Rubies are Forever - Part 2
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Author: Ava
E-mail: mmmThatAJ@yahoo.com
Rating: PG-13
Summary: AJ receives a letter from a woman
claiming to be his fiancée, so he goes to
her home to investigate.
Author's comments: Once I started thinking
about movie remakes, I can't seem to stop!
This one is based very loosely on the 1930 movie,
"The Flirting Widow". Characters'
speaking parts are in double quotes ("text");
characters' thoughts are in single quotes
('text').
Disclaimer: JAG and all its characters
belong to Belisarius Productions, Paramount,
CBS, Viacom, and probably endless others.
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Friday, 13 February 2004
1735 EST
Jones Residence
Onego, West Virginia
AJ and Ruby stood in front of the blazing
fireplace to warm themselves. "I can't
believe you two didn't know enough to come
in out of a snow storm!" clucked Maggie.
"You'd think you were a couple of love-struck
teenagers for all the sense you showed!"
AJ grinned at Ruby and she giggled. She knew,
at least for her part, that she was indeed
love-struck. She looked at AJ, her heart
in her eyes, and he felt humbled. This woman
who had saved herself all these years for
one man was falling for him. He had no doubt
at all that Ruby would be a faithful wife
when she married. He'd never walk in on her
having just lain with another man. Yes, this
relationship was definitely worth pursuing.
The phone rang and Ginny Lou
picked up the receiver. "Hello?"
It was Clyde calling from the
Lucky Shoe. "Ginny Lou, I'm on my way to pick you up. Snow's
gettin' bad out there. They already done closed the pass down the
mountain. I don't want us to get stuck spendin' Valentine's Day apart
neither, so you be ready and we'll leave for home as soon as I get there."
"Why don't we just stay
here, Clyde?" Ginny didn't want to miss a moment of the happenings in
this house tonight! "You come on, and we'll just stay here."
Jones heard this and took the
phone from his youngest. "Clyde? How bad is it?" he
barked.
"Pretty bad, Sir. They
already done closed the pass down the mountain," he repeated.
"You coming to collect your
wife?"
"Yes, Sir. That's why
I called. But Ginny Lou, she wants us to just stay there. That be
okay with you, Sir?"
Jones sighed. He knew why. "Sure,
why not. Come on ahead. Hey,
do me a favor. Stop at Cooper's and
get Pete; bring him along with you.
He's a maniac driving in snow, and I don't
want Maggie Lee in the truck with him in
her condition." Maggie's ears
perked up hearing her husband's name.
"Sure thing, Sr. I'll
get him and we'll be to the house by 6:00."
"Good," and he hung up.
"Daddy!" cried
Ginny. "I didn't get to say goodbye!" she pouted.
"He'll be here in a half
hour, Girl. Don't be a ninny."
"He's picking up Pete?"
asked Maggie.
Jones nodded. "You'll
all stay here the night. Snow's getting bad."
AJ turned around, tearing his
eyes away from Ruby. "I guess I'd better be going then..."
"Can't! Pass down the
mountain's already closed," Jones informed him. "You'll have to
stay the night."
Ginny giggled, "Probably the
whole weekend!"
AJ turned surprised eyes to Ruby,
but it was Maggie who answered, "When they close the pass, it's always for
at least two days. Usually longer," she grinned.
"Is that the only way to get
back down the mountain?" AJ asked. "Surely there's another
road..."
"Nope," Jones
said. "But I wouldn't worry; this storm isn't likely to be a bad
one. I imagine the pass will be open by Sunday afternoon. Monday,
for sure."
"Is there a motel around
here where I can get a room?"
"A motel!?!" exclaimed
Ginny.
And Maggie asked at the same
time, "What do you want to go to a motel for?"
Jones shook his head, "No fiancé
of Ruby Mae's is going to stay at the rat trap this town calls a motel.
You'll stay here," he insisted.
AJ turned to Ruby. "I
couldn't impose on you all like that. You didn't even know I was coming
today," he shook his head.
Ruby smiled, "It's no
imposition at all, AJ. And I'm glad you did come." She turned
to her sisters. "I don't suppose you all started dinner?"
