Sweet Heat Rising (Thoroughbred Men Series) (18 page)

Sarah sat there dumbfounded. She could not believe it was over and that she was okay, especially when she thought not thirty minutes ago that she might not make it. That she may never see Matt again. Her hands started shaking and she started crying softly. She put her head down in her hands and let the floodgates open.

Matt dropped the mop and came around the corner, gathering her into his arms. “Baby, are you hurt?”  She shook her head and clung to him for a few minutes.

Sarah’s voice trembled. “When Tyler pulled the gun on me, I was afraid I would never see you again. That this,” gesturing between the two of them, “was over, because of him.” Sarah wiped her eyes. “I do not want this between us to end and it scared me. I thought I was a dead woman,” she said softly and closed her eyes, trying to let it all sink in that she was going to be okay and it was over.

Matt held Sarah as she drew several shaky breaths. He leaned back onto his heels, rocked to his core by what she said. He confessed, “I do not want us to ever end either. When I came around the corner and they were wheeling out a body bag, I was terrified it was you,” he said softly. “I don't want to ever worry or wonder if you are happy, if you are okay, or if you are safe. I want to make sure you are all of those things and more, baby,” he continued.

Matt reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a small box. “I was going to do this romantically and come up with some creative way so you would be overwhelmed and have to say yes but I cannot really express it any more than just telling you and showing you how much I love you ever day for the rest of our lives. I do not want to wait another day to know you are mine,” he said, caressing her cheek as she sat there. “Baby, open your eyes” he said lovingly, and leaned up to kiss her.

Sarah opened her watery eyes slowly, and looked at Matt. “I want you to be my wife, I want to tell the world that you are mine,” he said reverently and opened the box towards her. Inside the small box, sat a Victorian ring with a small oval diamond set deep in the setting. The setting was white gold and the diamond had a been cut several times that it was covered in facets that caught the light easily.

Sarah gasped and threw her arms around his neck. Matt laughed and squeezed her tightly, still holding the ring. “Does that mean yes?” he said happily, removing the ring from the box and holding her hand. “Sarah Marie Donnally, will you do me the honor of being my wife?” he said officially and slipped the small ring onto her fourth finger.

Sarah looked at the lovely ring as it glistened. “Oh, yes,” she whispered. “I love you.”

Matt whooped and picked her up, spinning her around and kissing her. “I do not want to wait, unless you need to?” he said anxiously, “I want our life and memories to start as soon as possible...can I drag you to the courthouse in the morning?” he half joked, half serious.

Sarah laughed, “I guess I could make it after the morning rush?” she said teasing him. She loved to make him smile and could not wait for their lives to start together. 

Caramel Cake

5 eggs

4 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 cup granulated sugar

3 teaspoon salt

4 teaspoon vanilla extract

2/3 cup of buttermilk

3 sticks of butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter and flour two 10” cake pans and line the bottom with parchment paper.  In medium bowl, mix all dry ingredients.

In stand mixer with paddle attachments, beat the butter with both sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Mixture should be light and have substantially increased in volume.

Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternating each on low speeds. Scrape down bowl and add vanilla, mix again at low speed until incorporated. Spread mixture evenly in both pans and cook for approximately 55 minutes.

—— “The wedding cake book by Dede Wilson”

Ginny Sterling is a Texas transplant living in Kentucky. She spends her free time (Ha!) Writing, quilting, spending time with her husband and two children. Ginny can be reached on Facebook or via email at [email protected]