here.” Ava’s eyes lowered. “There are a few nights I don’t spend here,” she said moving her food around the plate.

  “We know where you are when you aren’t here,” Riley said, now teasing her mother about her relationship with Ken Davidson.

  “Yeah, how is that going, Ava?” Shelby asked with a wide grin. “Is the sex good?” Now it was her turn to start in on the woman.

  “Okay, enough of you two.” She pointed with her fork. “Seriously, Shelby, I think it would be wonderful if you moved in with us.”

  Shelby looked at Ava and then turned to Riley. “I would love to move in, Riley.” Then she turned to Ava. “Thank you.”

  “Thank you, baby,” Riley said excitedly and got out of her chair and pulled Shelby up. “Thank you,” she said kissing her face before she captured her lips in a passionate kiss.

  “Oh brother.” Ava held her head with her hand. “I guess a lot of that is going to go on,” she said motioning with her hand.

  “Yes, and get used to it Ava,” Shelby said going back to Riley’s mouth for another kiss.

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

  Riley’s house was almost completed by the beginning of February and she was going to make sure it was done by Valentine’s Day for her big surprise. She was walking around the new house, touching up spots on the wall when Ken walked into the house. She turned and smiled. “Hi, Ken. How are you?”

  “I’m good, Riley. How about yourself?” He glanced around the room. “The house is really coming along nicely.”

  “I can’t wait for it to be finished.” Riley put down her paintbrush and offered one of the folding chairs in the room for Ken to sit down. She took a seat on the tarp covered floor. “Why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind?”

  Ken looked at her and then smiled. “I want to ask your mother to marry me,” he said so softly.

  “That’s great, Ken.” Riley looked at his face and noticed he didn’t seem excited. “What’s wrong?”

  “Do you think she’ll say yes?” Ken asked keeping his eyes on the floor.

  “Of course she will. She’s in love with you Ken.”

  He finally smiled. “You really think so?”

  Riley got off the floor and put her arm around him. “She won’t say no, Ken. I can guarantee you that.”

  “Has she said something?” Ken asked hopefully.

  “Can I tell you a secret too?” Ken nodded his head. “I’m going to ask Shelby to marry me. I discussed it with my mom and just some of the things she said made me believe that if you asked her, she would say yes.”

  “That’s just great. Fantastic news.” He looked at Riley. “I’m happy for you too, Riley.”

  “I haven’t asked her yet. I plan on asking her on Valentine’s Day.”

  The smile left Ken’s face. “That is when I was going to ask your mother.”

  “Well, I guess we are both going to be very happy that night,” she said with a grin.

  *

  Shelby was working the next two days which was giving Riley enough time to get the furniture delivered and the house cleaned up. She lied and told Shelby that the house wouldn’t be complete until next week. She hated the fact that she had lied, but it was the only way she could keep her surprise from being found out. Riley now sent Shelby a text. “Meet me at the new house.” She knew Shelby would be leaving the hospital at this time.

  As Shelby walked up to the new house, she noticed how great the outside looked. She climbed the tall staircase and walked into the house. “Hello,” she called out entering from the side door. She walked into the dining room and saw the table that she and Riley had picked out. Now she saw the living room furniture and wondered what was going on. She was so distracted seeing the house completed that it took a few minutes to notice the rose petals on the floor. Shelby picked one up and smelled the sweet smell. She now noticed that the petals were leading to the staircase. On the stairs were more petals and she picked up a few more and followed the trail. Shelby noticed the light on in the master bedroom and walked in the door.

  “Hi,” Riley said standing there. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

  “You lied to me,” Shelby said pointing her finger, but couldn’t keep the smile off her face.

  “I wanted to surprise you.” Riley stepped closer to her and smelled the petals in her hand. “Mm. They smell nice.”

  “The entire room smells like roses.” Shelby noticed that the bed was filled with the rose petals and a dozen red roses sat on a vase on her night table.

  Riley now stood right in front of Shelby. “Shelby, you changed my life when you arrived here. I didn’t know how much until you acknowledged that you had feelings for me too. Each day you brought joy into my life. You’ve opened my heart and soul to the love you have for me. I never thought I would be this happy. I love you so much, Shelby and I want to spend the rest of my life with you if you’ll have me.” Riley dropped down to one knee. “Shel
by Klein, would you marry me?” Riley reached into her pocket and took out a ring. Before Riley could show her the ring, Shelby jumped toward her and they both ended up on the floor. “Do I take that as a yes?” she asked laughing.