They looked at each other guiltily and then back at Ruby Mae, shaking their
heads. "I didn't think so," she sighed. "Well, I'd
best get to it then."
AJ reached in his pocket and
pulled out his cell phone. "No signal up here," he commented.
"You need to call
someone?" asked Jones.
AJ nodded, "I really
ought to call my office and let them know where I'll be over the weekend."
"They can't survive without
you for a weekend?" teased Maggie.
Jones frowned at his
daughter. "You're welcome to use the house phone, Admiral."
"Thank you, Sir. But
please, call me 'AJ'."
AJ picked up the receiver and dialed his office as he answered Maggie.
"I'm always on call, Maggie. And my office needs to know where to
reach me." Coates answered his call. "It's me,
Coates. Anything happening?"
"Good afternoon,
Admiral. The SecNav called about an hour ago, Sir. Something about a
call from the President."
"The President?" AJ
repeated. "He probably wants to know the status in Okinawa. Who
talked to him?"
"He spoke to Commander
Turner in your absence, Sir. And the Commander told him that the Colonel
and Commander Rabb were handling things out there. Commander Turner said that everything was
under control; no need to disturb your day off."
"Good, good," AJ
nodded. "Should you need to reach me this weekend, you'll need to
call this number. My cell can't get a signal up here."
"Up here, Sir?" Coates
asked. Then she looked at the Caller ID on her phone set.
"Welford Jones, Onego, West Virginia?" she read.
"That's right. You
have the number, too?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Good. Use it if you
have to." Then he decided to be specific. "Only if you have
to, Coates. I don't want to be disturbed."
"Aye, aye, Sir."
"I expect to be back in the
office on Monday, but that will depend on when they open the pass down the
mountain."
"The pass?"
"We're having a snow storm,
Petty Officer, and the road is closed going down the mountain. When it
opens, I'll head for home. Until then, you can reach me here."
"Aye, aye, Sir."
AJ hung up and followed Ruby into
the kitchen. "Ruby, I don't want to put you to any trouble. I
can just go to the motel. Believe me, after bunking outside in Vietnam in
the bush, there's not a motel room that isn't acceptable to me."
"It's no trouble, AJ,
really. But I can understand if you'd rather not stay here," she
lowered her eyes and bit her upper lip. "I'll hurry dinner so at
least you'll have a warm meal in your stomach when you leave." She
turned away, hoping he hadn't seen the tears forming in her eyes.
But he had. He moved around
her and pulled her into his arms. "Ruby, if you're sure it's no
trouble?" She looked up hopefully and shook her head. "You
have so much you do here, so many to take care of..."
"I'm used to it.
Doesn't bother me a bit."
"I just hate to add to
it..."
"What's one more bed to
make?" she quipped.
"I'm more than capable of
making my own bed, Darlin'," he chuckled.
"Oh!" she gulped,
suddenly realizing that with both sisters and their husbands here tonight, there
wouldn't be an extra bed.
"What's wrong?"
She smiled. "Not a
thing."
"What can I do to help you
in here?" he offered, letting the other pass.
"You can sit and talk to
me," she replied, opening the pantry door and dragging the potato basket
across the floor.
AJ was at her side in a
flash. "I can also peel potatoes." He picked up a knife
from the counter and grabbed a potato.
"Did you used to do that
before you became an Admiral?" she laughed.
AJ nodded. "Long
before. Before the Navy, actually. I was the official potato peeler
at the Chegwidden house while I was growing up."
"Really? You did work
in the kitchen?"
AJ quirked an eyebrow.
"I'm very accomplished in the kitchen, I'll have you know."
"That's a switch!" she
giggled. "I'll be right back." Ruby returned to the living
room and found her siblings exactly where she left them. They were staring
at the phone. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Ruby Mae! Do you know
just how important your Admiral really is in Washington?" hissed Maggie.
Ruby was surprised at the
question. "Yes, I do. He's very important. He's a
two-star Admiral. He's the Judge Advocate General for the entire Navy and
Marine Corps. He reports to the Secretary of the Navy," she spouted
off. "He's a very important man," she said
proudly.
"He gets calls from the
President!" Ginny informed her.
