Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
“They’ve already started building the new stable?” I ask.
“We can’t let a potential Triple Crown winner stand out in the weather.”
“Can I?”
“Yes, sweetheart. You can go see your horse.”
I start to make a mad dash for the back door, but he stops me. “Hold on. You can’t be out there with a bunch of construction workers without me. I’m coming with you.” He grabs an apple from a bowl on the counter and meets me at the door.
“I only have eyes for you, you know.” I grin.
“Your eyes aren’t the ones I’m worried about. Does my possessiveness bother you?”
“No, it makes me feel special.”
“Good.” He opens the door, and we walk hand in hand through the garden.
The crew is making short work of the new stable, and the smell of lumber fills the air.
“It looks bigger than the old one.”
“If we have to rebuild, we might as well do it bigger and better. I have a feeling there will be more horses in our future.”
“The more the better. I love seeing the babies.”
He clicks his tongue against his teeth, and the horses come into view.
“They’ve been having the time of their lives wandering the property like this. I had to stop one from eating the topiary and another from hanging out on the veranda. If we don’t get them behind a fence soon, they’ll be hosting pool parties.”
“You’re lying. You haven’t even been here.”
“Yeah, I am but it was a funny visual.”
Crystal comes to me and I kiss her on the muzzle. “I’ve missed you, girl,” I whisper.
“Alright, get your fill of her. There’s something I want to show you inside the house.”
He hands me the apple, and the horse's ears twitch when I hold it out to her. “They act like nothing happened.”
“All that matters to them is that they’re alive and safe. What about you? Are you sure you can live here after what you’ve been through?”
“Like I said, as long as I have you, I’m fine.”
Crystal makes short work of the apple, and Stephen wraps his arm around my waist, tugging me away from her.
“Come on, baby. You can come out here again later.”
“Okay, what is it? What do you have to show me?”
“It’s a secret. Come on.”
He brings me back to the house and walks straight to the elevator. He pulls the crank on the door, and we descend to the basement level. The ballroom. I haven’t been down here since the first time he showed it to me. I remember what it felt like to dance with him, not knowing then how he felt about me.
The elevator stops and a delicious scent catches in my nose. It’s food. Why would Sherry have brought our lunch to the ballroom? I step out and see that one of the buffet tables is covered with plates of hot food. There’s a bottle of champagne and two glasses on a round dining table. The chairs are dressed in white silk covers that match the tablecloth.
“What is this all about?”
“Don’t you like it?”
“It’s nice and the food smells amazing, but why are we eating down here?”
“The last time this room was used was New Year’s Eve the year before my mother passed. Many years ago, my mother and father were married right here in this room. Now it’s just a relic from the past.”
“That’s sad. It’s so beautiful. People should see it.”
He pours two glasses of champagne and places one in my hand.
“That’s why we’re down here. I called Sherry and asked her to set it up for me. I’ve been thinking about something ever since you arrived. You brought new life into this house and into me. My only remaining family is incarcerated and, let’s be honest, yours should be. We may not be able to host a big party here now, but I want that to change. I want us to breathe new life into this room too.”
“What are you saying?”
He goes down on one knee, making my breath hitch. “I want to have baby showers and birthdays, graduation and Christmas parties like my family did when I was a kid. I want you by my side as our children use this room to celebrate the milestones in their lives. Marry me so we can get started on that. Samantha, will you marry me?”
I nearly drop my glass as his words dance inside my head. Marry him? Have his children? There’s nothing in this world that would make me happier. He removes a ring box from his pocket and opens it, revealing a gorgeous diamond ring inside. He takes my hand and looks up into my eyes.
“Yes, yes, yes!”
He slides the ring onto my finger and rises to his feet. “I love you, baby girl. I love you with all my heart and soul.”
“I love you too, Daddy. You make me the happiest girl in the world.”