Egypt smiled, tears flooding her eyes at the heartfelt love spilling over inside her chest. Her birthday wasn’t for another two days, but the fact that they’d thought enough to celebrate her day, had her crying like a baby. She welcomed all the hugs and kisses.
Journey and Dakota hugged her at the same time.
“Happy birthday, sis.”
“We love you.”
They spoke at once, and Egypt thought her heart would burst. These women had welcomed her into their lives and were her best friends, her sisters. She swallowed a sob that bubbled up inside of her.
“Thank you…thank you all for this.” She hadn’t had a birthday party since she was twelve-years-old, and yet people who weren’t related to her by blood thought enough to do this for her. It was almost too much.
“I thought this was supposed to be a housewarming party.” Egypt pointed at the wrapped gift that she and Kenton had brought and everyone laughed.
“Let’s eat!” Dakota yelled and pulled her into the kitchen.
Egypt thought she would burst from happiness. For so many years, she had spent her birthday alone. Now, she had an amazing man and friends, who were as close as family, to share her life with.
*
Kenton brought his beer bottle up to his lips as he glanced across the room at Egypt who was holding Arielle. Over the last three months, Egypt had her good days and bad, but mostly good. The first few weeks after the bar incident, she had nightmares about the explosion and would wake up screaming. Now that she was seeing a therapist, the dreams had subsided, and she was back to her old self. Oddly enough, he hadn’t had any nightmares about the night at the bar or the day he had lost Santana and Quaid. Maybe because he no longer blamed himself for what had happened to them.
“Have you heard from Angelo?” Laz asked, stopping at the patio door with a bag of trash. “He doesn’t usually pass on a free meal. So he should’ve been here by now, especially since I lied and told him Egypt was cooking.”
Kenton chuckled. “I called a couple of times, but haven’t heard back. I’ll try him again before we initiate a 311.”
Hamilton and Mase had introduced a new safety protocol. That whenever one of Atlanta’s finest didn’t report in or didn’t respond to calls, a search party would hunt them down.
“Okay, keep me posted. It’s not like Angelo to be off the grid.”
That was true. By nature, they were all overprotective, but since the bar bombing, everyone had been extra diligent in looking out for each other and checking in regularly.
“Dee said for everyone to come into the kitchen so Egypt can cut her cake,” Dominic, Hamilton and Dakota’s son, said.
“All right, let’s do this.” Kenton strolled over to Egypt, who was handing Arielle to Journey. “Hey, birthday girl. Ready for some cake?”
“I’m so full, I don’t think I can eat another thing, but I don’t want to stop anyone else.”
When they arrived at the breakfast bar, Dominic walked up to Egypt. “Were you really surprised?” he asked, looking at her with narrowed eyes. “Or did Kenton tell you?”
“Oh, God. He’s suspicious of everything. Just like his godfather,” Hamilton grumbled, shaking his head.
Laz shrugged. “Hey, what can I say? I’m a good influence on him.”
Dominic was one of the smartest kids Kenton knew, and at eleven, he already had some of Laz’s detecting skills. Hamilton might’ve been the kid’s father, but it was Laz who Dominic seemed to worship. Their relationship was closer than some father-son duos.
“Actually, I was surprised, Little Laz,” Egypt said, making Dominic grin.
Kenton playfully pulled Dominic into a headlock. “She was only surprised because we kept you away from her.”
“I wasn’t going to tell her. I know how to keep a secret,” Dominic said with attitude. “I don’t tell everything. I didn’t tell her that you bought her a ring.”
It was as if the world came to a screeching halt. Silence filled the room, and all eyes landed on Kenton. He turned and glared at the person who helped him pick the ring—Dakota.
“Oh no,” she murmured, while others laughed.
Kenton shook his head. “Dom, man, you’re like a wet paper bag, can’t hold nothin’.”
Dominic’s eyes grew big, and then he stared down at his tennis shoes. “Sorry.”
“No harm done, kid.” Kenton held his large fist out for a fist bump, and Dominic brightened.
When Kenton finally looked at Egypt, she stood stunned, her mouth hanging open. He loved her more than any man could love a woman but hadn’t planned to ask her to marry him until they were alone.
Now is as good of a time as ever.
He turned and moved a bar stool that was in the way. Then pulled the small, blue velvet box from his front pants pocket. He rarely got nervous. Yet, the steady thump of his heartbeat was picking up in speed as he reached for her hand and lowered himself to one knee.
When he opened the lid, revealing the two-carat princess cut diamond engagement ring, gasps filled the quietness of the room.
“Oh. My. God.” Egypt lifted her shaking hands to her mouth.
“I had planned to do this later tonight when we were alone, but since the kid outed me, now is as good of a time as ever. Egypt, I knew from the first moment I met you that you were special. Since then our relationship has grown stronger by the year, and over the last few months, you have brought so much joy into my life. I love you, sweetheart. I don’t want another day to go by without asking you… Will you marry me?”
“Oh, Kenton. I love you so much.” She swiped at a tear that slipped through. “Of course, I’ll marry you.”
Kenton slipped the ring onto her trembling finger as everyone around them cheered, and he scooped Egypt up into his arms. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this happy.
“How about changing your name one more time?” he whispered into her ear.
She cupped his face between her hands and kissed his lips before whispering back, “Actually, I think Egypt Bailey has a nice ring to it, and…thank you for loving me.”
“Always. I’ll always love you.”
*
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About the Author
Award-winning and bestselling author, Sharon C. Cooper, is a romance-a-holic - loving anything that involves romance with a happily-ever-after, whether in books, movies, or real life. Sharon writes contemporary romance, as well as romantic suspense and enjoys rainy days, carpet picnics, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She’s been nominated for numerous awards and is the recipient of an Emma Award for Romantic Suspense of the Year 2015 (Truth or Consequences), Emma Award - Interracial Romance of the Year 2015 (All You’ll Ever Need), and BRAB (book club) Award -Breakout Author of the Year 2014. When Sharon is not writing or working, she’s hanging out with her amazing husband, doing volunteer work or reading a good book (a romance of course). To read more about Sharon and her novels, visit www.sharoncooper.net
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Other Titles
Atlanta’s Finest Series
Vindicated (book 1)
Indebted (book 2)
Accused (book 3)
Jenkins & Sons Construction Series (Contemporary Romance)
Proposal for Love
A Lesson on Love – Coming Soon
Jenkins Family Series (Contemporary Romance)
Best Woman for the Job (Short Story Prequel)
Still the Best Woman for the Job (book 1)
All You’ll Ever Need (book 2)
Tempting the Artist (book 3)
Negotiating for Love (book 4)
Seducing the Boss Lady (book 5)
Love at Last (Holiday Novella)
When Love Calls (Novella)
Reunited Series (Romantic Suspense)
Blue Roses (book 1)
Secret Rendezvous (Prequel to Rendezvous with Danger)
Rendezvous with Danger (book 2)
Truth or Consequences (book 3)
Operation Midnight (book 4)
Stand Alones
Something New (“Edgy” Sweet Romance)
Legal Seduction (Harlequin Kimani – Contemporary Romance)
Sin City Temptation (Harlequin Kimani – Contemporary Romance)
A Dose of Passion (Harlequin Kimani – Contemporary Romance)
Model Attraction (Harlequin Kimani – Contemporary Romance)
A Passionate Kiss (Bennett Triplets Series)
Accused Page 24