Love Me Like I Love You

by Willow Winters

  I got the Prince Charming I longed for. My hand slips to my lower belly. Together, we’ll have a family.

  Sooner or later, I’m going to break down and reorganize the kitchen, the bathroom, and the laundry room. I would do it now, but I don’t want to freak Charlie out… although Ann says when I start nesting, I won’t have much of a choice.

  Back to the living room, I pick up the now-empty box that previously held the plates. Breaking it down, I fold it flat so it will be easier to take out to the recycling later.

  My phone buzzes in the back pocket of my jeans and I pull it out to check the message. It’s a text from Charlie, saying he'll be home soon… and that I better not be lifting anything heavy. The last part makes me laugh. I might be tired, but it’s not like I’m suddenly frail and can’t lift a couple of dishes.

  My phone vibrates in my hand. I check it again, and then grin. It’s a picture of Eric, Charlie’s new bar manager, standing on his hands on top of the bar. Eric is supposed to manage the bar in Charlie’s stead, but Charlie’s having a hard time letting go.

  I guess it’s safe to leave Mac’s in this guy’s hands… right? he texts.

  I’m pretty sure. You wouldn’t have hired him otherwise. I respond.

  Okay. On my way home.

  I check the time, and realize it’s midnight, long past my bedtime. I got wrapped up with unpacking, but I’ll still be expected at work in the morning.

  At my new position. In my new office. Oh, and a Diane-free office at that. She got fired. When Sarah informed me, I didn’t even bother asking why. I just told her I’d divide her assignments accordingly. Good riddance. Ann agrees. When I told Ann what happened at Mac’s that night, she flipped on Diane.

  I drift into Charlie’s bedroom, shaking off the negativity — our bedroom, I suppose I should call it. Only good vibes from here on out. For both Charlie and me. Taking a seat on the edge of the bed and feeling a yawn come over me, I look down at my grubby t-shirt and cotton shorts. It’ll only take a moment to change out of these and into a button down of Charlie’s to greet him in when he comes home. It only takes a moment and I’m glad I did. The cotton smells just like him.

  It’s been a hell of a month. I moved all my things into Charlie’s two-story McMansion. It’s out in the rural area, and I absolutely love it. Charlie and some of his guy friends helped move all the big stuff so it only took one day.

  I’m surprised there weren’t raised eyebrows and red alarm bells from his family and friends. And judging by the comments from his sisters and mother, when we finally tell them we’re pregnant, at that safe twelve-week mark, I think they’re going to be overjoyed. I love my mother, but a big family is different. I didn’t know how much love could be amplified.

  The metallic chime of the security system alerts me that somebody opened the front door. I huddle under the covers, waiting for him. He’s going to shower before he joins me, and I’ll probably drift asleep. But he always kisses me first thing.

  When he comes around the corner, I can’t control the smile that breaks out across my face. He looks so handsome, in his old Mac’s t-shirt and low slung jeans with a peek of that sexy “V” showing.

  He’s all mine. My sexy southern bartender to knock boots with.

  “Looks like you went through a good number of boxes in the living room,” he says, jerking his thumb over his shoulder as he comes into the room.

  “I made a decent dent,” I sigh.

  He comes over to the bed, eyeing me. He swoops down and kisses me. The faint smell of beer follows him.

  “You look like you could fall right asleep.” he comments and then does just want I knew he would. Plants a kiss right on my lips.

  “I don’t know,” I only answer once he breaks the kiss. “Maybe?” Right after the word is spoken, I involuntarily yawn.

  “I guess that answers my question,” he says with a rough chuckle, winking at me and heading to the master bath.

  “No, wait,” I say, tugging his arm. “Tell me something. I don’t want to fall asleep without talking a little bit.”

  He looks at me for a long moment, then shakes his head.

  “What?” I ask.

  “I was going to wait until you’re more awake, but…”

  He reaches in his back pocket and pulls out a Ring Pop. Scrunching my face curiously, I watch as he gets off the bed, kneeling on the floor.

