I blink a few times, confused. It sounds like he’s breaking up with me, yet he ordered us champagne like it’s a celebration. “What are you saying?”
He shakes his head, frowning. “I’m messing this up. I love you.”
“I love you too,” I say slowly.
“And I never want to hold you back. You’re brilliant, and I know you’re going to do great things in your future.”
My heart thumps harder. Why is he breaking up with me with champagne? What kind of sick gesture is this? “Adam—”
“Will you marry me?”
I clap a hand over my mouth.
He opens his palm, where apparently he’s been holding a diamond engagement ring for a while now. There’s a mark on his palm from it. I stare at the ring, a gold band with a marquise-cut diamond.
And then he’s on one knee by my side. “I’ll go with you wherever you want. I’m in this forever, and I want you to know that before you have to make a big decision. I’m not the one holding you back. I’m the one who’s got your back.”
I burst into tears and throw my arms around his neck. “Adam! Yes! Omigod, I can’t believe you did this romantic gesture.”
He slides the ring on my finger and gives me a watery smile. “I can be romantic. I mean it, Kayla. We’re together no matter what, anywhere in the world.”
I grab his head and kiss him. “I love you so much.”
He stands and pulls me into his arms. “I love you too.”
Applause breaks out from the tables around us. The waiter who served us champagne walks over to our table, smiling. “Would you like me to take your picture?”
Adam hands over his phone and puts his arms around me from behind. I hold up my ring hand and beam.
The waiter returns the phone, and Adam and I take our seats, accepting congratulations from nearby diners.
I clink my champagne glass against his and take a sip. “Well, that was exciting. For a minute there, I thought you were breaking up with me.”
He shakes his head. “No way. I was sweating it out, worried you wouldn’t say yes.”
“Of course I said yes! I love you.”
He lowers his voice. “The first time I asked, you turned me down. Back in Indianapolis.”
“That’s because you didn’t say you loved me. Now I know you do.” I smile at my sparkly ring, feeling only pure happiness. Not one single doubt. Not even a worry that he’ll leave me at the altar, which I thought would haunt me forever. Adam is a man you can trust to follow through.
And then I know exactly how I want my future to go.
I smile at him. “I have good news. The offer I got today was for the research branch of their company, which is in the suburbs, about a half-hour commute from Summerdale. I’m going to tell them yes.”
He gets serious, taking my hand. “I only want you to take it if you’ll be happy there. Not because of me.”
“I love the work they’re doing, I love you, and I love Summerdale. And if that’s not reason enough, I also want to be close to Wyatt and Sydney. They’ll probably have kids in a couple of years, and I want to be part of that. And vice versa, I want them to be part of our kids’ lives. You see, it’s a decision that takes into account all aspects of how I want my future to look. I feel great about it.”
He kisses the back of my hand. “You are an incredible woman. I’m so lucky you’re marrying me.”
I lean forward and whisper, “You didn’t look so lucky when I first asked you to take my virginity. More like alarmed.”
He leans across the table and kisses me. “You’re a force of nature. I didn’t stand a chance.”
Epilogue
Kayla
It’s the end of summer, and I’m enjoying my first moonlight regatta on Lake Summerdale. Adam and I are in his rowboat with Tank, who’s wearing a life vest. He can swim with it, but it’s tough for him without. It’s basically a party on the lake. Tons of people are floating by with glow sticks, LED lights, and lanterns.
We have a camping lantern and matching glow-stick necklaces, which Jenna gave out to everyone. Drew used rope to tie our boats together in one big floating mass. Jenna and Audrey are in a canoe together, Wyatt and Sydney are on a Sunfish sailboat without the dogs since there’s no room for them. They have a rowboat they take Snowball and Rexie out in sometimes. Drew and Caleb are in a canoe, my future brothers-in-law. Eli is on cop duty. A few of our friends from the restaurant are here too, the bartender Betsy and the chef Spencer are in a boat with the host guy Sam and another waitress.
I search the sky. It’s not quite a full moon but close enough. “Isn’t this romantic?”
“It is when you’re newly engaged,” Sydney answers.
Adam splashes her. “I can answer my fiancée for myself. Yes, Kayla, it’s romantic.”
“I told you guys how he proposed, right?” I ask, checking in with Sydney, Jenna, and Audrey. Of course I did, the very next day. “That was super romantic too.”
“Glad Adam’s got his head on straight,” Wyatt barks. “Else I would’ve had to kill him.”
“Wyatt!” I exclaim.
