Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
“Jesus, that sounded confusing.” A smile curves my lips. “What did you want to ask?”
He lifts my hand to his mouth and presses a kiss to my fingers. “Marry me.”
I blink at the man as if he’s lost his mind. “Seriously? That’s an order.” I pull my hand from his. “Try again.”
The corner of his mouth lifts, and unbuckling his seat belt, he moves into a kneeling position in front of me. “Cami, will you marry me?”
I used to think I wanted an elaborate proposal, but as I look at Max kneeling before me, I wouldn’t want it any other way.
I let out a chuckle. “Okay.”
Intense relief washes over his features, and darting up, he frames my face with his hands and kisses me with a burning passion.
Epilogue
Max
(Six months later…)
I’m the luckiest bastard alive.
I watch as Cami takes photos of surfboards planted into the sand on a beach in Rio de Janeiro.
We’re here because I have a contract to take out an arms dealer, and while I’m scoping the area and target, Cami gets to explore this beautiful country.
There’s a happy smile on her face, and as she lowers the camera, she glances at me. For the past week, something has been different about her, but I can’t put my finger on it.
I loosen the tie from around my neck, and sitting down on the sand, I scan the beach before watching my fiancée do what she loves most.
Suddenly she turns around, and I manage to lift my arm to cover my face as she snaps a photo of me.
“Oh, come on,” she complains. “I just want one photo.”
“No.” I shake my head and gesture to the nature around us. “There’s plenty for you to photograph.”
“I want one of you, not some rock sticking out of the ocean.”
She walks closer and plops down beside me. “Let’s negotiate.”
“Okay,” I agree. “What’s your offer.”
“A blowjob.”
I let out a chuckle. “No. I want something better.”
She thinks for a moment, then says, “Tell me what you want.”
I don’t hesitate as I answer, “A wedding and a baby. In no specific order.”
“Whoa.” She stares at me with wide eyes. “That’s going to cost you a dozen photos in which you will pose exactly how I want you to pose.”
“Twelve photos for a wedding and a baby,” I agree. “You have a deal.”
She lets out a burst of laughter as she lies back in the sand. “It sounds like a lame title for a romance movie.”
I lean over her and press a kiss to her mouth. “A deal’s a deal. No backing out.”
She brings the camera between us and points it up at me. “Smile, Max.”
I let out a sigh and give her what she wants. When she’s done taking the photo, she says, “You said in no particular order, right?”
“Yes.”
She sits up and points the damn camera at me again, then she takes a photo as she says, “I’m pregnant.”
It takes a moment for her words to register. “You’re pregnant?”
“Yes.” Setting the camera down, she climbs onto my lap and wraps her arms around my neck. “We’re going to be parents in approximately six months. I took a pregnancy test last week, and it was positive.”
I stare at Cami as an intense wave of happiness hits me square in the chest.
Her eyes flit over my face. “Say something.”
Slowly a smile tugs at my mouth. “Are you serious?”
She nods quickly. “Yes.”
“Cami…” My voice disappears.
I’ve only cried once, and that was when I had to watch my sister die. But fuck, my eyes actually start to burn as tears prick them.
“Aww, Max,” Cami coos. She wraps me in a tight hug, pressing kisses to my neck.
“Fuck, baby,” I say, my voice hoarse from the intense happiness I feel. “Thank you for this…for everything. Thank you for being in my life and choosing to love me.”
Cami pulls back and brushes her fingers over my jaw. “I’ll always choose you.”
Christ, she’s really doing her best to get a tear out of me.
“And I’ll always choose you, too.”
Lifting my hand to the back of her neck, I pull her closer, and as my mouth takes hers, I’m glad she took a photo of me. It will always be a reminder of one of the happiest days of my life.
Cami
(1 year later…)
Taking Nikita out of his car seat, I cradle my six-month-old son in my arms and kick the car door shut.
He makes fussing sounds and starts to suck on his fist as I walk down the path.
Smiling down at Nikita, I coo, “Mommy just needs ten minutes, then we’re going home so you can take a nap.”
I cut across the perfectly mowed lawn, and when I reach Papa’s grave, I carefully sit down. My eyes touch on Papa’s headstone, then I say, “I’m sorry I haven’t visited in a while. My life’s been a little crazy. I want you to meet Nikita. He’s your grandson, Papa.” A smile curves my lips. “Max chose the name. He says it means unconquered. It’s also Max’s middle name.”