  “Yes, Riley. I will marry you.” Riley now slipped the ring onto her finger. Her eyes went to the glittering diamonds. “It’s beautiful, Riley.” Her lips came down in a deep kiss. “I love you so much.”

  “I love you too, but can we get up off the floor?”

  Shelby looked down into Riley’s face and couldn’t help kissing her again. When her lips came off her mouth, the green eyes were filled with love and desire. She stood up and held her hand out to her. “So when did you finish all this?” she asked waving her arms.

  “You have worked twelve hour days for the last three days. I told the crew they had to be done before Valentine’s Day and they were great in getting done on Monday. Then I had the furniture delivered and set it up the way we discussed.” She grinned. “I’m sure there is lots of stuff you want to do and maybe move around, but I wanted the house to look like a home when you came in today.”

  “I have some art work that I’ve stored in a storage unit that might go nicely in the house,” Shelby said softly.

  “Whatever you want, Shelby. Add whatever you want because the only thing I care about in this house,” Riley grinned, “is you.”

  “You say the sweetest things.” She kissed Riley’s lips and then looked at the bed. “I hate to mess up the heart you made, but I really need you.”

  Riley looked at her face. “You need me?”

  “Always,” she said just before Riley threw back the covers on the bed and began to undress her. As Riley moved to the zipper on her jeans, she tried to drag Riley’s shorts off. They both giggled as each woman couldn’t wait for the other’s clothes to come off. Finally they both stood there naked and Riley captured Shelby’s mouth in a kiss that sent tingles down to her toes. “I need you, Riley. Please.”

  Riley lowered Shelby to the bed and laid in between her legs. Their kisses deepened and Riley’s hands went to Shelby’s breast. She tweaked her nipple and palmed her until the moans from Shelby’s mouth told her she needed more. Her other hand caressed the skin as she worked her way to the place she knew she would find so wet with need. She teased her clit for only a moment before her fingers found their way home.

  “Yes,” Shelby groaned loudly, “more, please, Riley.”

  Riley added two more fingers and curled inside her which caused Shelby’s hips to move in all directions. As her fingers delved deep into Shelby, her tongue encircled her clit. The moans coming from above her were reaching their peak. She could feel the flutter in her lover and then her body stiffened before it began to shake with a strong orgasm.

  “Riley,” she said. “You’ve been holding out on me,” Shelby lifted her head looking down at the woman she loved.

  Riley crawled up Shelby’s body until they were looking into each other’s eyes. “I had to give you a reason to not back out on your promise to marry me.”

  “After what you just did, you will never have to worry about that.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

  The morning light was coming through the windows the following morning because neither woman had gotten up to close the blinds last night. They made love until they collapsed into a deep sleep. Riley stirred first and looked at Shelby as she continued to sleep. Her face looked relaxed and there was a slight smile on her lips. Kissing Shelby softly, she got up and walked into the master bathroom. The house had a large shower made for two besides the soaking tub that she knew Shelby would enjoy. The marble tiles they had chosen for the bathroom looked elegant and durable. Riley opened the shower door and turned on the water. While the water warmed up, she brushed her teeth. Dressed and ready to meet the new work day, Riley walked quietly through the bedroom and headed downstairs for breakfast. She had just poured a cup of coffee when there was a knock on the side door. “Morning, Mom.”

  “Good morning.” She looked around the room. “Where is Shelby?”

  “Still sleeping.” Riley now poured her mother a cup of coffee. “Do you want breakfast, Mom?”

  “I ate already. I’ve been waiting for movement over here so I could come over.”

  Riley glanced at her mother’s hand. “Is there something you want to tell me, Mom?” she asked pointing at the ring.

  “Ken asked me to marry him last night.” Ava’s face flushed with embarrassment.

  Riley chuckled at her mother’s face. “Mom, I think it’s wonderful. I would say based on you wearing his ring, you said yes.”

  “I did. Do you think I’m nuts?”

  “No.”

  “Riley, I’m fifty-three years old. I shouldn’t be marrying at my age.” Ava’s hands went to her cheeks.

  “Why not, Mom? You love him. He loves you. I think you make a good match.” She patted her mother’s hand. “Besides, I would worry about you being alone in the house now that Shelby agreed to marry me.”

  Ava let out a scream and then covered her mouth remembering Shelby was still sleeping. “When?’