  “What are you doing?” I ask with a stupid grin on my face. A Ring Pop?

  “Asking you to marry me, if you don’t mind.”

  My mouth falls open and my heart thumps loud and fast. I stare at him, and he looks back at me, the hint of a smile on his face. But also nervousness. Holy shit. No he’s not really. Goosebumps break out over my body.

  “You’re kidding,” I accuse.

  “I’m not. I’m just waiting for a sign that you want to hear the words.”

  “I… I…” I try to answer with my lungs refusing to work.

  My throat closes up, and tears threaten. I am officially speechless. I manage a nod.

  “Yes? You want to hear them?”

  I nod again.

  “I love you, Grace Campbell. I don’t want to lose you ever again. I want to build a life with you. I want us to have a family, together.”

  Yes. Those are exactly the words I want to hear. That thudding in my chest gets harder and I watch him pull a small black velvet box from his back pocket, the opposite one that the Ring Pop was in.

  My eyes prick with tears and I sit up straighter.

  He pauses. I press my fingers to my lips. I can’t believe this is really happening.

  “It’s been in my back pocket for almost a week now, Grace. I wanted it to be perfect. I want everything to be perfect for you. For us.”

  “Charlie,” all I can say is his name.

  “Grace, will you marry me?” Charlie asks, looking at me with those soulful green eyes.

  I launch myself off the bed, tackling him. My kisses land more on his face than his mouth, but Charlie doesn’t seem to mind.

  When the kisses taper off, he slides the diamond onto my finger, the ring sparkling and shining bright. It’s a large diamond, I don’t know how many carats, but it sits perfect on my finger.

  Charlie chuckles. “You approve?”

  “I love it,” I answer, brushing the tears from my face.

  “So tell me what I want to hear.”

  “The kissing and tackling weren’t evidence enough?” I tease.

  “Not for me,” he says, his eyes sparkle and the smile on his face widens. “Not when it’s something this important.”

  I lean in and kiss him tenderly. “Yes, Charlie. I want to marry you.”

  “Good. Because I want to do this with you forever. I’m all in.”

  “Forever?” I question.

  “Forever,” he repeats.

  “I love you, Grace.”

  “I love you too, Charlie.”

  Epilogue

  Charlie

  The sound of keys tapping rattles through the house. Grace is busy at work again. I roll in the bed onto my side and stare at the digital red numbers, 4:33 a.m.

  The bed groans as I shift my weight and crawl out of bed. My sweetheart’s been getting into this habit lately. It started before the wedding when she knew she’d be taking time off.

  And now she’s at it again.

  Ever since she was promoted and in charge of her own team, she works nonstop. Well, mostly. But just like me, we make time for each other.

  My wedding band clinks on the doorknob as I open the bedroom door wider and follow the soft clicks of her laptop in the office.

  I lean against the doorframe, resting my head there and watching her for a moment.

  She’s made my house a home. Leaving work is now enjoyable, knowing that I’m coming home to her beautiful smile.

  The faint light from her computer bathes her in a glow. My lips creep up into a smile. No, that glow is from something else.

  As my eyes
travel to her swollen belly, the tapping of her laptop stops.

  Her gorgeous blue eyes stare back at me as she asks, “Did I wake you?” A wrinkle sets in the middle of her forehead as she frowns and gets up to come over to me. Her belly almost pushes against the desk, but she turns in time. She’s only now getting used to the weight of our little boy.

  Six months pregnant, a little over a month after marriage, almost a year since I first laid eyes on her, and I couldn’t love her more.

  Our baby boy is healthy, and the doctors don’t expect any complications. It’s funny how she was so nervous and anxious, but the moment she got pregnant, she relaxed and I became the one who was worrying about everything.

  I open my arms as she slowly walks to me, the lack of sleep seeming to hit her as she reaches me.

  Her soft body molds to mine as I hold her and kiss her hair. The smell of her shampoo tickles my nose as I smile. “I missed you I think,” my words reflect my sleepy state. “I can’t sleep when you’re not in bed.”

