Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 45768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
He takes out a ring box and opens it, showing a large diamond set within a white gold band, looking hefty and elegant at the same time. It should be an impossible combination, and yet – just like so much with us – it works, impossible or not.
“Yes,” I whisper, and then I yell it louder. “Yes, yes, yes.”
“Yes?” he says, his voice shivering.
“Yes.”
He takes my hand and slides the ring on, the metal feeling cool and right on my skin.
He leaps up and pulls me into his arms, and we sink into a loving kiss, a kiss that sends flurrying emotions all around my body as I moan and he growls through our closeness, both of us ready to face our future… together.
Always together.
Forever.
Epilogue
Three weeks later…
Miller
I complete another lap of the pool, feeling the warm summer sun blaze down as I duck my head and bring my hand over in a powerful stroke. I turn and kick off the edge of the pool, making toward the other end.
I never knew what I was saving and investing for all those years when I was working on my practice, but now it’s all become clear, as Macie and I have moved into our large seven-bedroom house and started to make it our own. For three weeks she’s been rushing around, ordering furniture, fixing her office and my study, a library, a living room…
There’s a long way to go yet, but she’s making incredible progress, and watching her grow into this new homebuilding role has been like watching a flower bloom in real time, flooding me with an even deeper need.
Three weeks of pure bliss…
I never knew a man like me could exist in such a steady, happy place, smiles arising on my lips as easily as grimaces and smirks once did.
Derrick has been tried for kidnapping, assault, stalking, and a few other, more serious crimes he committed while he was in Canada. He’s going to be spending a long time in prison, most likely decades, and if he ever shows his face – not that he will – I may not be so merciful next time.
I finish another lap and grab onto the end of the pool, turning my face to the sun and closing my eyes, letting the sunlight rest against my eyelids and my cheeks. This is the sort of thing I’d never have done before I met Macie, allowing myself simply to enjoy the sun like this, to enjoy the moment.
But she’s changed so much in me, and all for the better.
Meeting my woman has been the greatest adventure of my life, and I can’t wait to make her my wife.
“Miller.”
I turn to find her standing at the edge of the pool.
It’s Saturday morning and she’s in her silk bathrobe, tied lazily around the waist, a glimpse of her lacy bra peeking out and driving me crazy. We have lots of privacy here, enough that I don’t have to worry about some bastard getting a glimpse at my woman’s perfection.
Her hair is tousled and sits on her shoulders temptingly, begging me to climb from the water and run my hands through it.
I haul myself up and stand, the water sliding down my torso as I walk around the edge of the pool.
“What is it?” I ask, as she wrings her hands and bites her lip.
Although…
She hasn’t been as nervous lately, emerging from beneath her shield of shyness as we work together on the house or simply work on loving each other, making love to each other, spending every moment together that we can.
I still focus on my work and my career, of course, and she’s working her butt off to get her novel finished, but in our free time, we’re fused together, hungry to get to know each other more than we already do.
It’s strange that she’s suddenly so much like the Macie from the beginning, nerves flittering across her expression.
It makes me think something is wrong.
“Macie?” I say when she doesn’t answer.
I grab the towel from the chair and quickly rub myself down, wiping my hands, and then I reach out and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Are you just going to stand there and say nothing? You know that’s sort of weird, don’t you, my writer queen?”
She giggles and places her hands on my shoulders, staring up at me with light shimmering in her eyes, the sort of light I find difficult to read…
But then a feeling moves through me, deep and primal.
“Macie,” I whisper, my voice shaking. “Is this…”
She nods slowly, a smile spreading across her face.
“I guess I’m still sort of stunned. I just did it. The test. I just did the test.”
“And it was…”
“Positive,” she says, her voice cracking with emotion, tears glimmering in her eyes. “I’m pregnant, Miller.”
I let out a roar of pure joy, throwing my arms around my fiancé and pulling her into a close hug.