by B. B. Hamel
I’ll never forget that call. It was from a man that introduced himself as a friend of Westin’s from school… and asked if I wanted to come to the University of Pennsylvania to do my undergrad.
Now here we are, sitting on UPenn’s campus, basking in the gorgeous afternoon sun.
I don’t remember the last time I was so happy and content.
Oh, sure, my biology major is difficult. I have to work hard, but I get good grades and I’m consistently at the top of my class. But I love it. I have a purpose now, beyond just making coffee for strangers, beyond waiting for my mother to become so sick she can’t even get out of bed anymore.
I have a life now, and it’s all thanks to Westin.
“So when do you have to go in?” I ask him.
He sighs. “Tonight. Overnight shift.”
“Of course.”
“Hey, can’t blame then. I’m the new doctor. Gotta put in my time.”
“Assholes. Don’t they know who you are?”
He laughs a little and sighs. “I know. What morons.”
I grin at him. About two months ago, he got a new job at a hospital further outside of the city. It’s a bit of a commute, but he’s back to doing surgery. He took time off, was part of a private practice for a little while, but he knew what he wanted to do.
Risky surgeries, like the one that saved my mother.
It took a while to find a hospital that would take him on under those conditions. But now he’s working again, doing the surgeries he loves. It’s hard work and his hours are a little erratic, but I don’t mind.
I’m always at home waiting for him. And studying. Can’t forget studying.
“What do you want to do for the rest of the day?” I ask him.
“Well, I was thinking we could go get something to eat.”
“How original.”
“I know. Humans feeding. Yuck.”
“Don’t call it feeding.”
“Sorry.” He grins at me and leans forward, putting an arm around my shoulders. “Listen. You know I love you, right?”
“Sure,” I say, tilting my chin in his direction. “Of course you do. I’m wonderful.”
He laughs softly. “This new hospital job… it’s not going to be easy for either of us. At least not at first. You’re going to have to put up with some shitty hours.”
“I know that. You’re a doctor.”
“You haven’t really experienced it yet. I had normal hours, mostly, when I was private. But this is going to be different.”
“I know.” I touch his face and kiss him. “But it’s important.”
“Yeah, I think it is. I just don’t want you to feel like… like I’m drifting away from you. Like the hospital is taking something from you.”
I frown. “That hadn’t even occurred to me.”
“It might.” He shifts a little bit. I blink and watch as he gets onto one knee. “But this might help.”
“Westin?” I ask, heart racing so fast I think I might pass out.
“These past two years have been the best of my life. You have no idea how many times I’ve thought about doing this, but kept putting it off for dumb reasons. Well, I’m tired of waiting. I’m tired of putting it off. I love you, Bailey. I want you forever. Will you marry me?”
I watch as he takes a ring box from his back pocket and opens it slowly. The ring inside sparkles in the sunlight, almost dazzling in its brightness. It’s a single large stone, flawless and huge, set with smaller stones all around it with a white gold band. Perfect and elegant and obscenely expensive, I have no doubt.
I’m trembling when I put my hand out. I can’t even say a word. He just smiles and takes the ring out, slipping it onto my finger.
“Well?” he asks softly.
I stare at the ring on my hand.
“Yes, of course.”
I throw myself at him. He laughs, grabbing me, standing up. We hug hard, him holding my body tight, and I kiss him. I kiss him long and slow and I think I hear someone clapping, but the world’s gone for me now. There’s only Westin, his ring on my finger, his lips against mine.
Slowly we break apart. Someone takes a picture of us with Westin’s phone. He kisses me again, arm over my shoulders.
“So, what do you think?” he asks. “Do you like the ring?”
“It’s amazing,” I say, laughing. “I didn’t… I didn’t expect this.”
“I know. I had this elaborate thing all planned out, it was huge and over the top, but I realized this would be better. And besides, I couldn’t wait another second. I need you as my wife and I need it now.”
I nod a little and bite back my tears.
My Westin, my man. He got me into college, gave me a life, saved my mother. Without him, I don’t know what I’d have.
But still he wants to give me more. He never thinks about it in terms of what he wants out of this, but he’s always thinking about how much more he can give. I want to give back, and I know I will.
Tonight. Every night. My body, my love. He has every inch of me, my skin and soul.
He’s my man, my husband, my light, my life.
“I love you,” I say, kissing him.
“I love you too.” He smiles and cocks his head. “So, where should we eat?”
I laugh as he throws an arm around my shoulders and hugs me tight.
“So long as we’re together, anywhere is fine.”
And we walk off, bodies close, smiling, dizzy with joy.
Your next series is ready! Yes Daddy is the first in a series of steamy and exciting daddy romances. My new boss is a total control freak. If I want to survive, I have to learn one thing… I better call him Daddy. Click here to read!>>
Want more from Bailey and Westin? Sign up for my no-spam Insider’s Club and get an exclusive FREE bonus scene! Click here>>
Also by BB Hamel
All my books are standalones, steamy, safe, and have a guaranteed HEA!
Click Here for the whole catalogue on Amazon!
Series include Steamy Daddies, SEAL Team Hotties, Love to Hate, Baby Daddy, Miracle Babies, and more.