Something about the house drew her in. Its bright blue color reminded her of a summer sky. The wooden fence was painted an inviting white, and the flower beds in the front reminded her of a smile. Her hand opened the car door, and Mathew exited on her tail.
She paced the front yard, looking it over, while the engine of a car rumbled by her at the curb, and Verity turned. The same red car from the first house had followed them here. A woman slipped out of the driver's seat and came around with her hand extended for a shake.
"I'm Jenny, your realtor. This is a beautiful place. Did you want to see the inside?"
"Can we?"
Jenny laughed. "That's what I'm here for."
Mathew grasped her hand and gave it a squeeze. Together they followed the realtor inside the house, and the moment Verity crossed the threshold, she knew it was the one. Large windows allowed bright light inside. Carpet was warm and inviting on the toes. The kitchen was compact, but all the modern pearly cubes were there. They walked into the bedrooms and each was empty but full of possibilities. It was clean, bright, and cozy.
They passed through a patio door and onto a raised back deck. The backyard wasn't large, but big enough for social parties and kids to play. A privacy fence surrounded the property.
"This is the one," Verity said.
"Are you sure? We can take out the carpet, and—"
"I like the carpet," Verity cut in.
"Really?"
"Yeah." Verity tilted her head. "What's wrong with carpet?"
"If you like it, it's great. Jenny, let's put in an offer," Mathew said while his eyes never left Verity's. Affection radiated off him like she was some treasure. He made her feel like the most beautiful, precious thing in the world. She still couldn't believe she was so lucky.
"You haven't seen the bones yet. Water heater, furnace, plumbing…" Jenny insisted.
"It's fine. We can fix anything that needs fixing," Mathew said.
"Great." Jenny clapped her hands together. "I'll get the paperwork started in the kitchen. Come on in when you're ready." Jenny walked back inside with a bounce in her step.
"I have something else for you," Mathew whispered.
"What?" she whispered back like it was some conspiracy.
His hand brought forth a small velvety cube, and he popped it open for her. "I already proposed, but I hadn't bought you a ring first. So, here's the ring to go with my promises. Verity, you make me the happiest guy in the world. Still want to marry me?"
Verity smiled. "Of course."
He slipped the silvery ring with a sparkling clear gem onto her left-hand digit to show the world she was his. It fit just right. After she admired the ring under the sunlight, Mathew leaned in for a kiss. His eyes were hot and sparkling with lust. Verity wrapped her jeweled hand around his neck and pulled him until their lips crushed together. Mathew explored her mouth like it was the first time. He pressed himself against her and heat flooded her body. Just as her lips tingled with the sensation, he pulled back to adjust himself while she blocked the view of any on-lookers, and his eyelids dropped low.
"Let's go inside and sign for our future." Mathew's husky voice charged her core, but business first. Then they would have the whole house to themselves.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Two weeks later...
MATHEW CUT THE thread of the last stitch in the kitten, and while Becca brought the kitten to recovery, he cleaned up. Becca returned and collected the instruments for washing and a turn in the autoclave.
A couple weeks, a court appearance, and an ad in the local newspaper later, and Verity Arris became a real girl. Well, she was officially Verity McCall, and he insisted they leave it because in one more month, he would be giving her his name anyway.
Even though Mathew could afford a dream wedding, even after setting aside capital gains taxes for Uncle Sam, a simple courthouse wedding was all Verity wanted, and Mathew was thrilled. He didn't want a big shindig anyway. The leftover cash plus what April had left him, meant there was plenty for what he really wanted Verity to have.
"Thanks for the hand in surgery today, Becca," Mathew said while snapping off his gloves.
"It's no problem. April did the same for me." He remembered April covering surgery for Becca when she was with child.
"Are you doing okay? Is Brad okay?"
"Brad and I are getting divorced. It's for the better since we've drifted apart the last few months and too much keeps reminding him of the loss."
"I'm sorry. Do you need time off? I heard you were planning on moving away."
Becca's head snapped to him while Mathew tossed his gloves in the trash and removed his paper face mask.
"Who told you that?"
"I just overheard, on accident."
"I'm staying now. Brad's moving."
"Don't stay on my account. Verity is quite capable."
"She is great. So different too. Where did you find her?"
Mathew chuckled. He wasn't expecting to answer a question like that. "Let's just say a friend introduced us."
"What about April? She's doing good too?" Becca tugged off her paper mask and tossed her gloves in the trash too.
Mathew inhaled deep. "Yeah. She's great."
They both balled up their paper gowns, stuffed them in the trash, and removed their shoe covers. Mathew dropped into his rolling chair at his desk to report the surgical findings and rubbed Snoopy on the head. Mr. Van Grunden never paid and opted to surrender the dog instead, so now Snoopy was the office mascot who came home with him and Verity every night.
He logged into Quickbooks and downloaded the data. Things were great. The expenses were getting better. Mathew stopped sending payments to April. He wasn't rich by any means, but he could buy Verity a replacement plum cocktail dress without concerning himself with the credit card balance—because there wasn't one.
Mathew stepped out to reception and found Becca had already left. It was unfortunate her marriage failed, and he didn't know the details, but Mathew knew she was in good hands with Kiko.
As for Mathew, he had one surprise left.
"Verity," he said.
"Hmmm." Verity was nose deep in the computer, ever the hard worker.
"I've got something for you. A honeymoon."
"What's that?" Her big green eyes and golden freckles flicked up to him and Mathew's heart skipped a few beats, like a teenager in love for the first time.
"I'm taking you on a trip." He handed her the printed airline tickets. She didn't understand apps yet. "To the Marshall Gold Discovery state park in California. You'll see the 1849 Gold Rush."
"It's still going on?" Her eyes widened in shock.
Mathew laughed. "No. The site is preserved, like a museum. Doc said he doesn't want you flying too far into the pregnancy, so we fly out on Friday. Pack your bags. We're crossing the Rockies."
"No wagons needed?"
"No cannibalism either."
"Well, where's the fun in that?" Verity laughed and placed a maternal hand on her lower belly. It was just starting to show. Mathew's gears fired up at the sight. He loved her belly, and we wanted so many children with her. Heat rushed and his erection woke up, hardening under his dress pants.