Greater Than Rubies, a Novella inspired by the Jewel Trilogy Read Online Free PDF Page B

“We are married in my heart. The rest is just ceremony and tradition. But, yes, of course. We can wait. Your car should be back soon. Apparently, it only needs the engine and transmission replaced. And new tires, of course.” She stepped forward and let him wrap her up in his arms. He smelled so good, and she buried her face in his neck and just breathed. “And brakes. And that back door and window fixed. Just a few details like that.”
    “Tony …” she warned.
    Tony cleared his throat. “ Cara , I need to talk to you about something. A bit more serious than your inexplicable anger that I took care of your car for you, if I may.”
    She lifted her head, but before she could step back, he framed her face with his hands and leaned forward and kissed her. She wondered if there would ever come a day that the feel of his lips didn’t warm her body all the way to her soul. Would her heart ever not pause between beats in her chest just long enough to trip forward at an impossible rate? Would her skin ever not tingle for want of his touch? As she stepped closer and deepened the kiss, her arms slipped around his neck and she sighed.
    Tony lifted his head and looked at her, his eyes so dark they looked nearly black. He stared at her for a long time before giving her another quick kiss and stepping away.
    Robin smiled. “You need to talk to me about something?”
    “Yes.” He pulled out a chair at the conference table and gestured toward it. Robin sat down and he sat next to her. “Last month, when I was in my old neighborhood, I met a boy. A young man, that is.”
    Robin grimaced, knowing exactly why he’d been in that neighborhood. “Go on.”
    “The Holy Spirit spoke to me, almost audibly, and told me to reach out to him. I gave him my card and told him to come see me when he turned eighteen. His birthday was yesterday.”
    Robin cocked her head, a little confused. “Did he come see you?”
    “Yes. He’s been here since about eight-thirty.”
    “And?”
    Tony reached for her hand. She placed it in his. He ran his thumb over the sapphire. “And, I’m going to bring him home with me tonight. I’ve been gutting the apartment rooms, prepping for you and your sisters. Maxine let me know at church Sunday that she will not be moving in with us because she’s purchasing that place on Newbury Street. Since I’d already started the work on a suite of rooms for her, I have the space nearly ready. I’m going to offer him a job and a home.”
    She felt her eyes widen. “Wow.” Knowing people, and the neighborhood where Tony met this boy, she leaned forward. “Is this wise?”
    Tony smiled and ran a finger down her cheek. “Is it wise to listen to the counsel of the Holy Spirit? I feel good saying yes to that.”
    Robin sandwiched his hand with both of hers. “Then I trust you, and Him.” She smiled. “You are a good man, and I love your heart. I can’t wait to marry you.”
    Tony brought her hands up to his mouth and kissed each one. “Thank you, cara . You do my heart good.”
    She stood. “I’ll let you get back to him. What is his name?”
    “Derrick.” He stood with her. “Derrick DiNunzio. If you can meet us at the apartment in a couple of hours, that would be wonderful. My interior designer is there with a few contractors working as quickly as possible to get a room ready for him. I’m sure she’d appreciate some authoritative direction.”
    She mentally rearranged her day. “Okay. I’ll go by there.”
    “Can you enlist Maxine? He’ll need clothes. She might enjoy taking him shopping with my credit card.”
    “I’ll call her as soon as I get to the car.” She put a hand on his cheek and leaned forward, pressing her lips to his. “Don’t forget that I want my old car back.”
    Tony sighed. “I haven’t forgotten. I’ll wait to have it crushed until the day after we get married.”
    She laughed as she put her purse over her shoulder. “Don’t say that too loud before the wedding or she