by Haley Travis
“I love you too,” I said, looking up at his shining eyes. “I’m going to try so hard to be the best girlfriend and assistant you’ve ever had.”
“The first one is the most important,” he said, sitting up slowly as we both unclenched our legs and hips.
Stretching out across his enormous bed, I murmured, “You might not have an assistant tomorrow. This bed is so comfortable I think I might call in sick.”
“I think I might join you,” he said, pulling me into his arms, and another endless kiss that made me forget anything else in the world existed.
EPILOGUE
* Mark *
*** Six Months Later ***
I knew it was too soon, but I was determined to do it today anyway.
Alison was becoming much better at standing up for herself, and telling me what she wanted and needed. If she really didn’t want this, she would either tell me straight out, or I would see the tension in her eyes, and put it off a bit longer.
It was our six month anniversary, and she would be arriving at my house any minute for dinner. I had offered to take her to any restaurant in the city, but she wanted to keep things casual, promising to let me make a fuss when it was one year.
I knew that she was shy, and assumed she didn’t want everyone in the restaurant and the servers offering their congratulations. So I decided to do what we had done for her birthday, and just order Indian takeout and have some nice wine.
I had several comedy specials I knew she would love lined up for afterward, along with chocolate coconut ice cream, and chocolate liqueur.
Over the past few months, I had become obsessed with noting all of her personal preferences, habits, and needs. Even though I had a hand in building skyscrapers and sprawling shopping malls, the biggest project of my life was being the best boyfriend for Alison that I could possibly be.
And now it was time to level up.
Even though I had told her a thousand times just to walk in, she knocked at my front door. Rushing to open it, I tried to scowl. “If I’m expecting you, the door is open. Please, just come in next time.”
She looked so beautiful in a purple swirl print dress, her eyes glowing under the chandelier as she hugged me in the front hall. “It just doesn’t feel right to barge into your place,” she laughed.
Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a little black box. “It’s not what you might be thinking,” I said quickly.
Placing the box in her hand, she stared at it suspiciously. “I swear it won’t bite you,” I said. “Open it.”
She lifted the lid and instantly began to laugh, to my great relief. Inside the box was a key on a little silver key chain featuring the letter A in an elegant script.
“I don’t want to pressure you,” I said quickly, “But I would like to invite you to move in with me. Whether that’s this weekend, or months from now, that’s fine. I’ve cleared you half of the closet and one chest of drawers in the bedroom, in case you’d like to move a few things here to start.”
Alison looked up at me, her eyes absolutely sparkling. She wasn’t afraid, and I instantly flooded with relief.
“Maybe…maybe I could move a few things in, so that I could easily spend the weekend now and then,” she said thoughtfully. “I could organize and purge my stuff over the next month.”
“You don’t have to purge anything,” I said. “You can take over one of the spare bedrooms as a reading room or whatever you like, and there’s tons of storage in the basement. This place isn’t exactly small.”
“Wow.” She stared at the key, blinking, then looked up at me, leaning in to give me a kiss. “Thank you, Mark.”
“So, you’ll move in with me?” I asked hopefully.
“Yes. Likely over the next month or two.” She took a breath, nodding. “That’s very understanding of you to not give me a specific time frame.”
“Well, I know that logically it’s too soon,” I said. “If you want to take your time, that’s sensible.” Wrapping an arm around her, I kissed the top of her hair. “I do like that you’re the sensible one.”
“And I like that you’re impulsive and crazy sometimes,” she laughed. “Moving in together is a pretty giant step.”
I stepped back to hold her hand. “I know. But does it feel like the right step?”
Alison nodded immediately. “Yes. Absolutely. It’s the good kind of scary, if you know what I mean.”
Taking the box and key and setting it on top of her purse where she dropped it on the entryway table, I took her hands in mine.
“I was going to wait until after dinner, but I couldn’t. I want you to move in with me because I need to see you as much as possible. But more importantly, I want to be here for you all the time. If you have a nightmare, I want to hold you. If the lid on the pickle jar is too tight, I want to help you. I want to be available to make your life better every single chance I get.”
“I feel the same about you,” she said softly. “When I live here, I can rub your shoulders after work every single day. And make sure you’re taking your multivitamin.”
