“Yeah, well.”
“Whatever. I don’t care.”
“What do you think? Okay, I gotta go. Stuff to do. A date to go on.”
“No, I’m not mad at you. You didn’t do anything. I’m pissed at her.”
“Love you, too.”
She ended the call, and I stood waiting for her to tell me what was going on.
“Guess who’s coming to our small town in Pennsylvania?”
“I’m not sure I want to know,” I responded. This couldn’t be good given the conversation she just had.
“Well, since I have to know, so do you. Especially since what concerns me concerns you. Dear old mother is coming to visit. Only she never fucking called me to ask if she could. Oh, no. Instead, she called my father to tell him she would be stopping by next week.”
“Shit,” I mutter.
“What a bitch! Well, her ass can rot outside the gate. Maybe she can strike up a conversation with the paparazzi. I’m not letting her in.”
I knew her relationship with her mother was nonexistent like the one I had with my father. It was one of the things we had in common. I didn’t know how I’d handle seeing my dad after all of these years. I’d probably be swearing a whole lot more than Kasi was. Maybe even throwing some shit.
Stepping close to her, I wrapped my arms around her waist from behind. She was applying make-up. I nuzzled her neck, my chest to her back, not wanting this to ruin our evening.
“Let this go for now. I want to enjoy tonight with you.”
Her body relaxed against me. “I’m sorry. You planned something special for us. I’m not going to let that phone call ruin it. After all, I have a week to be pissed off about her deciding all of the sudden to want to talk to me.”
“There you go.” I chuckled. “Now get moving. You have five minutes.”
She squirmed in my arms. “Let go, then. I have to finish putting this on or else I won’t want to leave the house.”
“Baby, you know I love you no matter how you look.”
“Yeah, you might, but I have no desire for the entire world to see me without make-up. Especially now that my skin has decided to revolt against me, thanks to this pregnancy.”
She had one pimple and it was tiny. Barely noticeable, but to her it was the size of a mountain.
“Okay,” I said, smacking her ass. “Five minutes.”
“Shoo.”
12
I decided to blindfold Kasi. I didn’t want her knowing where we were going. Once I turned down a certain road, it would be a dead giveaway. Luckily, she had a black, silk sleep mask. I put that on her when she sat down in the SUV. She started to protest, but I told her we wouldn’t leave until she relaxed and stopped trying to remove it.
It didn’t take long to get there. We arrived and I rolled down the window to nod at the proprietor to let me in. I had rented out the entire drive-in theater. Pulling into the open, grassy area, I turned the Jeep around so the back was facing the screen. Putting it in park, I told Kasi she wasn’t allowed to peek or move; that I’d get her in a minute. I wanted to set up the back.
Popping the rear of the Jeep open, I spread out two blankets to make it soft. I also took the cooler I had brought and placed it in the back seat. I didn’t want her to see it yet.
Walking to her side, I opened the door and took her hand in mine. “Come on.” She hesitated. “Trust me,” I reassured her.
She followed me to the back. I lifted her to sit on the blanket and removed the mask. The screen flickered to life. It was a blank movie screen, but then a picture of her jet popped up.
Her head turned toward me. “What is this?”
“Shhh, just watch and listen.”
My voice came over the speaker beside the Jeep. “Our relationship didn’t start smoothly. We met in a plane, but I was determined to keep my distance.”
The picture changed to the hotel in Kansas we stayed at during that first trip. “You don’t like to give up, but after trying to persuade me repeatedly, I still said no. Then you did the last thing I expected and walked away. I couldn’t let you go.”
The next was a picture was of the inside of the room she was staying in. “I was drawn to you. You were different than any other woman I had ever met, and I quickly became wrapped up in your world. You had me from the first time I saw you.”
A picture of her came up. Her head was tipped back and she was laughing. It was one I had taken without her knowing, and one of my favorites. “Your charisma and love of life are infectious. You’re beautiful and warm. Kind and loving. The way you speak whatever’s on your mind, and don’t hold back, is one of the things I love about you.”
A picture of her and I kissing faded in. “I never thought I’d settle down and commit myself to one woman. I liked my life as a bachelor, but you entering my world changed everything. Once I made you mine, I was never letting go. Our journey hasn’t been easy. We fight as passionately as we love. In the end we’re stronger for all that we’ve been through.”
A picture of Ace and Lily were next. “We even have a little family.” I wasn’t about to put her pregnancy up on the screen. She didn’t want it out yet, and I was behind her one hundred percent in whatever she decided.
The sun rising outside our home with her and me sitting together on the deck appeared. “This is only the beginning of our lives together.”
The next shot was actually a camera on us projecting onto the screen live. I was down on my knee before her. She was so wrapped up in the movie, she didn’t notice me move. I watched as she realized this was really happening and not another picture of something.
