AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As Ridge wrapped up the meeting, he asked everyone to stay vigilant, be safe, and be kind to their neighbors.
Wanting to get out of there and away from all the glares, I stood as soon as Ridge finished speaking, but I couldn’t get down the aisle with everyone using the time to socialize and blocking the exit.
Ridge wrapped his arm around my waist. “Brace yourself,” he whispered in my ear.
People flocked around us, offering congratulations and talking over each other. It was surreal to be congratulated at one end of the hall while hearing people offering condolences to the Hills on the other.
I stayed glued to Ridge’s side. While some people were fake in their enthusiasm, most seemed genuinely thrilled for us. Luckily, the Greenthornes and others who’d had their eye on hooking themselves to Ridge stormed out of the hall.
Ridge’s arm tightened around me when people pointed out that I wasn’t wearing an engagement ring.
“It’s not like you can’t afford to get her something fancy, Mayor,” someone joked.
Ridge smiled. “The ring is at the jeweler being sized correctly for Tori. It kept slipping off her finger.” He smoothly lifted my hand and kissed the spot where the ring should have been.
Several women were awed by the sweet gesture and how lucky I was to have snagged such a catch. Many of the men clapped Ridge on the back, saying they were happy for him and that he’d claimed a real beauty.
Uncomfortable didn’t even begin to describe how I was feeling at the moment. There were too many people, and I wasn’t used to so much attention. I felt my pulse speed up and my breathing become shallower.
Ridge must’ve sensed it because he held me close and didn’t let me slip into panic. He shielded me with his body and did most of the talking. My fingers worried at his button-down shirt as I kept my arm firmly around his waist. He was my lifeline at the moment, and I wasn’t letting go.
Once the strangers slowly dissipated, the people I actually knew came forward, and I could finally take a deep, calming breath. James and Fiona Ashworth beamed at me, and Fiona hugged me. Beck clung to my leg until I picked him up.
“Tori, needing a ride to meet a friend?” Fiona said with a raised eyebrow. “Girl, you really had us fooled. I can’t believe you didn’t say anything to us. There I was, yakking your ear off about what a great little town this was and that you should stay, and the whole time, you were moving here.”
I smiled at her and eyed Ridge. “Yeah, I know. I’m sorry, Fiona. I was a little nervous about the whole thing. Moving to a new town and making a new life where I only knew Ridge…of course, I had to make it more difficult and do it alone.”
Ridge picked up on what I was saying. “I’m so grateful you gave her a ride to bring her to me. I’d be lost now if you hadn’t done that.”
“We’re thrilled we got to meet and spend quality time with her,” Fiona said, then looked at me. “You better not be a stranger now. We should have lunch.”
I nodded, and she took the wriggling Beck from me.
“Well, we’ve got to get this one in bed. Congratulations again,” she said, and I watched the family walk out of the town hall.
Mrs. Marrow came up and shook my hand. “I was right. You are quite a catch. The mayor wouldn’t pick anybody who wasn’t. As soon as you stepped into town, I knew. After all, a looker like Ridge was bound to find himself such a stunner for a wife.”
I blushed. Ridge threw his head back and laughed, then kissed my cheek.
“You have no idea how lucky I am, Mrs. Marrow. I couldn’t believe she agreed to be my wife.” He stared down at me with admiration. “I’m going to make sure to convince her of that every day.”
Laughing, Mrs. Marrow patted his arms, then hurried off to the Hill family. My heart seized for a moment. It seemed wrong to be celebrating while they were grieving.
Lola squeezed around a couple of people and made her way to us. I smiled at her. The woman was timid, and I wanted to ensure she knew she was welcome.
“I just wanted to wish you both all the best. I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you, Lola. That means a lot.”
Lola and I exchanged a warm hug, and Ridge thanked her. Then she shyly left the hall. I wondered how many people noticed that she was even here with her meek demeanor. I couldn’t explain why I so badly wanted to protect her and become her friend.
Ridge led me over to the Hill family, and I offered them my condolences. They offered their congratulations to us in turn. It wasn’t an awkward conversation, but the emotions were so strong that they swirled inside me, and manic energy slowly pulsed beneath my skin.
The Hills left shortly after we spoke to them, and most of the hall cleared out. Margo and Diana were still chatting with several shifters, and several humans were talking with the sheriff and a couple of the deputies. A pair of shifters stood talking, and several groups of three and four sat around the hall.
Ridge held my hand and guided me outside, away from the people still milling around.
“How are you doing? Especially with all the eyes on us.”
