Heat, Humidity, and Happily Ever After

**This bonus scene occurs between the Zero Hour and Matrimony and Mayhem trilogies.

Royce forgot about the record-setting heatwave and the scorching August sun turning the city sidewalks into skillets. His only focus was a platinum band with dozens of tiny diamonds that sparkled in the sunlight. Royce swallowed hard as he pictured sliding the ring on Sawyer’s finger—first when he proposed and again when they exchanged vows. Royce wanted to see the sun glinting off this ring for the rest of his life. So, why was he gawking at it when he could walk inside the jewelry store and buy it?

“Royce.”

He didn’t immediately recognize the soft feminine voice, but that changed when he turned his head toward her. Imelda Ruiz, the mother of Sawyer’s first husband, was as lovely as he remembered. Her thick dark hair was pulled away from her face and hung over her shoulder in a braid. She wore a summer dress with boldly colored flowers and a pair of nude pumps that gave her a few inches of height. Her petite stature didn’t fool Royce because her strength of will was evident in the dark eyes assessing him. He fought off the urge to straighten his posture and tidy his unruly hair. Under her scrutiny, Royce realized his T-shirt was damp with sweat and clinging to his back. Just how long had he stood there gawking at the ring?

“Hello, Mrs. Ruiz,” Royce said. “I’d hug you, but I’m a bit sweaty.”

She waved off his concern, stepped forward, and embraced him tightly. “Honey, I’ve asked you to call me Imelda or Mellie,” she said once she dropped her arms and pulled back.

Royce nodded but still planned to address her as Mrs. Ruiz, and her wry smile said she knew it. “How are you?” he asked.

She cocked her head to the side. “I was just about to ask you the same thing, but I’m pretty sure I know the answer. I won’t waste your time with banalities when we have something serious to discuss.”

“We do?”

Imelda nodded. “We certainly do.” She hooked her arm through Royce’s and led him to an ice cream parlor a few doors from the jewelry store.

Royce resisted the urge to pull free from her and return to the window display. He’d nearly worked up his courage to buy it this time. The manners his mama taught him were deeply rooted, so he modulated his stride to match Imelda’s.

The ice cream parlor was as busy as you’d expect on a Saturday afternoon during a heatwave. The blast of air-conditioning was a blessing initially, but it quickly rendered his sweaty shirt uncomfortable. Royce fought off a shiver as they stepped up to the counter to place their order. He hadn’t planned to eat anything until he saw the variety of frozen desserts available. Imelda ordered a strawberry cheesecake milkshake, and he ordered a turtle brownie sundae. They bantered about who should pay, but Imelda relented and allowed Royce to treat her.

When their orders were ready, they tucked themselves into a corner of the crowded parlor. The sundae was twice as big as Royce expected, and the lake of caramel in the bottom of the bowl made him think of Sawyer.

Imelda chuckled, pulling Royce’s gaze up to hers. “You’re thinking about Sawyer.”

Royce smiled. “Always. How’d you know?”

“Your cynicism melts, and you get a dreamy expression in your eyes,” she replied. “And I know how much my boy loves caramel. He’d go nuts over that sundae.”

It didn’t surprise Royce that Imelda still thought of Sawyer as hers, even though Vic had died five years ago, nor did it bother him. Sawyer Key had that kind of hold on a person, and Royce never wanted free.

Imelda took a drink of her milkshake and quietly considered him. “Does it make you uncomfortable when I talk about Sawyer?”

Royce swallowed a bite of the sundae. “No, ma’am. I wouldn’t deny Sawyer his memories of your son or a relationship with you.”

She beamed her pleasure at Royce, her smile so bright he nearly reached for the sunglasses on top of his head. “Sawyer called me on Vic’s birthday last month, and it warmed my heart to hear the happiness in his voice. Do you have any idea how much that man adores you?”

Royce smiled. “Yes, I do.” Sawyer’s love was the only thing he didn’t doubt in the world. “And I hope you know I love him too.”

She reached across the table and covered his hand. “Honey, it’s so obvious. That’s why I decided to approach you.”

“Ma’am?”

“I meet my best friend for Saturday brunch at the hotel restaurant across the street every week,” Imelda said. “It’s a tradition we started decades ago, and I still look forward to it now as I did then.”

Royce swallowed hard because he knew what was coming. “Sounds lovely.”

“It is,” she agreed. “About a month ago, I noticed a handsome blond man gazing at the jeweler’s window display. I didn’t pay him much attention until he continued to stand there, seemingly lost in his world.”

Royce cleared his throat and took another bite of the sundae, hoping he didn’t choke on it.

“When he turned to walk away,” Imelda said, “I realized it was you. Imagine my surprise when you returned to the same window every week for a solid month.”

“It’s been five weeks,” Royce said. “Maybe six. I make my weekly hardware run, then stop by to stare at the ring.” He took a deep breath and rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. “I stare at that platinum band and imagine a future with Sawyer so vivid I can taste it.”

“Honey,” Imelda said. “I know it’s not my business, but I love Sawyer like a son. What’s holding you back from buying the ring?”

Royce laughed nervously and pulled his hand out from under hers. “I have so much baggage.”

She chuckled dryly. “Who over the age of twelve doesn’t?”

“Mine is pretty heavy, and I can’t help but wonder if I’m worth the bullshit that marriage to me might entail.”

“You are,” she said unequivocally. “Do you trust Sawyer?”

“Yes, ma’am. More than anyone.”

“He chose you nearly three years ago and still chooses you today. If you can’t have faith in yourself, at least have faith in him.” Royce wanted it to be that simple, but it wasn’t. “Can I make a suggestion?”

“Of course.”

“Buy the ring today without any expectations when you’ll present it to him. Buy it to ensure you’ll have the band you want when you’re ready.”

The tension melted from his body like ice cream on a sidewalk. “Why haven’t I thought of that?” he asked.

She smiled warmly. “Because you’re too close to the situation and can’t maintain objectivity.”

Royce’s heartbeat accelerated at the thought of buying the platinum and diamond band. But then his excitement cooled. “I don’t know what size to get him.”

“I do.”

“Your intervention feels like fate,” Royce said.

“Once a meddling mother, always a meddling mother.” Imelda pointed to his dessert. “Eat your ice cream. We have some shopping to do afterward.”

Royce smiled and hoisted a large spoonful. “Yes, ma’am.”