Knight Vision by Johanna Bock Page B

park.  They had both came to the same conclusion. 
              “Just how are you going to ask him about the ring?“ Leah asked a moment later.
              “I don’t know,“ Annie admitted.  “But, I will ask him tonight, somehow.“
              Annie said goodbye to Leah and thanked her for listening; she assured Leah she would keep her informed.  She knew she couldn’t delay her return home much longer; besides, she had to get ready for her evening with Jeff.
     
    ***

 
    Chapter Thirteen
     
    To Annie’s surprise, there were no questions forthcoming from her parents when she arrived home.  Surmising that her mother had run interference with her father, she silently thanked her for the gesture.  She completed her weekend chores without much interaction with anyone in the house. 
    She was ready early for her date with Jeff.  This time, no one would beat her to the door.  In fact, she wanted to be waiting outside for him in order to stop further contact between Jeff and her parents.  While she waited, she glanced out the front window of her house and her thoughts turned to the dreaded ring.  What if Mom was wrong?  Neither Leah nor herself had seen the ’ring.’  The more she thought about it, the more she convinced herself that her mother had to be wrong.  Her mother must be getting senile or her eyesight was playing tricks on her. 
    The sounds of his car, coming to stop in front of her house, caused her heart to flip-flop.  He was here!  He really was here!  Her thoughts did a quick analysis of the cause of her heart’s reaction as she watched from the front window.  She found the reason for it; she had firmly believed she would never see him again.  Her thoughts were supported by her mother’s report of his ring and by the possibility he was turned off by the their lovemaking. 
    Draping her jacket over her arm, she grabbed her purse and exited the house.  When she reached the end of the walkway, he was getting out of his car.  Turning, he saw her, and his face literally beamed with delight.  He walked to her with open arms.  Without hesitation, Annie walked into his embrace.
    “Honey, I’ve missed you.  Are you recovered from last night?“ he whispered into her ear. 
    She could only nod against his neck, thinking she didn’t care if he was married.  This is exactly where she belonged.  She released him, saying, “We should go.“
    “Okay,“ he said, guiding her to the passenger door with his left hand on the small of her back. 
    As they walked the short distance to the door, she visualized his hand on her back.  Was there a ring?   she questioned.  As he opened the door for her, she spotted two, long-stem, red roses on the seat.  “Jeff,“ she gasped.  “Two?“
    “When I went to work this morning, I found the rose on the floorboard,“ he explained. 
    “Silly me.  What was I thinking?“ she stated, gazing at him and smiling. 
    “Got me,“ he responded, winking at her and then dipping into the car to retrieve the roses with his right hand.
    “Why two?“
    “As I said, when I spotted it, it looked so sad and lonely.  Nothing should ever be alone.  I just had to get it a mate,“ he explained.  “They have been together all day, waiting for your loving care.“
    “Oh…Words Man,“ she sighed, taking the roses from him and kissing him. 
    “I have something else for you,“ he said softly, backing out of their kiss.  Annie’s eyes dropped.  “Yes,“ he responded, laughing deeply at seeing her eye movement, “but, something for now.  That is for later.“
    Her face turned hot.  What made her do that?  It was so not like her.  “You are blushing,“ Jeff whispered.  She nodded her head, unable to bring head up to look into his eyes.  “You are cute when you blush,“ he responded to her nod, reaching out and lifting her head to see her face. 
    Gazing deeply into his eyes, she was so lost that she barely heard