  “I asked her last night,” Riley said wearing a big smile.

  “So we both became engaged last night?” Ava asked surprised by what her daughter had just said.

  “Yep. Isn’t love grand, Mom?” Riley pulled her mother to her. “I love you, Mom and I’m so happy that you are happy.”

  “I am happy, Riley. So happy.”

  “Ken’s a great guy.”

  They both turned when they saw Shelby at the bottom of the stairs. Her hair was sticking out in all angles and she had on a t-shirt and shorts. “What’s going on? I heard a scream,” she said covering her yawn with her hand.

  “I told Mom about us.”

  Shelby looked at her future mother-in law. “Are you upset, Ava?”

  “Of course not.” She pulled Shelby into a fierce hug. “I think it’s wonderful.”

  “Mom, tell her your news.”

  Ava stuck out her left hand and Shelby let out a squeak. “You too?” Shelby now showed Ava her ring. “I can’t believe we both got engaged the same day.”

  “Do you think Ken and Riley had this all planned?” Ava asked Shelby before turning to her daughter.

  “Hey, I had Valentine’s Day chosen before Ken told me he was going to ask you on that day too,” she said holding up her hands.

  “You knew?” Ava asked.

  “He wanted to make sure I was okay with it and that you would say yes,” Riley admitted as she poured a cup of coffee for Shelby.

  “He was worried I would say no?” Ava asked with a slight smile.

  “Yeah. The man is head over heels in love with you and he sounded like a worried teenager asking a girl out for the first time.”

  Ava wiped a tear that escaped and hugged the women again. “You two spend some time together. Riley, I’ll take care of the marina today.”

  “Mom, are you sure?” Riley asked as her hand went around Shelby’s waist.

  “Oh, yeah because I’m taking off tomorrow and the marina will be in your hands.”

  The women laughed. “Hot date with Doctor Ken?”

  “Yes. He’s off and I want to be with him.” Ava said as another blush hit her face.

  “And you deserve to be, Mom. Thanks for giving me off today,” Riley said before Ava slipped out the door.

  EPILOGUE

  Two Years Later

  Shelby just stepped out of the house when she caught sight of Ava. She came down the stairs and called out with a wide smile, “Happy Anniversary, Mom.”

  Ava turned and returned the smile. “Happy Anniversary to you, dear daughter.” Ava’s arm went through Shelby’s as they walked toward the barbecue.

  “Is Ken going to be able to make it today?”

  “Later. Since it was a holiday, he couldn’t get anyone to switch shifts with him.”

  The two couples had been married two years ago on Memorial Day. The ceremony to
ok place on their little beach at the marina. Neither woman wanted anything extravagant. All they wanted was to marry the person they were in love with. Shelby had worn a white summer dress that came to her knee and Riley had on white cotton pants that were rolled up at her ankles. Her turquoise blouse matched the band on Shelby’s dress. A flower crown sat on top of Shelby’s hair. Ava wore a beige dress and Ken wore a pair of cotton pants that matched Ava’s dress. His blue shirt matched the small flowers in Ava’s dress. They were surrounded by close friends and their friends from the marina. Shelby’s sister and her family even made it to the event. Riley had surprised her by inviting them and the happiness she saw in Shelby’s face was all the thanks she needed.

  In the two years since their marriage, Shelby had moved into the administration end of nursing. She wanted normal hours so she and Riley could spend more time together. Her weekends were free and she never had to worry about working a holiday again. Unfortunately for Ava, Ken’s job kept them apart often. Ava had told Shelby that she was fine with his schedule because she had spent so much time without a partner anyway.

  When they reached the area where the barbecue was set up, Shelby’s eyes found Riley at the grill. Sensing she was being watched, Riley turned and smiled at Shelby. She couldn’t believe how much she loved the woman standing in front of her. If someone had told her two years ago she would fall in love with a woman, she would have thought they had lost their mind. Now looking at Riley made her heart squeeze with every smile and every touch.

  Riley turned and spoke to Randy who was standing next to her. Then she walked toward Shelby. “You look beautiful,” she said kissing Shelby’s cheek.

  Shelby looked down at her shorts and tank top wondering what Riley saw that she didn’t. Her arm wrapped around Riley’s waist. “I think you are just picturing me nude and that’s why you made that comment.”

  Riley threw her head back and laughed. “If that were true, I would be dragging you back home in an instant.”