Total pages in book: 15
Estimated words: 14146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 71(@200wpm)___ 57(@250wpm)___ 47(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 71(@200wpm)___ 57(@250wpm)___ 47(@300wpm)
When she was about to go put all the food back into the oven, the door opened and closed. She got to her feet.
“Meredith, we need to talk,” Jared said, coming into the dining room. He stopped and looked at the table. “You prepared dinner.”
“Yeah. You said you’d be here half an hour ago. I think it’s probably all cold.”
“Shit, I had no idea.”
“It’s fine, Jared, really.”
“No, I … I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it.” She made to grab the potatoes, but Jared sat down, taking his seat.
“Don’t.”
“It’s going to be cold.”
“I don’t care. You made dinner for me, and I’m determined I’m going to sit here and enjoy it.”
“You really don’t have to do that.”
“I do.” He grabbed the plate of potatoes and put several on his plate. She watched him as he filled his plate, while also doing the same to hers.
“Anyone ever tell you you’re stubborn?” she asked.
“Yes. Every single day.”
She chuckled. She was the person to call him stubborn. “Did your meeting go well?”
He paused in dolloping gravy on his plate. “I told a little lie. I didn’t go for a meeting.”
“Oh.”
“I went to see my parents.”
“This isn’t about what happened with William, is it?”
He nodded.
She groaned. “Jared, I told you not to worry about it.”
“And if I tell you I happened to hear them plotting other ways of trying to make your life hell? Even so much as buying the rental agreement and putting the prices up?”
“They couldn’t do that.”
“I know. You own the property outright. I had to make them realize that if they so much as speak to you, they’ll have to deal with me, and I’m not joking. My parents are not good people and I see that now. They didn’t want you in my life. So, they are no longer part of me.”
“Jared, you didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I did. I know what I want, and it’s not them.” He reached out, taking her hand and squeezing it. “You’re all I want.”
She smiled at him.
Jared was making it so hard to not fall in love with him and start dreaming of a life with him. This baby, it was like every dream of hers was coming true. She lived with him, shared his bed.
“They’re your family.”
“No family of mine would send the woman I want more than anything away from me.” He pushed some of her hair out of her face. “You’re all I can think about. All I want.”
“Jared?” Were they moving too fast?
Her heart started to race as he slowly got down on one knee. He pushed his chair out in the process and she turned toward him.
He took her hand.
“Jared?”
He smiled up at her.
“I know you’re probably freaking out right now, and it’s a good time as any to do so.” He licked his lips. “Meredith Shaw. I know we’ve known each other about a month, but I love you. I love you more than anything else in the world, and there is no other person I want to be with than with you.”
She watched, shocked, as he rummaged around in his pocket. When he pulled out a small velvet box, her stomach twisted.
“Marry me? Please. I want to be a husband, a father, I want it all. If you’d give me the chance, I can prove I’ll be the man you deserve.”
Surprise rushed through her as she watched him. A proposal wasn’t what she’d been expecting.
“I understand if this is too soon.” He went to close the box, and she cupped his face.
“Don’t do that. Don’t close that box.” She smiled at him. “I love you too, but I thought I was acting too fast. I love you so much. You’re the only person I want to be with. The only person I ever want to see myself with. I’ve never felt this way about anyone, and that scares me so damn much.”
He slammed his lips down on hers.
Jared broke the kiss and took hold of her hand. She watched, even as she shook a little from nerves as he slid the ring onto her finger.
Staring at the diamond, she couldn’t believe it. She looked at him. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
She went to her knees, the cold food forgotten as she tried to work his clothes off his body. Everything else could wait. She wanted to feel him inside her at that very moment. Jared had come out of nowhere, and he’d completely obliterated every single one of her senses. She’d always wanted to fall in love, but she never realized how consuming it would be. She wouldn’t trade Jared for anything.
He pressed her to the floor, sliding her thighs open. She took him deep into her body, loving every inch of him as he worked his way inside her.
This was the best feeling in the world.