Ruby smiled. "I'm not
surprised." Her sisters gaped at her. Never in their wildest
dreams did they imagine that Ruby's Admiral was so important. "Would
one of you mind getting my stuff together from my room? I'll sleep down
here on the sofa tonight; the Admiral will take my room."
Ginny and Maggie jumped to their
feet. "Sure, Ruby Mae! We can do that." "Want
us to change the sheets, too?" they said at the same time.
Now that surprised
Ruby. She didn't remember their ever offering to change the bed
linens. "No, that's okay. I changed all the beds this morning
and put fresh towels in the bathroom. But thank you for the offer,"
she smiled brightly.
Ruby returned to the kitchen and
found that AJ had already peeled almost a dozen potatoes! "How did
you do that so fast?" she asked in amazement.
He grinned, "I told you, I'm
very accomplished in the kitchen."
Ruby laughed. "Do you
snap beans?"
"Of course."
"Well, then... I need two
dozen potatoes, and then you can snap the beans for me."
"Yes, Ma'am," he
winked.
They bantered back and forth as
the couple prepared dinner for Ruby's family. Twice, her father came in
the kitchen and tried to get AJ to join him in the living room. But AJ
refused both times saying he'd like to stay with Ruby. None of them could
believe this man of such great importance to the country was in their kitchen
helping to prepare dinner! Maggie tried once to get him to come to the
living room, saying that Pete and Clyde had just arrived, and Pete would like to
meet AJ.
AJ replied, "That'd be fine,
Maggie Lee. Bring him on in."
"Here? To the
kitchen?" she gasped.
AJ chuckled as he dried his hands
on a towel. "Sure, why not?"
"Pete never steps foot in a
kitchen!"
AJ walked up behind Ruby, whose
hands were busy with forming biscuits. He nuzzled her neck and she giggled
in delight. "His loss!" AJ quipped as he turned her around to
kiss her.
"AJ! The
biscuits!" she squealed.
Maggie was thrilled to see her older sister
so happy. She went back into the living
room. "You won't believe it!"
she gushed.
"Believe what?" asked
Pete.
"What's going on in
there?" asked Clyde.
"Good God, what's she got
him doing now?" her father shook his head.
"Come on... you have
to see this!" Maggie pulled on her husband's arm. Ginny took Clyde's
hand and pulled him. And all five went to spy on the couple in the
kitchen. What they saw surprised them all, even Maggie... and she'd just
seen the Admiral nuzzling her sister's neck.
AJ's arms were wrapped around
Ruby Mae, one hand at the small of her back and the other at the back of her
head. Her arms were twined around his neck, her hands rubbing his bald
head leaving bits of biscuit dough in the stubble fringe on the sides.
Their bodies were pressed so closely together, Maggie was sure a piece of paper
couldn't fit between them. But what really startled them all was seeing
AJ's tongue licking Ruby's lips and then disappearing inside her mouth... and
hearing Ruby's moan of pleasure.
But when Ruby moaned, Ginny and
Maggie sighed... and AJ heard them. He jerked back and the couple stared
at their audience. Ruby blushed furiously and turned back to the counter
so she wouldn't have to face her family. She quickly washed her hands and
went back to forming the biscuits.
AJ's breathing was shallow and
his eyes were dark as he glared at her family, daring any of them to make a
comment. Ruby's father understood that look only too well. He'd had
it often enough when he and Ruby's mother were interrupted like this.
"Come on, children. Let's leave them alone. They haven't had
much time for themselves in a long while. Leave them be."
AJ continued staring at the
doorway after they left. That kiss had shaken him to the core. It
had started innocently enough, but as Ruby responded so willingly, he had pulled
her in... and they'd quickly spiraled almost out of control. 'This
wasn't supposed to happen,' he told himself. 'Then why did you come
up here?' his conscience asked again. 'You wanted to see what would
happen, and you know it!'
"I'm sorry," he heard
Ruby's whispered voice.
He turned to face her, but her
back was to him. "You're sorry for what, Ruby?"
"That they walked in on us
like that," she said immediately. "And that I..." she
faltered and hung her head. "I'm sorry," she repeated.
AJ slid his arms around her waist
from behind. "I'm not." He heard her sniff quietly.
