“Well, if you knew how much this moment means to me. And how long I've waited for your touch. And if you knew how happy you are making me. I never thought that I'd love anyone so much.”
The words were the lyrics from the song playing down stairs.
“No instructions?” I wondered aloud.
“Turn around.” I jumped at his deep voice behind me.
I spun around, The note I was holding falling, forgotten to the floor.
He smirked at my surprised expression. He held out a note to me without saying a word.
I smiled at his boyish grin and reached for the note. Our fingers brushed and I felt my skin pebble at the familiar zing of energy. I slowly unfolded the note and flattened it out. The two words made my head spin and I heard myself gasp.
“Marry me.”
I looked back at Lawson. He was on one knee in front of me. He held out his hands and I took a shaky step towards him. He held both of my hands in his and squeezed lightly.
“I never thought it would be possible to love another person as much as I love you Ells. You are my rock, my happy place, and my home.”
I felt the tears sliding down my face.
“I have no idea what the future might hold for the two of us, but I know one thing with absolute certainty… I don’t want to do any of it without you. I want the world for you Ellerslie, for us. I want to wake up to those big blue eyes every morning and know that you’ll never question how much I love you. I want to fall asleep every night knowing that you’ll be the last thing I see. You are the difference in my life Ells. I want to be the difference in yours too.”
He took a deep, steadying breath. “Ellerslie Jaymes Rush, will you marry me?”
I knew I would marry this man. I think I’d always known. This was what it should be like… this is what love should be like. I needed him more than I needed anything else in my life. He was the name I longed to see on the screen of my phone, he was the person I looked for in a crowded room… he was the love of my life.
He was forever.
“Lawson Alexander Pierce.” I breathed. “Nothing would make me happier.”
His green eyes danced with joy. “Yes?” He asked me, totally bewildered.
“Yes!” I cried. He pulled me down towards him and kissed me hard.
“You didn’t think I’d say no?” I murmured against his lips.
He chuckled and rested his forehead against mine. “I wasn’t sure. You always surprise me pretty girl.”
“I keep telling you cowboy, it’s always yes, yes, yes to you.” I giggled as he tickled me.
“Wait!” I demanded suddenly.
He froze.
“Did you ask my dad?”
Lawson’s smile took my breath away. “I did. I asked him a few weeks back when your parents were both here.”
My mom and dad had jumped on the first flight out after the attack. They were both worried sick about it. They met Lawson and loved him right away.
“He was concerned we were moving too fast, but I assured him that it didn’t matter, I told him we were inevitable… he gave us his blessing baby.”
“Thank you.” I whispered. I knew it would have meant a lot to my dad. Baxter had never asked and I knew my dad hadn’t been too happy about it.
“Give me your hand.” He growled. We were tangled together on the floor, me on his lap. I held my left hand out to him.
“This was my grandmothers ring.” He told me softly as he produced a black satin box.
I gasped as he flipped the lid open.
“Lawson, it’s beautiful.” It was a large oval emerald, surrounded by small diamonds. Diamonds also ran down the sides of the platinum band. “It’s the same colour as your eyes.” I whispered as he held the ring up to show me.
He nodded. “That’s why she gave it to me. She told me that, one day, I would find the most beautiful woman in the world, and I would want her to wear this ring. She insisted that every time my wife looked at her hand, she’d be reminded of my eyes.” He chuckled softly. “I thought she was crazy. I very nearly gave it to Quinn once, but something held me back. I guess I wanted to believe what Nana had told me.”
“She sounds like a very wise woman.” I said quietly. The ring was the exact shade of his eyes. It literally could not have been more perfect for us.
He smiled and reached for my hand. The ring slid effortlessly onto my finger. “Now you’re perfect.” He said, victory in his voice.
I stared at him, my fiancé. I took in every edge of his handsome face, I dragged my eyes across his dark stubble, over his lips, his solid jaw and up to his sexy hair.
“What?” He asked softly.
“Nothing.” I shook my head. “I just don’t want to forget a single thing about you in this moment. I love you Lawson. I never thought I’d have love like yours.”
“I love you more.” He said – eyes blazing. We stared at each other in silence for a few moments, both lost in each other.
“How would you feel about waiting until tomorrow to tell everyone?” He asked. “I want to keep you all to myself for tonight.”
I held his face in my hands and kissed him softly on the lips. We both caught sight of the ring on my finger and smiled. “Sounds perfect.” I whispered as he gently lowered me down onto the floor.
***
“She’s gonna kill you.” Lawson muttered as we rode the elevator up to see Quinn at the office the next morning.
“I know.” I shrugged. “But that bitch would do it to me in a heartbeat.” I gave him a wicked grin and headed off towards Quinn’s office.
