Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 43540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
“Easton—”
“No. I’m done giving you your space. You’ve had plenty of time to think, and from now on, I’m calling the shots.” I reach into my back pocket and pull out the black box. Then I drop to one knee. She gasps and covers her mouth. “Callie Baker, you stole my heart the day I walked into that bar. They always say a woman changes a man’s life. And damn, you’ve changed mine. I know what it feels like to be with you and how it does to be without you, and I swear to God, I’m done with the second.
“I promise I’ll never lie to you. I vow always to love you and love you hard. And if you say yes, I swear to God, I’ll spend the rest of my life proving just how deep that love runs. You own me, Cal. Heart. Soul. Everything.” I pause to take a breath. “Now, I’m going to ask you to marry me. I know you love me, and goddammit, I love you. Let’s spend the rest of our lives proving it to each other.” I open the box, and her eyes land on the diamond ring. “So, what do you say? You going to say yes and marry me? I’m not above throwing you over my shoulder and kidnapping you until you come to your senses. ”
I figured I would render her speechless. So I give her another beat or two before I step in.
“Get that lip out of your mouth, babe.”
“You’re like. . . proposing to me right now?”
“Yeah, I am.”
She blinks and drops her gaze to the ring. “But. . .”
“Just say yes, Cal.”
She looks at me, then at Tory. “Don’t look at me,” Tory says and throws her hands up.
Her eyes are filled with tears when her gaze falls back on me. “I thought you didn’t want this anymore.”
“Not a second goes by that I don’t want everything from you. Your love, your kindness. Your touch, comfort, quirky habits. I’d vow to drink martinis with you every fucking night—”
“Careful what you wish for,” Tory mumbles. Cal jabs her finger at her friend, silently shutting her up.
“This is our destiny, Cal. You and me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Say yes, Cal.”
She steps from foot to foot, her damn lip still between her teeth. I’m giving her three seconds to give me an answer. Then I’m taking matters into my own hands. I get to two when she lunges at me, taking me to the ground. I wrap my arms around her and tug her close.
“Easton, I thought I ruined everything.”
“Say yes, Cal.”
“I should have stayed. Argued until we worked—”
“Say yes, Cal.”
“I never should have—”
“Dammit, Cal—”
“Yes. Yes!” She spreads kisses like a mad woman all over my face. My chest swells. I tug her closer, cup her cheeks, and claim her mouth. I kiss her like my life depends on it.
“Finally!” Tory says. “I knew this is how it would end up.”
Callie pulls away and looks over at her. “Wait. . . how would you know?”
“Well, I mean. I just assumed if, by some chance, he came here. . .” Callie squirms out of my arms and stands.
“Did you know he was coming here?” Tory gives herself away, looking guilty as fuck.
“What? No! How would I—”
“You meddled.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did. You so meddled.”
“I so didn’t—”
I reach out, trying to grab at Callie before she attacks, but she’s too quick. I shake my head as the two girls fall to the ground. “Seriously, you’ve lost it!” Tory squeals.
“You’re a filthy, dirty liar,” Callie screams.
“I plead the Fifth. Get off me!”
“No! You promised!”
“I had my fingers crossed behind my back the whole time.”
I’m giving them thirty more seconds until I pull them apart. Before I have to, Callie pauses, stares down at her friend, and, just above a whisper, says, “Thank you.” Then wraps her arms around her.
“You’re welcome,” Tory returns, choked up.
“Should I hand one of you the ring? You’re kind of stealing my moment, Tor.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, get off me crazy.” Callie crawls off her, and they both stand. “I got shit to do anyway. Call me when you wanna start wedding planning.” She hugs Cal and walks past, waving. “Behave, kids.” She winks at me on her way out.
“Are you. . . here just because Tory called you?”
I take in her worried gaze. “Tory called me, but I was already en route to get you. The call just made what I was about to do a little easier.”
“Oh yeah?”
“I was prepared for you to say yes and prepared if you said no.”
She wraps her hands around my neck, and I pull her to me. “And if I said no?”
I kiss her and say, “I would’ve called for backup.”
She laughs. “Dare I ask what backup entails?”
I cock my head, put two fingers in my mouth, and whistle. “What are you—Oh my god, Jake!” she squeals and drops, treating Jake to her signature ear rub. “Hey, buddy. Wait a minute, he’s your reinforcements?”