"Well, I'm sorry they walked in on us and that it embarrassed you.
But I'm not sorry for kissing you like that." When she didn't
respond, he whispered, his voice taking on a hurt tone, "Should I be?"
She shook her head.
"I've never felt like this before," she confessed.
"I have. But it's been
a very long time." She turned in his arms at that statement, her eyes
asking the unspoken question. "I was married once, a long time
ago. I felt this way about Marcella. I haven't felt it since she
left me when our daughter was not quite two." Ruby's eyes softened
into compassion. He was glad it wasn't pity. "Francesca is 28
now," he told her, seeing her eyes mentally calculate how long he'd been
divorced. "I've been involved with women since then... even engaged
to be married once, just last year, in fact... but I've never felt this for any
of them."
"But we hardly know each
other," she said pragmatically. "And I'm only two years older
than your daughter. How could we..."
"Be in love?" he
finished her question. She nodded. "Your age doesn't bother me
in the least. Does mine bother you?" he asked. She shook her
head. AJ continued, "It happened this fast when
I fell for Marcella," he remembered. He'd forgotten that fact.
"But will it last?" she
dared.
He smiled down at her.
"Absolutely," and he covered her lips with his.
Friday, 13 February 2004
2145 EST
Jones Residence
Onego, West Virginia
The group of seven sat in the living room,
AJ and Ruby being the topic of discussion
most of the evening. "So, tell
us, Admiral," Pete started, "how'd
you git up with our little Ruby Mae after
your accident last year? We all know
she helped you into the Lucky Star, but then
you was whisked away in an amb'lance.
None of us figgered we'd ever see you again."
AJ wondered if Ruby had gone into any detail
about that with her sisters. He glanced
at her, sitting next to him on the sofa,
his arm around her shoulders. Ruby
smiled adoringly at AJ. 'Guess not,' he decided. "Well, you know that
Ruby came to Washington last year?" he asked.
"Yeah, a couple times,"
agreed Pete.
AJ grinned. "She came
to my office. Took a tour of the building, actually."
"Oh, my God!" squealed
Maggie. "Ruby, you didn't say a word!!"
"And you saw her and whisked
her away to your office!" Ginny provided, excitedly.
"Well, not exactly," AJ
chuckled. "But I would have if I'd had any sense."
"Ruby Mae," Jones
reprimanded, "I cannot believe that you went to the man's office without
his invitation! You pursued him?!"
Ruby blushed slightly and
nodded. "I'm afraid I did, Daddy."
AJ tightened his grip on Ruby's
shoulders. "Mr. Jones, I can't begin to tell you how very glad I am
that your daughter did pursue me." He leaned over and kissed
her. "Very glad, indeed," he whispered to her.
"Then what?" pressed
Pete.
Ruby picked up the story.
"We spent a lot of time together while I was there in November," she
lied.
AJ shook his head, "Not
enough, though." She laughed shyly. "I wish we'd had a lot
more time together then."
"And just before you left to
come home, he proposed!" offered Ginny. When the men looked at her
questioningly, she defended herself, "Well, that's what Ruby Mae said back
in November! Didn't she, Maggie?"
Maggie agreed. "Sure
did." Then her eyes brightened. "Did you bring your
mother's ring?" she blurted out, looking at AJ.
"Oh, yes!" gushed
Ginny. "Your mother's engagement ring!"
AJ felt Ruby stiffen against
him. 'Ah,' he thought to himself. 'I wonder why I didn't
give it to her in November?' He said aloud, "No, I'm afraid I
didn't." He turned to Ruby and said gently, "I'm sorry,
Darlin'. I do want you to have it. I just... well, our being apart
for so long... I wanted to be sure you still felt the same way. And I
thought my showing up with Mom's ring would put undue pressure on you, which was
the last thing I wanted." Ruby shivered and tears sprang to her
eyes. She couldn't believe this man! He was absolutely
incredible! She looked up into his eyes just as a tear slipped out of her
right eye. He reached up and wiped it away with his thumb. "I
love you, Ruby," he couldn't help but tell her.
Ruby gasped lightly at his
confession... and in front of her family! Or... was it just for show? She looked into his eyes.
