Then we walked hand in hand down the beach until we reached the pier.
The whole thing was decked out in white twinkle lights. Thanksgiving was approaching. The weather was still pleasant, and the moon had crept up over the horizon to reflect on the ocean. It was nearly full night now, and the horizon was gone. The darkness at the end of the ocean met up with that of the sky to create an eerie yet magnificent view as Derek and I placed our first steps on the pier.
We stopped on our way to the end to grab a cup of coffee. I ordered a pumpkin latte, and he ordered an Americano, and we sipped our piping hot delicious treats as we walked to the end of the pier.
We had the place entirely to ourselves. People had probably gone in, thinking that the view wasn’t worth it once the sun went down.
I loved it. It was peaceful and quiet here. The only sounds were my slurping off the whipped cream on top of my drink and that of the waves lapping gently at the posts below our feet.
“It’s a perfect night,” I said.
Derek was leaning on the railing beside me. He nodded. “It is. The perfect night with the perfect girl.”
I laughed. “You know, you already got me. You don’t have to keep smooth talking me. I’m yours.”
“Are you?” he asked.
And then he stepped back from the railing. I turned toward him and watched, transfixed, as he went down to one knee.
“What are you—” I started to ask.
“Katie Marie Black,” he started. “There are a lot of things I need to say.”
“Derek,” I breathed. My heart hammered wildly in my chest, like a little bird desperate to fly. My palms were sweaty. My stomach was a tight knot of nerves.
Was this really happening?
When Derek started talking, the storm inside me calmed to a gentle breeze. “Katie, it’s taken me a long time to figure out what I wanted in life. For the longest time, I thought it was best to be alone. People couldn’t hurt me that way, and they didn’t need to depend on me either. It seemed easier. Less complicated. Then I met you that day in the ER, and everything I thought I knew was turned on its head. You pointed out the things about myself that I didn’t like, and you refused to cater to my ego. You made me into a better man. And I have no words to express how grateful I am for that.”
Derek reached down into the pocket of his jeans and withdrew a small dark purple box. He smiled at me, and I couldn’t help but smile back. “It was a rocky start for us, but I wouldn’t change a thing. And the only way I can think to make it up to you for saving me is to repay you with small, special moments every day for the rest of our lives. If you’ll let me.”
My first tear escaped, and I hurried to wipe it away.
Derek popped open the box.
I gasped. The ring inside was more beautiful than I ever could have dreamed. Even though it was dark out, I could make out the massive diamond perched in the middle surrounded by diamond-encrusted half circles that created a flower shape. The band was white gold and elegant.
“Katie,” Derek said softly. I stared into those beautiful hazel eyes of his. “Will you marry me?”
I was already nodding before the question left his lips.
I dropped to my knees and threw my arms around his shoulders. “Yes!” The word came out of me in a half laugh, half sob.
Derek wrapped his arms around me and buried his face in the groove of my shoulder. “I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you too. I can’t believe this. I had no idea. How did you keep this a secret? Who knows?”
“Nobody knows except for your mom,” he said as we parted. He kissed my forehead and tucked my hair behind my ears. “I asked for her blessing on Labor Day Weekend. She said yes. To quote, she said, ‘I was going to ask you if you’d bought a ring yet’.”
I laughed and kissed him.
Then he took my left hand and plucked the ring from the box. My hand shook in his as he slid the ring onto my ring finger. It was dazzling. And it was mine.
“It’s perfect,” I said. Derek stroked my jaw with his thumb, and I pressed my cheek into his palm. He smiled at me, his eyes crinkling at the edges, and I had never felt as loved as I did in that moment.
“It had to be,” he whispered.
The End
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About the Author
Hey there. I'm Weston.
I'm a former firefighter/EMS guy who's picked up the proverbial pen and started writing bad boy romance stories. I co-write with my sister, Ali Parker as we travel the United States for the next two years.
You're going to find Billionaires, Bad Boys, Mafia and loads of sexiness. Something for everyone, hopefully. I'd love to connect with you. Check out the links below and come find me.
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The Parker’s Wicked Playground
Set the Night On Fire
Copyright © 2018 by Weston & Ali Parker
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
The novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and plot are all either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons – living or dead – is purely coincidental.
First Edition.
Editor: Eric Martinez
Cover Designer: Ryn Katryn Digital Art
Set the Night on Fire: A Bad Boy Firefighter Novel Page 21