I’ve envisioned how this’ll go in my head a million times, but my worries interfere, and I visualize the ring being thrown into the river during a flurry of excitement. I’ve been telling myself to keep a firm grip on it until it’s securely on her finger.
I grab the small velvet box from my pocket and open it, staring at the round diamond sitting on a rose gold band. The color reminded me of Madison, the way her hair looks in the sun.
Pocketing it again, I double-check everything and take a deep breath.
“Tate?” I hear her quiet voice and look up to see the woman of my dreams.
“Hi, Maddy.” I walk toward her, and she meets me halfway on the small bridge. Kissing her full lips, I smile against them.
“What’s going on?” She leans back, her hands on my arms, her eyebrows dipped on her forehead.
“Wanted to do somethin’ special,” I say with a timid smirk.
Her eyes scan the candles before meeting mine. When they collide, I drop down on my knee.
Madison gasps. “Holy…” she breathes out, the word disappearing as tears make their way down her cheeks and her hands covering her mouth.
“Madison Rose Carlisle, the woman of my dreams, the love of my life. I promise to spend the rest of my life teaching you to skip rocks, supporting you, and inspiring you. I want to build our dreams into realities, challenge each other, grow, and be a family. I want you to be my wife, carry my last name, and my children. Will you marry me?”
Her face is soaked in tears, the setting sun peeking through the trees and making her glow. She’s stunning. Her head nods wildly as she drops to her knees, hugging me tightly.
“I need an answer, babe,” I tease.
She laughs between tears and says, “Yes! Of course, I’ll marry you. Oh my God, Tate.” She leans back and looks at me. I wipe away her tears with my thumb before placing the ring on her finger.
“I’ve waited my whole life to ask you this question. I love you with all my heart. Every part of you. I promise to always love you, always protect you.” I kiss her tear-soaked cheeks.
“I love you, too.” Her hands frame my face, and a peaceful smile covers her lips. “So damn much.” Her eyes never waver from mine. “Until eternity.” She moves to my lips in a slow and sensual kiss.
“I made dinner,” I whisper as she pecks my lips.
“Really? As in, you ordered food?” She lifts a brow, mocking me.
A cocky smile appears on my face. “No. I cooked. I made a lasagna. Might not be the fanciest dinner, but it helps that my future brother-in-law is a genius in the kitchen. How did I never know Miles cooks like a badass?”
Madison giggles. “We share that trait. By the way,” she leans in, “I love lasagna. I love even more that you made it. And if it sucks, we’ll order a pizza,” she jokes.
“Ha! Funny girl,” I tickle her ribs. Madison howls and laughs.
“I’m kidding!” Her smile melts away any fear. “I’m sure it’s amazing, and I’m lucky to have a man who is willing to do this for me.” She waves around the bridge at the candles.
“I’d do anything for you.” I look at her in the eyes, hoping she feels the weight of my promise.
“You’re mine, Maddy. Yesterday, now, and forever.”
She nods. “You were always mine, too. Even when you weren’t.” Her voice cracks and I hug her to my chest.
“We’ve got an entire life ahead of us. I guess you’ll be putting your wedding planning to more use.” I kiss below her ear.
She nods. Her eyes stare into mine, full of emotions. “Take me home, Tate.”
I do just that, blowing off candles and placing them in the box. I grab her hand and take her to our home with the promise of being her forever home.
I thought I’d lost this woman, lost the love she gave me. When she left me, we were just kids who believed we were invincible. Life taught us we can break, we can hit rock bottom, but we can also rise stronger. The time we spent apart was filled with hurt and anger, but it also allowed us to appreciate each other and what we have more because of it. I hate to admit that, but I can’t deny I love her more because I know what it’s like to live without her.
***
Thank you for reading Madison and Tate’s story! I hope you loved it. If you’re inclined to, I’d love if you left a review on Amazon and Goodreads.
Brett and Magnolia’s story is next! Small Town King is a single dad romance is an emotional slow-burn that will make you swoon.
I thought losing my wife was the most difficult experience in my life. When I almost lose my daughters, I can’t bear it. Their new therapist is supposed to help them heal from the trauma, but I find her words piercing my soul. We shouldn’t be together, but some rules were made to be broken.
Buy your copy here!
***
If you enjoy small town romance, then you'll love my other books! Curious about Knox Bentley and Harris? Read their stories in the Love in Everton Series.
Love in Everton: Welcome to Everton—a small town hidden in the Wyoming mountains where cowboys rule, rumors run, and love wins. Your trip to Everton will be full of feel-good romance, lots of swoon, and small-town charm. Start reading now!
Perfect Mess: A broody rancher + a curvy city girl meet in this opposites attract romance. A toxic relationship crumbled her self-esteem, but Wilder James, the sexy rancher, is tearing down every insecurity, showing her what it feels like to be wanted. Her time in Mason Creek is temporary, and soon she’ll have to say the hardest goodbye. Start reading now!
Acknowledgments
Thank you, the reader, for taking a chance and reading this book. Without your support, I wouldn’t be able where I am today in my publishing journey. I’m grateful.
So many people are necessary to publish a book, and I’ve got an amazing team I can count on. Thank you to Amy from Q Designs for the gorgeous cover, Brittany from The Blurb Whisperer for always proving feedback, Bex from The Polished Author for taking your time to make this story perfect, and Claire and Wendy from Bare Naked Words for helping me put this story out in the world.
Ally, I can’t thank you enough for all your help. I can even handle saying daddies now.
Joy, thank you for your friendship. You’re always there, willing to help, and I appreciate that more than you know.
Veronica, thank you for your friendship and always cheering me on.
Christy and Rachel, I’m so grateful for your friendship. It’s priceless to know that I can count on you and turn to you despite distances, time zones, and life chaos. #soapythighs
Brit and Cary, thank you ladies for always being there to listen to me ramble and for providing feedback when I need to put things into perspective.
Savannah, thank you for believing in my work and helping me get my stories out in the world.
Fabiola’s Fab Reads, you’re the best group a girl could ask for. Thank you for being a part of my writing career and sharing everything from your fave reads to your life updates.
A huge thanks to my review team and master list for stepping up each time I have book news to share, reading and reviewing my work, and being there for me. It means the world to me that you love to share my work.
To all the reviewers, bloggers, authors, and bookstagrammers that have shared my work and supported me, thank you. I couldn’t do this without you. It takes a tribe, and you’re part of mine.
About the Author
Fabiola Francisco loves the simplicity—and kick—of scotch on the rocks. She follows Hemingway’s philosophy—write drunk, edit sober. She writes women’s fiction and contemporary romance, dipping her pen into new adult and young adult. Her moods guide her writing, taking her anywhere from sassy and sexy romances to dark and emotion-filled love stories.
Writing has always been a part of her life, penning her own life struggles as a form of therapy through poetry. She still stays true to her first love, poems, while weaving longer stories with strong heroines and honest heroes. She aims to get readers thinking about
life and love while experiencing her characters’ journeys.
She is continuously creating stories as she daydreams. Her other loves are country music, exploring the outdoors, and reading.
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Homecoming Queen: A Second Chance Romance (Carlisle Cellars Book 2) Page 23