No, he meant it. She was sure he did. Could she answer him? Should
she? Before her brain caught up with her heart, she said, "And I love
you, AJ."
"So the ring is still on
deposit at the bank?" asked Ginny.
"Not 'on deposit', Ginny
Lou; in a safe deposit box," Maggie corrected.
AJ nodded as he thought how
comical it was. He did have his mother's rings, and they were
in the safe deposit box at the bank in McLean!
"What kind of stone is
it?" Ginny asked.
"A diamond, of course!"
Maggie told her. Then she turned to AJ. "Right?"
AJ shook his head. "No, actually,
it's not. Well, there are diamonds,
but the primary stone..." He turned
to Ruby Mae and buried his fingers in her
red tresses. "The primary stone
is a ruby."
Another tear slipped down Ruby's
cheek. This time, AJ stood up and pulled her with him. "If
you'll excuse us?" He put his arm around her waist and they began
walking out of the room.
Ever the insensitive clod, Pete
intruded by saying, "So, Admiral! What kind of gas mileage you get on
that monstrosity out front?"
Maggie rolled her eyes at her
husband, "Oh, Pete..."
"What?" he asked,
clueless. "You ever want to get a real truck, you come see me down at
Cooper's. I'll put you in a Chevy."
AJ chuckled and he replied,
"I'll keep that in mind, Pete. Thanks." But he never took
his eyes off of Ruby, and they didn't stop walking until they were back in the
kitchen. Ruby looked a little surprised at their destination, until AJ
said, "I didn't think I ought to do this in front of your
father." And he crushed her to his chest, taking full possession of
her body. It excited Ruby, and she responded with wanton abandon.
AJ picked her up and set her on
the end of the counter. He moved his hands to her breasts and gently
kneaded them through her blouse. He groaned in frustration that he
couldn't touch her skin, but he was rewarded when her nipples pebbled at his
touch. Ruby moaned her pleasure, "Oh, AJ..."
He parted her legs, pushing her
skirt up, and stood between them, pressing against her. Ruby was panting now, completely terrified at what he was doing to
her and yet not wanting to stop him. He unbuttoned her blouse and pulled
it apart, revealing her lace-covered bra. Ruby shivered in
anticipation.
But when AJ raised his eyes to
Ruby's and saw her fear... yet complete trust... he gently rebuttoned her
blouse. His eyes never left hers as he pulled her clothing back
together. "Lock your door tonight, Ruby," he said softly,
smoothing her skirt back down to her knees.
She looked surprised and
smiled. "You'll be staying in my room, AJ. I'm sleeping
downstairs on the sofa."
AJ swallowed hard. "I
don't think that's a good idea. I'll take the sofa; you stay in your
room."
"But why?" she asked
innocently.
AJ placed one hand on her breast. "Because the lock is on the wrong side of the door,
Darlin'."
Ruby pushed into his hand as understanding
dawned in her eyes. "Oh,"
she squeaked. AJ helped her off the
counter and took a step ahead of her.
Suddenly Ruby started giggling behind him.
He turned puzzled eyes to her. "You
have biscuit dough on your head!" she
laughed.
"What?" AJ reached his hand
up to run over his head and felt the dried
dough. "How in the world...?"
Then it occurred to him.
"Come here, let me wash it
off," Ruby offered. AJ grabbed a chair and pulled it to the
sink. He sat with his back to Ruby while she used a washcloth to wipe him
clean.
"What in the world are you
two doing in here?" asked Maggie, rounding the corner without warning.
"Getting biscuit dough off
AJ's head, of course!" Ruby giggled
in response.
Saturday, 14 February 2004
0100 EST
Jones Residence
Onego, West Virginia
AJ lay wide awake on the sofa in the living
room. His thoughts churned over and over
in his mind, battling with each other. One
minute he imagined himself happily married
to Ruby, her belly swollen with his child.
The next minute he berated himself for having
forced himself on her in the kitchen. Then
he remembered how wonderful her lips felt
against his. Next he blamed himself for confusing
her about her emotions. He chastised himself for not just ignoring
the letter when he realized who it was from;
it obviously hadn't been meant to reach him. 'Damn, but I'm glad it did.'
