California Connection 2 (Califronia Connection) Read Online Free PDF

all of me. I had to give her a part of me that no other woman ever had. There were times when I felt like shit, less than a fucking man, and I took that frustration out on her, but no matter what, she still was there encouraging me. She was at my bedside each day, feeding me at mealtime. Although she had no proper training, she would beat the nurses to giving me a bath and assisting me to the bathroom. I always knew Jewel was that down-ass bitch, but now I felt like I owed her big time.

Chapter 6
     
    “Here Comes the Bride”
     
    Jewel
    “ C ome on, baby.” I helped Touch out of bed and into a standing position so that he could use his walker.
    He had made a lot of progress over the past few weeks. He’d gone from being totally dependent to walking, bathing, eating, dressing, and basically doing everything on his own. Although Touch was recovering, I still had a deep hatred for Calico, and I wasn’t going to be happy until he paid for his deed.
    Touch’s mother walked through the front door.
    “Hey, Ma!” I said.
    Touch’s mother would come over periodically to give me a break. That gave me an opportunity to do any errands I may have. I refused to leave Touch alone until I was sure he could bust a nigga ass if he had to. Until then he would never be alone. I’d purchased extra guns and placed them throughout the house for added protection. I’d even gone as far as to teach his mom how to shoot. This nigga Calico had just tried to take Touch’s life, and there was no way I was gonna take a chance of him coming back to finish the job.
    “Okay, baby, I’ll be right back.” I kissed Touch and then headed toward the front door prepared to set the alarm on my way out. Although we lived in a prominent high-end neighborhood, crime had no address, so I needed to protect my man at all costs.
    “Wait!” Touch called out as though he was in pain.
    “What’s wrong, baby?” I said in a panic.
    “Come sit next to me.” Touch patted on a stool at the breakfast bar next to him. “I wanted to wait ’til my mom was here before I did this.”
    Confused, I slowly walked toward him and sat on the stool as he requested. I watched as he struggled to dig an item from out of his pocket. I immediately reached out to assist him.
    “No, baby,” he said, resisting. “I got it.” He then finally pulled out a small box. “This isn’t the way I dreamed of doing things, but this can’t wait any longer. You’ve shown me love that no other woman, other than my mother, has ever shown me. We’ve shared good and bad times, and between it all, you stood your ground as my ride-or-die chick. Jewel, I love you, baby, and I can never repay you for your loyalty, but I can give you all of me for the rest of my life. If you would accept, I would love for you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”
    My eyes filled with water, and it felt like someone was literally tugging at my heart. “Yes, baby. Of course, I will be your wife.”
    We kissed each other passionately.
    My ring was beautiful. Touch had outdone himself. As soon as I’d seen the name Harry Winston, I knew there was no way I could be disappointed. He was a celebrity jeweler, so I knew Touch couldn’t go wrong with him. I opened the box to see a 14-karat white gold princess and baguette matching ring and band set with a total weight of eight carats. I immediately placed the ring on my finger and admired it, leaving the band in the box for our actual wedding day.
    “Well, it looks like I’m finally getting my wish,” Touch’s mom said. She’d always wanted me as a daughter-in-law.
    Way back when Touch and I were truly platonic friends, I could remember his mother constantly saying, “Boy, I sure wish you were my daughter-in-law.”
    “Now get out of here and go do your wifely duties. Get me some groceries, woman!” Touch said in a playful tone.
    I grabbed my Gucci bag and headed out the door and made my way to Wal-Mart. Like always, the Wal-Mart parking lot was full, and