by Dawn Brower
“Can we elope?”
He hadn’t expected her to say that. The image of their wedding was shifting. Did it matter if she had a white dress and they said their vows in a church? No, it really didn’t. Not as long as, at the end, she was his wife. “I’m not against it,” he said carefully. “But won’t your mother be disappointed if she doesn’t get to fuss over you?”
Lana had done some fussing of her own over her mother ever since Dani’s wedding. They had drugged her with some heavy duty sleeping pills, but she’d made it through it relatively unscathed. Sullivan was grateful. If her mother had died, Lana would have been wrecked for a long time.
“She won’t mind as long as I’m happy.”
“And are you? Sullivan had to ask. A part of him still didn’t believe how truly happy they were. Nothing in his life had prepared him for loving Lana. He set her on the bed and then walked over to the dresser. He opened a drawer and pulled out a ring box then kneeled before her. Not quite the way he’d envisioned, but at least he was in the proper position—on his knees. He flipped open the box.
Tears formed in the corners of her eyes. She wiped them away. “It’s beautiful.”
“Lisanna, my love, will you marry me. Be my wife beyond forever and the mother of our children. Please, have mercy on me and say yes.”
“It would be my pleasure,” she said and kissed him lightly. “I never answered your question. I am so happy I’m blind with it.” He slipped the ring onto her finger. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”
Sullivan lifted a brow. “As long as it is not, ‘I changed my mind,’ then please continue.”
He was joking—mostly.
“How do you feel about starting that family a tiny bit earlier than planned?”
Had he heard her correctly? “As in working on it now or we’ve already achieved our goal?’
Lana chuckled lightly and leaned forward. “We can work on it as often as you wish, but yes, we’ve already hit the bull’s eye.”
Sullivan joined her on the bed and pulled her close for a kiss. He wasn’t sure how, but he didn’t care. They were going to have a baby. The request for an elopement made a little bit more sense now. She probably didn’t want to have a large belly on their wedding day. He didn’t care either way. She would be his wife, and in the end, that was all that mattered. He was blessed, and he wasn’t about to complain about the gifts he’d been given.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes,” she said. “I had a test done at the hospital.”
He chuckled. “We’ll have some announcements for the parents at dinner tonight.”
She crinkled her nose. “Mom will be a little shocked.”
“She won’t be the only one.”
His parents had been trying to get him to settle down for a while. They’ll be relieved to know that not only did he plan on marrying Lana, but they’d have a grandchild in a matter of months.
“If I’d have known years ago this was waiting for me in the future, I’d have done some things differently,” he said.
“I don’t,” she replied. “Our mistakes define us. They’re what make us into the people we are. You had to go down that path to be the man I need today. I’m your last, and that’s all that matters.”
“I love you so much, and I promise I’ll never make you regret the choice to be with me.”
“I know,” she said confidently. “Because, if you do, I’ll gut you.”
Sullivan laughed and pulled her into his arms. They lay in their bed for a while holding each other. There was a little time until they had to meet the family for dinner. Moments of joy should be cherished, and Sullivan wouldn’t take any of them for granted. He’d almost lost her more times than his heart could take.
The first time he really saw her as a woman should have been all he’d needed to wake him up. Sadly, it hadn’t been. At least now he had a chance to make up for it. Lana was right though. He hadn’t been ready back then. Now, he was able to fully commit to her and be the man she needed.
They’d both needed that time to grow up and become more than two young kids struggling to understand life. This was life’s way of smiling down at them. They had their whole future ahead of them. The past didn’t matter, their future did—and what a future it would be.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dawn Brower holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Master of Arts in Education, and a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts with concentrations in Literature, History, and Sociology. She works as a substitute teacher and enjoys the flexibility it gives her to concentrate on her other endeavors.
Growing up she was the only girl out of six children. She is a single mother of two teenage boys; there is never a dull moment in her life. Reading books is her favorite hobby. While she loves all genres she focuses most of her writing on historical and contemporary romance.
There are always stories inside her head; she just never thought she could make them come to life. That creativity has finally found an outlet.
For more information visit her website at: http://www.authordawnbrower.com/
Books by Dawn Brower
Broken Pearl
Deadly Benevolence
Don’t Happen Twice
There You’ll Be
A Wallflower’s Christmas Kiss
Marsden Romances
A Flawed Jewel
A Crystal Angel
A Treasured Lily
A Sanguine Gem
A Hidden Ruby
A Discarded Pearl
Novak Springs
Cowgirl Fever
Dirty Proof
Unbridled Pursuit
Sensual Games
Christmas Temptation
Linked Across Time
Saved by My Blackguard
Searching for My Rogue
Seduction of My Rake
Surrendering to My Spy
Spellbound by My Charmer
Stolen by My Knave
Separated from My Love
Scheming with My Duke
Secluded with My Hellion
Heart’s Intent
One Heart to Give
Unveiled Hearts
Heart of the Moment
Kiss My Heart Goodbye
Broken Curses
The Enchanted Princess
The Bespelled Knight
Ever Beloved
Forever My Earl
Always My Viscount