  She lifts her head to look at me, “I just wanted to get this one done before the baby comes.”

  My smile only widens at her response. “We have three more months, sweetheart.”

  She pouts in response, and it only makes me want to kiss her that much more.

  Her lips part to give some excuse, but I don’t let her say a word. I crush my lips to hers, spearing my fingers through her hair and deepening it when she melts into me.

  A year since I set eyes on her, and I don’t know how I ever lived without her.

  When I pull away from her, Grace’s hands travel toward her belly and I know why; I can feel our little boy kicking her. She looks up at me in wonder, as if it’s the first time she’s felt him.

  A chuckle escapes me as I push her hair out of her face and plant a chaste kiss on her lips.

  She grabs my hand and places it on her belly and our baby kicks my hand just then. It’s hard enough that I would have pulled back had Grace’s hand not still been on top of mine.

  “Is he why you can’t sleep?” I ask her playfully, my hands traveling over her swollen bump.

  “No, the lavender pillow spray works really well to put me out.” My eyes reach hers again, and in them I see nothing but happiness. Cheryl has been over nonstop, giving her all sorts of things.

  Grace happened to say once at Sunday dinner that she wasn’t sleeping well. The very next day my sisters and mom were over here with all sorts of pillows and aromatherapy sprays. My Ma knew. She knows everything.

  I’ve never loved my family more than now. And I know Grace loves them, too.

  Together, we’re complete; there’s no doubt in my mind that this is how it was supposed to happen all along.

  I tip her chin up, holding her gaze for a moment before kissing her one last time and whispering, “I love you.” I can feel her smile on my lips before she whispers back, “And I love you.”

  Thank you for reading! 100% of the profits from this anthology will be given to the Live A Thousand Lives charity.

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  Don’t stop reading! My newest small town romance novel, Tequila Rose, is sweet and sexy with all the feels. Click here, to snag it now so you don’t miss out!

  Read more Contemporary Romance Standalones from Willow Winters today!

  Promise Me (A Novel)

  She gave him her heart. Back when she thought they’d always be together.

  Now Hunter is home and he wants Violet back.

  Tell Me To Stay (A Novella)

  He devoured her, and she did the same to him.

  Until it all fell apart and Sophie ran as far away from Madox as she could.

  After all, the two of them were never meant to be together?

  Second Chance (A Novella)

  No one knows what happened the night that forced them apart. No one can ever know.

  But the moment Nathan locks his light blue eyes on Harlow again, she is ruined.

  She never stood a chance.

  Burned Promises (A Novella)

  Derek made her a promise. And then he broke it. That’s what happens with your first love.

  But Emma didn’t expect for Derek to fall back into her life and for her to fall back into his bed.

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  Also by Willow Winters

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  Four years ago, I decided to get over one man, by getting under another. A single night and nothing more.

  Now, with a three-year-old in tow, the man I still dream about is staring at me from across the street in the town I grew up in. I don’t miss the flash of recognition, or the heat in his gaze.

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  I just hope the secrets and regrets don’t destroy our second chance before it’s even begun.

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  Grace is looking for the opposite. Commitment. Marriage. A baby.

  Promise Me (A Novel)

  She gave him her heart. Back when she thought they’d always be together.

  Now Hunter is home and he wants Violet back.

  Tell Me To Stay (A Novella)

  He devoured her, and she did the same to him.

  Until it all fell apart and Sophie ran as far away from Madox as she could.

  After all, the two of them were never meant to be together?

  Second Chance (A Novella)

  No one knows what happened the night that forced them apart. No one can ever know.

  But the moment Nathan locks his light blue eyes on Harlow again, she is ruined.

  She never stood a chance.

  Burned Promises (A Novella)

  Derek made her a promise. And then he broke it. That’s what happens with your first love.

  But Emma didn’t expect for Derek to fall back into her life and for her to fall back into his bed.

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  One look and Jules was tempted; one taste, addicted.

  No one is perfect, but that’s how it felt to be in Mason’s arms.

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