Butterfly Bride

By Sandra S. Kerns

Two years have past since Artemis told Emma he would call and she said she would answer. Although they have grown closer despite their difficult careers, he's concerned. He finally worked up the courage to ask Emma to marry him, but even if she says yes, will it ever happen? Someone is sabotaging their friend’s bar and trying to ruin Clandestine Investigations where Emma now works. Will they ever make it to the alter or will one of them pay the ultimate price to save the other?

Artemis drives down to Chapel, Colorado in a storm, to propose to Emma who is now working at the Colorado office of Clandestine Investigations. Unfortunately, things don’t go according to plan. They have to work their way through sabotage of a friend’s bar, the escape of their nemesis from prison, and murders. That doesn’t even take into account their own uncertainties about their relationship. Emma starts to doubt she’ll ever be a butterfly bride.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sandra S. Kerns
• Release date: Dec 14, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310982644

Sandra S. Kerns

Sandra writes romantic suspense. She enjoys speaking to writer's groups as well as libraries and reader groups. An award-winning author, she has no time to rest on her laurels. To keep her readers happy she tries to publish at least 4 novels each year and usually another Christmas novella at the end of the year. For inspiration she looks out at the Rocky Mountains from her back patio or watches the waves when she visits Cocoa Beach, Florida.

Book preview

Butterfly Bride

A Colorado Skies Series Novella

by Sandra S. Kerns

Published by Sandra S. Kerns, LLC

Smashwords Edition

Editor: Joy Clintsman, Big Sister Edits

Copyright 2014 Sandra S. Kerns

Cover design by: Itsy Designs

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment. This book may not be re-sold. No part of this book may be copied without permission from the author, except for excerpts used in reviews. To request permission please contact the author at [e-mail]. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

Connect with Me Online:

http://www.sandrakerns.com/

Facebook: Sandra S Kerns Facebook

Twitter: @SandraSKerns

Smashwords: Sandra S Kerns Author Page

Dear Reader,

Even in thoroughly proofed and meticulously edited books, errors and typos can slip through. If you find an error in my book, please feel free to send a personal note to me at [e-mail]. I endeavor to give you the best book possible and am always interested in your comments.

Happy reading,

Sandra

~~~~

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my readers who requested

more of Artemis and Emma’s story.

Thank you for your inspiration.

~~~

Chapter One

Artemis kicked the toe of each boot against the sidewalk to dislodge snow from the tread of his hiking boots. After shaking the snow from his hair, he brushed it off his jacket and proceeded to enter the Wild Rose Bar. He didn’t want to be the cause of someone slipping and cracking there head on the floor. The last thing Carly needed was a lawsuit. She had her hands full with the baby she and Steele had just adopted. Opening the door, he stepped inside.

Being almost one-thirty, the lunch crowd had thinned. It didn’t take long for him to find the person he was looking for. A smile immediately pulled at his mouth. He’d missed her. Before she or the person she was talking to noticed his arrival, he took a minute to catalog the changes in her since he had last seen Emma.

She wore jeans and a long-sleeved shirt in contrast to the flowing dresses she’d worn in . . . October? Had it really been almost two months since they had seen each other? Damn. Her hair was even longer. He had to admit he liked the long, red, corkscrew curls even when she had them all bunched in a ponytail as she did now. She’d looked gorgeous with it short as well, but with it long, he could run his fingers through the silky strands. It was now almost as long as when they’d first met. The smile again tugged at his lips remembering his nickname for her then. Butterfly.

Artemis, someone called from the opposite side of the room.

Before he turned his attention to the voice, Emma’s gaze found him from where she sat. Her expression, while surprised, didn’t seem overly pleased to see him. The click of boot heels on the floor pulled him back to the person calling his name. He looked over to see Carly Steele rushing toward him. Before he had time to hold out his usual hug-stopping hand, she had her arms wrapped around him. His gaze immediately sought Emma again. The amused smile on her face told him she knew exactly how uncomfortable he was with the public display. It also extinguished his worry that she didn’t want him there. He forced himself to return Carly’s greeting, even though he wasn’t big on hugging as a rule.

Carly, he said when she finally released him.

Where have you been hiding? It’s been months since you’ve been down to see us. Garrett will be sorry he missed you, but he had to fly back to New York for a meeting. William’s here, though my guess is you came to see someone else.

Yes.

Just a chatterbox, aren’t you? If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you and Garrett were related.

He didn’t bother with a reply. Carly didn’t require one. She always seemed to enjoy teasing him about his lack of social skills.

Thankfully, Emma joined them and saved him from having to make more small talk. She took hold of his hand, went up on tiptoe, and gave him a chaste kiss on his cheek. He would have preferred to have her run up and hug him as Carly had. Although Emma, well aware of all his little insecurities, probably thought the kiss on the cheek was pushing it in the first place. In a rare spontaneous moment for him, Artemis decided to put her off balance for a change. When her feet were flat on the floor again, he tipped her face up with his free hand and kissed her on the lips. When he pulled away, he couldn’t stop the grin her dazed expression pulled from him.