She looked down at me. I had the ring in its box in my hand with the lid open. “Kasi,” I started. “You changed my life the first day I met you. Every day with you is a treasure I don’t take for granted. You’re my best friend and my lover. The woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. Would you do me the honor of marrying me?”
Tears started running down her cheeks. She jumped down from the back of the Jeep and threw herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck, pushing us to the ground.
She rained kisses all over my face before settling on my lips. “Yes!” she exclaimed in between kisses. “I love you so much.”
I held her tight and buried my face in her hair. “I love you, too, Kasi. Words could never express how much you mean to me.”
Sitting up, I brought her with me, and lifted her back into the Jeep. I took the ring out of its box and placed it on her finger. It was tight, but surprisingly fit. We’d need to get it sized, however. She’d been complaining about her fingers swelling and her jewelry not fitting.
“Oh my God, Radek. It’s beautiful.”
Smiling, I said, “I’m glad you like it.”
“Like it? I love it!” She grabbed my shirt in her small, fisted hand and brought me down until our faces were only inches apart. “Kiss me, fiancé.”
“With pleasure.”
Our lips crashed together; tongues meeting in a frenzied kiss. Had we been somewhere more private, I would have pushed her into the back of the Jeep and made love to her. Instead, I broke our kiss after a minute and walked around to the backseat to grab the cooler. One of the girls who worked at the drive-in came over with two tubs of popcorn and some candy on a tray.
“Thank you,” I said, smiling. “For everything.”
She was young, probably sixteen or so. Her smile was huge. “You’re welcome and congratulations. I’m so happy for you both.”
“Thank you.” Kasi gave her a warm smile.
I made sure to have everyone who’d be working here tonight sign a document saying they wouldn’t release the details of what took place. Once it was in the news that we were engaged, they were allowed to speak of it, but no pictures were to be taken and the video was not allowed to be released or copied. The owner of the drive-in brought only his family in to help. He said they were the ones he trusted most.
I placed the snacks in the back of the SUV and
took out a bottle of sparkling cider from the cooler, along with two chilled glasses. After pouring us each a glass, I faced the love of my life and made a toast.
“To many more years to come.”
She smiled. “To us.”
“To us.”
We clinked our glasses and took a few small sips. 50 First Dates came to life on the screen. Kasi gasped. “That’s one of my favorite movies.”
I winked. “I know.”
We settled comfortably into the SUV amongst the blankets and junk food. “You really outdid yourself tonight, Mr. Cole.”
Leaning over, I brought my lips to the sensitive spot below her ear and murmured, “And the night’s not over yet.”
I continued nibbling on her neck a moment longer, but then wrapped an arm around her to bring her close to my side. Knowing that Kasi was now my fiancé was the best feeling in the world. I’d be marrying this stunning woman. The woman who was carrying my baby. The woman who could lift me up with her smile and bring me to my knees with her body. The woman I’d spend the rest of my life loving.
Acknowledgements
My husband is my rock as I write. Not only does he take care of our kids, but he’s always encouraging me, making me be the best I can be. His support, and the rest of my family’s, means the world to me.
Shannon, you are my best friend and put up with all of my bullshit. I love you so much.
Stephanie and Laura, you both are amazing and I don’t know what I would do with you. I fucking love you both!
Steph and Angel, thank you for always helping me and being there. Love you!
My betas kick ass and were there to help me make sure I got Radek’s book just right. Monique, Stephanie, Laura, Allison, Sharon, Chelle, Judy, Lianne, Tina, Rachael, Mary, and Rebecca, I love you all to pieces. Thank you for beta reading for me.
To my street team, thank you all that you do. You are an amazing group of women, and I’m fortunate to call you all my friends.
Zolie, Mecca, Michele, thank you for listening to me. I’m so happy to have you in my life.
To Karen, Sommer, Sara, and Riane, I couldn’t do this without you. Thank you for making my book look as great as it does. You four are crazy talented. I have tons love for you.
If I missed someone, I’m sorry. I’m running on minimal sleep lol. Every person who messages me, chats about my characters, loves them like I do, means a lot to me.
The book community is huge and there are amazing authors, bloggers, and readers out there. Thank you to each person who has shared, read, reviewed, and supported me.
About the Author
Michelle Dare is a romance author. Her stories range from sweet to sinful and from new adult to fantasy. There aren’t enough hours in the day for her to write all of the story ideas in her head. When not writing or reading, she’s a wife and mom living in eastern Pennsylvania. One day she hopes to be writing from a beach where she will never have to see snow or be cold again.
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Table of Contents
Prologue
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Adoring Her (The Heiress #3) Page 10