AJ punched the pillow under his head and
rolled over. Lucky raised her head and whined.
"It's all right, Girl. Go back to sleep,"
he told her, reaching down and patting her
head. She thumped her tail twice and it echoed
through the dark room.
He was surprised when Ruby brought all the
dogs inside before dinner, including Lucky.
He expected they probably stayed outside
all the time. But she had fed them all in
the kitchen, and they'd been right there
with the family in the living room all evening.
When it was time for bed, he thought surely
she'd put them back outside or at least out
in the barn. He chuckled as he remembered
the appalled look on Ruby's face when he
suggested that. "AJ! It's not even 5
degrees outside! Of course they'll stay inside tonight!"
Her father had guffawed at that response,
"Tonight?! Those dogs stay inside every night!"
Another point for Ruby, in AJ's estimation.
None of the women he'd ever dated wanted
dogs in the house. They always said they
were dirty and had fleas. It didn't matter
how often AJ washed Lucky, when Meredith
was around, the dog was outside. He grinned
inwardly, secretly thanking the Italian who
caused the split between AJ and his former
betrothed. 'God, what did I ever see in that woman?'
Meanwhile, upstairs in Ruby's bedroom, she
lay in the middle of her double bed, the
family mutts sprawled out on either side
of her. "What do you think, Babies?"
she whispered to the dogs. "Isn't he
handsome?" she asked dreamily. "And
funny... and charming... and he's such a
gentleman." Ruby thought about what
they did in the kitchen and blushed, beside
herself. "Sure is a good thing nobody
walked in on us," she sighed... then
moaned as she remembered the touch of his
hands on her breasts. "You know, I think he
could be the one," she confided. "I've
never felt like this before about anyone.
I've never let a man kiss me or touch me
the way he did... and it felt so... so right!"
The dogs both heard something; they raised
their heads and growled softly. "Shh,
now, you don't want to wake everyone up.
It was probably just the wind," she
told them. They knew differently. They knew
the sound came from downstairs. Ruby reached
down and rubbed both of their tummies, something
they loved. "It's mighty cold in here,
don't you think?" She lifted the covers
at her chest and both dogs immediately burrowed
down under the blankets, one laying over
her feet and the other next to her legs.
"Mmm, that's much better," she
giggled. As she drifted off to sleep, her
thoughts went to AJ... 'Wouldn't it be that much nicer if it was
AJ I was snuggled up with?'
Saturday, 14 February 2004
0700 EST
Jones Residence
Onego, West Virginia
AJ heard water rushing through the pipes
and knew someone was up. He rolled off the
sofa and wrapped the warm robe around his
body. He was glad now that Ruby had thought
to give him one of her father's robes. "Need
to go out, Girl?" he asked Lucky. She
thumped her tail and stood up. AJ shrugged
into his overcoat and slipped his shoes on
his bare feet. Before they reached the back
door in the kitchen, they were joined by
the two family dogs. "Okay, okay,"
AJ chuckled. "You can all go out."
He opened the door, and the dogs flew outside
and bounded into the freshly falling snow.
Closing the door behind him, AJ stood on
the back porch watching as the dogs quickly
did their morning business and then began
to frolic in the snow drifts. They barked
at each other as they played, jumping in the air as they tried to bite the
snowflakes as they fell. Lucky bounded
back to urge AJ to play, too. "Later,
Girl. I'm not dressed to play right now,"
he told her. As though she understood him
perfectly, she darted back to the other dogs
and rolled over and over in the snow. "You
all are going to be a mess to clean up!"
he told them as he noticed the snow caking
on their fur.
After a good 10 minutes of play, AJ finally
called the dogs. He opened the back door
and the dogs tromped inside. He was surprised
to see Ruby, wearing a winter white robe with gold stars on the sleeves and
matching slippers, standing in front of the stove making pancakes. "Good morning!" she
trilled happily,
watching her dogs run toward the laundry
room and push their way through the swinging
door.
"Good morning," he replied, seeing
the dogs disappear. "Where are they
going?"
Ruby smiled. "That's the laundry room.
Why don't you take Lucky in there, too?"
she suggested, opening a package of sausage patties and starting them to cook.