Hi, he said smiling down at her.

Uh, hi.

He vaguely heard Carly say something in the background about checking orders, but with his attention held captive by Emma, he couldn’t be sure.

I, uh, I thought you were going to call before coming, Emma said after they stared at each other a moment longer.

I guess I forgot. When the snow started falling at the cabin, I decided I should head down sooner rather than later. Something felt off. The expression on her face when she’d first noticed him popped into his head. She didn’t want him here. He released her hand and stepped back. My mistake. You’re right. I should have called. I’ll just get--

Artemis, William said.

Clamping his jaw shut, Artemis met the man’s gaze. With a nod, he shook the hand William offered when what he wanted was to punch him. I’m sorry I interrupted. I’ll let you two get back to it.

Rather than listen to any excuses or apologies, Artemis turned and walked back out the door. He shoved his hands in his coat pockets. His right hand clamped onto the keys they found. The fingers of his left hand curled around a small velvet box. He’d been such a fool. Hadn’t he told her she was too good for him? She could do better? Obviously, two months apart had given her the time to figure out he was right.

Climbing in his truck, he backed out of the space and turned down the road. He hadn’t gone five feet when a red streak ran out of the building and into the street in front of him. Slamming on the brakes, the truck stopped with only two feet to spare. He yanked on the emergency brake and popped the shift to neutral before climbing from the cab.

Are you insane? he yelled.

No more than you, Emma returned in a much calmer voice.

Artemis glared down at her upturned face. I could have hit you. Killed you!

You would never hurt me.

The roads are slick. I might not have had a choice. Damn it, Emma. I couldn’t live with that. The last he’d barely been able to choke out around the guilt from past failures that filled his mind.

Artemis?

The warmth of Emma’s hand on his cold face brought him back to the present. He looked into her eyes and saw regret. A second later, she wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him close. His arms immediately circled her, lifting her against his chest despite knowing it was probably the last hug he’d ever get.

I’m so sorry, I didn’t think. You were leaving and when you didn’t answer when I called your name, I couldn’t think of any other way to stop you, Emma said into his ear.

The blare of a horn reminded him they stood in the middle of the street. He released one arm and waved the car around, as he set Emma’s feet back on the ground. Go back inside. You’re getting soaked. You don’t even have a jacket on.

When she turned away without another word, Artemis didn’t wait to watch her go back to William. He turned his back and walked to the driver’s door. As he opened it, he saw Emma climbing into the passenger seat. Now, totally confused, he climbed in without a word. He released the brake, put the truck back in gear, and flipped on the windshield wipers to clear the snow off the windshield.

Don’t you just love the way they make angel wings on your window? Emma asked.

Staring at the window, he tried to see what she was talking about. Then realizing his brain didn’t have a fanciful side like hers, he quickly gave up. Besides, small talk wasn’t any more a strong suit than hugging. Where do you want me to drop you?

Where were you going?

Home. Where else would he go? There was nothing for him here.

He didn’t have to look sideways to know she was staring at him. He could feel her green-eyed gaze boring into him.

You’re driving back up to the cabin? You just came down.

"And, I just wasn’t expected, he said before his brain kicked in. What I mean is, I should have called to see if you were free. You’re obviously busy, so I’ll get out of the way."

# # #

Emma leaned back against the truck door amazed. Never in her wildest dreams had she expected this reaction from Artemis.

You’re jealous?

His grip on the steering wheel tightened. No. I’m coming to my senses.

A smile pulled at her lips, but she didn’t set it free. That would be rude and insensitive. Artemis definitely wouldn’t understand.

I’m finding this really hard to believe, she said, shaking her head.

What? That it took me so long to wake up and realize the truth? I agree it’s pretty sad even for someone as unaccustomed to socializing as I am.

She shook her head and Artemis glanced at her. Emma smiled. "No, I mean that you’re jealous. I’ve never been the subject of jealousy before. Although, I guess I’m not the subject actually, because you wouldn’t be jealous of me, you’d be jealous of someone else’s attention toward me. Wait, who could you possibly be jealous of?"

This time he turned his head and leveled a straight on, you’ve got to be kidding me, glare at her.

He really was jealous. But who could it be? She hadn’t talked to any of the other customers in the bar when she’d walked over to him. Other than that, Carly and Wil . . . William? You’re jealous of William? He’s your friend.

I don’t have friends.

Visions of the Artemis she had met two years ago surfaced. Then he’d been a sad, withdrawn, solitary man living in the shadows, a recluse. His comment shocked Emma and she quickly realized that Artemis’s feelings hadn’t changed as much as she’d thought. He still had no idea how many people cared about him.

What about Eric?

Again, his hands tightened on the wheel. "I stand corrected. I have a friend."

What about Doc?

Emma.

She bit her tongue rather than reply in kind. Why had he reverted to the way he was when they first met? She still didn’t understand what had made him think she and William were an item. He had seen her talking with William numerous times. Why was now so different?

"Okay, I’ll stop naming all the friends you have,