I pulled a face, sticking my tongue out like a brat. “You’re not the boss of me,” I whined.
“I’ll be the lady of the house,” she said in a snotty indistinct accent.
Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out another little black box, dropping to one knee as I held her hand.
“Alison, I want you to be the lady of my house, the lady of my life, and my lady forever. I will do everything in my power to protect you, cherish you, and help you live life to the fullest. Will you marry me?”
Awkwardly flipping the box open with my thumb, I held it up so that she could see the large diamond ring.
Her hand trembled in mine, as the other flew up to cover her mouth. “I…” she sputtered, wide-eyed.
“Our engagement can be as long as you like,” I said quickly, “We can figure it out–”
“Yes!” she squealed. “Absolutely yes.”
She leaped into my arms, knocking me over as the two of us tangled and rolled across the hallway floor, laughing our heads off.
As we sat up, I pulled out the ring, slipping it on her finger. “If you don’t like the style, we can trade it in for something–”
“No, it’s amazing,” she said, staring at her hand in awe. “This rock is… huge but gorgeous. I love the setting and the emerald cut. It’s beautifully simple.”
“And you’ll be happy wearing that for the next hundred years at least?”
“Absolutely.” She was absolutely glowing, her cheeks lightly stained with pink, her bottom lip quivering. I knew that I was going to remember this moment forever.
“I love you so much, honey,” I said, wrapping her in my arms. “I’m going to work so hard at being the best husband for you.”
Her nose tipped up as she delicately sniffed the air. “You picked up Indian food for me, so you’re already doing a great job,” she giggled. “And I’m going to try hard to be a wonderful wife.”
“I already know you’re going to be a great Mother,” I said.
She held up her hand as if she were stopping traffic. “Not for a few years. At least four or five. Is that fair? I’d like us to get settled, and really comfortable with each other first.”
“Absolutely.”
Alison held my face between her palms, staring into my eyes. “You’re going to be such a great Dad. I can just imagine you building huge forts out back with the kids.”
“You have no idea.”
“I have some idea,” she said, kissing me as I pulled her to lie on top of me on the floor. From the wild look in her eyes, I knew for once she was going to have no problem telling me precisely what she wanted.
*** *** ***
Don’t miss the rest of “ Up Love - Insta Love Shy Girl Romance ” Series.
(Just 99 cents or available through Kindle Unlimited)
Check out the Summer Love Series
Whether they’re spending their vacations in the country, the
city, the forest, or by the lake or beach, a group of five girlfriends are hoping to find a little romantic fun this summer. Their lives will all change when they meet men who are hotter and sweeter than sunshine.
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Novels:
Heart Shaped Spotlight: Second Chance Rockstar Romance It’s one thing to pine for the perfect man you lost years ago. It’s another thing to turn on the TV and hear him singing directly to you. NOTE: Link at end of novel for a FREE bonus story about two side characters! (Or visit HaleyTravisRomance.com)
Whispered Curses A shy girl alpha male romance novel Tea time prophesies, accidental insta-love, and dealing with one’s demons.
Love in the Darkness A shy girl alpha male romance novel A week in the dark has them seeing everything in a new light.
Donuts and Handcuffs: A sweet, floury, mixed-up love story. A budding baker. A caring cop. A sweet and spicy romance of opposites.
Owned by Pirates : Sweet Romance on the Sea. Selling one’s daughter isn’t as rare as you’d think. But to the Captain of a pirate ship? It’s the best thing that has ever happened to a sheltered young lady with a taste for adventure.
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Novellas / Short Stories:
Next Guy Through The Door (Short Romance) A personal challenge. Some personal growth. And a hot guy who thinks she’s perfect.
Damn Valentine (Novella) It’s all about timing. Breaking a silly curse with open hearts, a duck, and the right guy.
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About the Author:
Romance author Haley Travis lives in a charming (old and rundown) little house with an old fashioned (overgrown and crazy) garden and just the right amount of books (six overstuffed shelves, the floor is starting to creak). She enjoys writing quirky, sexy modern romance, and loves creating interesting female characters who are at a turning point in their lives. Women who need a life shake up, not a man. But these things never go as planned, do they?