AJ walked over to the door and pushed it
open. He was not prepared for what he found.
A blast of warm air rushed out at him. He
looked inside and saw the family dogs rolling
around on towels spread on the floor in front
of a ceramic heater blasting hot air on them.
Lucky didn't have to be told what to do.
She followed suit, and was instantly rolling
around on the warm towels, the caked-on snow
falling off, melting, and being absorbed
by the towels.
"Don't keep the door open!" Ruby
called to him. "You'll let all their
warm air escape!"
AJ backed back into the kitchen, pulling
the door to. He turned to Ruby, "I can't
quite believe what I just saw."
She looked up from her cooking. "What?
The towels or the heater?"
"Both!" he choked out.
"Well, when they were babies, I used
to wash them off in the sink with warm water
and then dry them with the hair dryer. But
when they got bigger and wouldn't fit in
the sink, it got a little more difficult."
"Darlin', I think most people would
just lock them in the laundry room and let
the snow melt!"
She flipped a pancake and said, "Poor
babies! Then they'd end up with the colds! Not to mention that I'd
have to clean up all the melted snow on the
floor." She flipped another pancake.
"Do you prefer bacon or sausage?" Then before he answered, she
continued, "I'm making both."
He walked up behind her and circled her waist
with his arms. "I prefer Rubies,"
he whispered in her ear. "Be my Valentine?"
She giggled and relaxed in his arms, leaning
back against his chest. "Mmm, you know
I will," she purred. "Happy Valentine's
Day. Did you sleep well? Were you warm enough?"
"No, I didn't." Before she could
respond, he nuzzled his face in her neck and continued, "I laid there
most of the night thinking of you, and the
more I thought of you, the more I wanted
you next to me." He nibbled on her earlobe and growled, "It's a good thing you
were behind a locked door, Ruby Mae." Ruby stiffened and her eyes widened, though
AJ couldn't see that. "Something wrong,
Darlin'?"
Her words were so soft, AJ had to strain
to hear them. "I forgot to lock the
door."
AJ's breath caught in his throat
and he turned her around to face him, his eyes suddenly dark. Smiling
shyly, Ruby wrapped her arms around his neck, a spatula still in her hand.
AJ made quick work of the tie holding her robe together, and he slipped his arms
between the robe and her nightgown, pulling her to him. He captured her
mouth in his and buried his tongue in its recesses.
"I smell bacon!"
quipped Pete as he entered the kitchen. AJ quickly released Ruby and she
turned back to the stove, blushing and tying her robe again.
"Oh! Well, excuse me. You two are at it mighty early this
morning," he teased.
AJ grinned, "Never too
early." He patted Ruby on the behind as he went to the laundry room
to check on the dogs. Ruby jumped, and Pete laughed. "What
can I do to help?" he asked after seeing that the dogs were perfectly
content to stay in the toasty laundry room.
"Not a thing!" Ruby
chirped. "Oh! You didn't tell me which you like better... bacon
or sausage?"
"Bacon," he replied
absently. As breakfast was cooking, Ruby set the table and poured the
coffee and orange juice as each member of the family appeared at the kitchen
table. AJ wondered why Ruby's sisters weren't helping. She hadn't
let him help this morning, but why not her own sisters? 'She really
does take care of all of them. I wonder what they do at their own
homes? Do they even know how to cook?'
Ruby opened the oven door and
removed the largest jelly roll pan AJ had ever seen. She used stainless
tongs to move the bacon from the pan to the paper towels. While the bacon
was draining, she put the rest of the food on the table. Last, she moved
the bacon onto a serving plate and set it in front of AJ, smiling as she did
so. "Take as much as you want, AJ. You won't get a second
chance once Pete gets hold of this platter," she teased, winking at her
brother-in-law.
"I've never seen anyone cook
bacon in the oven that way, Ruby. You just put it in a jelly roll pan and
that's it?" AJ asked as she took her seat next to him.
Ruby nodded, "Pretty
much. Works best if you use a hot oven, about 425. I only do it that
way when I'm cooking a whole pound, though. For just Daddy and me, I still
use the frying pan."
Continue
to Part 3.