He muttered something about the both of us being crazy and followed behind me.
We got to Q’s door and I pushed him back against the wall. “Wait here cowboy.” I whispered.
I slipped through the door before he had a chance to protest.
“Hey Q, can we talk?” I did my best to make my voice sound morbid and serious.
She dropped her pen and looked up at me. “Sure…” Her expression was concerned. “What’s up?”
I sat down in the chair facing her desk and placed my bag so it was covering my left hand.
Show time.
“Something’s happened with Lawson.”
She frowned at the mention of her brother’s name. “What’s that knuckle head done now?”
I held back a smile. “Quinn…” I looked straight into her green eyes and repeated the words that she’d said to me back on the snowboarding trip. “We’re not going to be friends anymore.”
She smacked her fist down hard against her desk. “Fucking hell, what is wrong with that man… I swear I’ll kill him.” She ranted. “What’d he do? He messed it up didn’t he-”
“Quinn!” I interrupted, a huge smile on my face.
She was still ranting – taking absolutely no notice of me. “Stupid damn fool...”
Jesus, overreaction much?
“Quinn!” I yelled again.
She took a deep breath and finally looked at me. “What!?” She demanded.
I waved the ring on my left hand at her. “We’re going to be sisters.” I shrieked.
The end
Acknowledgements
I’d like to make a special mention to all of you fabulous girls that read my work for me, you smothered me with encouragement and praise, and gave me the confidence to put my work out there – You know who you are and I’ll never forget it. Thank you x
Book #2 – Love like Yours Series
Ellerslie and Lawson’s story concludes in ‘Pierced’, due out late 2016.
It was strange to think that such a short time ago it was just me… and then I found El… or maybe she found me – and I had something I never even knew I was looking for.
I thought I had everything.
As per usual life had other plans.
One event would alter our entire course…
We hadn’t even made it down the aisle yet and already there was a baby in the picture. I knew she was going to
turn my whole fucking life upside down. How I would run a business, care for a family and still cherish El… I had no clue.
I wasn’t sure I had what it took to be a good father, I knew Ells would be a great mother, and Aunty Quinn had promised she would be there to help in any way we needed.
I was determined to try my hardest. I wanted to be the best I could be for her when she arrived. She was part of my family… her, El and I… we were a family now.
If I was really being honest with myself, just being a new father was not my main concern – learning to be a father to a child that wasn’t mine? Yeah… that was up there on the list.
Playlist
To Build a Home – The Cinematic Orchestra
Forever – Six60
Waiting All Night – Rudimental (feat. Ella Eyre)
All of Me – John Legend
Feels Like Home – Edwina Hayes
Everything has Changed – Taylor Swift (feat. Ed Sheeran)
Lay It All On Me – Rudimental (feat. Ed Sheeran)
Made To Love – John Legend
Outta Here – Esmée Denters
Tonight – Enrique Iglesias
I’m Yours – Alessia Cara
Something In the Way You Move – Ellie Goulding
The Only Exception - Paramore
Under My Feet – Ginny Blackmore
Feel the Love – Rudimental (feat. John Newman)
Golden – Travie McCoy (feat. Sia)
On My Mind – Ellie Goulding
Don’t Let Me Down – The Chainsmokers (feat. Daya)
Hands To Myself – Selena Gomez
I Will Never Let You Down – Rita Ora
I Was Made For Loving You – Tori Kelly (feat. Ed Sheeran)
How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
Secret Love Song – Little Mix (feat. Jason Derulo)
How Deep Is Your Love – Calvin Harris & Disciples
Coming Home – Sigma & Rita Ora
Fast Car – Taio Cruz
Trouble – Iggy Azalea (feat. Jennifer Hudson)
I Want You To Know – Zedd (feat. Selena Gomez)
In My Head – Jason Derulo
I Won’t Let You Go – James Morrison
Titanium – David Guetta & Sia
Higher Place – Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike (feat. Ne-Yo)
Open Happiness - Brendon Urie, Cee-Lo Green, Janelle Monae, Patrick Stump & Travis McCoy
About the Author
NICOLE GOODIN is a twenty-seven-year-old mother of two from Taranaki in the North Island of New Zealand.
Mid 2015, she started to write about a group of characters who wouldn’t get out of her head. Her first book, Rushed, was published in mid 2016, with plans for a series already in the works.
Nicole enjoys reading, working out, and spending time with her friends and family.
Please feel free to contact her either via email, instagram, or on her Facebook page, she would love to hear your feedback.
Upcoming Titles by Nicole Goodin
Upcoming titles in the Love like Yours Series
Pierced – Due out 2016
Hunted
Granted
Chased
Jaded
Rushed Page 42