“What?”
I shake my head at him. He needs to stop being so overprotective of me. I’m not a kid anymore. “Can you just be happy for us?”
He gestures to Adam. “I like the guy. I just told him to take you seriously, which he did. Good job, Adam.”
Adam lifts his brows. “I have so many things I’d like to say to that, but let’s keep this civil.”
Wyatt smirks. “Come at me.”
“Wyatt!” Sydney exclaims. “The boat will tip, and I’m not taking a dive in the water. You guys can wrestle when we get back to shore.”
Wyatt points at his eyes and then points to Adam.
I smile at Adam, who’s doing beautifully ignoring my brother. “You look very handsome in your shirt.”
He looks down at it. “How many occasions do I need to wear it?” It’s a black T shirt that says Groom. I’m wearing a matching one that says Bride.
I squint for a moment, thinking. “Let’s see, every romantic occasion, of which I’m sure there’ll be many. Our engagement party at my mom’s house next weekend, rehearsal dinner, definitely on the honeymoon.” We’re getting married next June and living together in the meantime. I wanted time to plan a beautiful wedding. I helped Sydney plan hers and really got into it. Mine will be at this old estate I found nearby that’s used for formal functions. Our honeymoon will be in Hawaii, which I’ve always wanted to visit. Adam’s never been there either.
I hear some snickering and turn to glare at my future brothers-in-law Drew and Caleb. They’re pulling at their shirts, doing some kind of mocking sashay action over there, making fun of Adam’s groom shirt. “I can only hope one day you guys have a loving bride who gives you romantic gifts too.”
“I can only hope,” Caleb says with a straight face.
Drew busies himself getting another beer from the cooler, but I don’t miss his smirk.
“Force of nature,” Adam murmurs, leaning forward to kiss me. “I love that you care about stuff like our shirts.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to be appreciated.” I turn on our waterproof speaker to play some cheerful party music for everyone.
“Turn it up,” Wyatt calls.
I do, and he starts dancing in place, making Sydney laugh, who shakes her shoulders toward him. Everyone starts dancing in place, rocking their heads and shimmying. Except for Drew. He’s kind of a straight arrow. But he watches Audrey, who’s doing this funny head swing, making her long black hair fly all around. I believe he’s secretly in love with her, but holds back for some reason. Maybe he doesn’t know he’s in love. I told Adam about my theory, and he said to stay out of it because Drew wouldn’t respond well to being informed he’s in love. But Drew’s never been in love, so how would he know? I really want to give him a clue, but I respect the boundary Adam set.
A firework goes off in the distance, whistling through the air.
Tank barks his oof sound, looking toward me for comfort. I shift to put an arm around his trembling shoulders. “It’s okay, just noise. Look how pretty.”
He leans against my leg. He’s scared of the oddest things. Adam says it’s because Tank’s not so smart. If you open a pizza box, he freaks because he thinks it’s giant jaws opening. Other dogs make him nervous too, but then he warms up. And thunder spooks him, and I guess fireworks too.
Adam shifts to sit next to me on the bench, wrapping an arm around me. We watch the fireworks display on the opposite shore with starbursts of yellow, red, and purple. I sigh happily. This is the perfect life for me. A lakeside community, family and friends close by, a fiancé I’m crazy about, and a cool job. It’s only been a month at my new job, but I’m very happy there. My boss is amazing. We get along so well. She says I remind her a lot of herself just starting out there.
After the fireworks, everyone packs up to go, rowing back to shore.
I linger behind on the shore, talking to Wyatt and Sydney while Adam puts the rowboat back on a trailer he hooked to the back of his car. I share the latest details I’ve firmed up for next weekend’s engagement party at my mom’s house. It’s an ocean theme with the idea that there’s two less fish in the sea now. (One day we’ll go fishing on the ocean at a reasonable hour, and I’ll be sure to pack a delicious lunch.) I’m setting up a photo station for our party, planning a ring hunt for plastic jeweled rings with a prize, and taking wedding song requests for our future playlist.
“And the rest is a surprise.” I don’t want to give away all the fun stuff I have planned.
“Cool,” Sydney says. “You’re so cute with those Bride and Groom T-shirts.”
Wyatt grimaces. “Adam is so whipped.”
Sydney elbows him in the ribs. “Watch it. That’s my brother.”
“And that’s my girly sister,” he says, gesturing toward me. “I’m glad he’s whipped. Less chance he’ll end up hurting her.”
“Oh, he’d never hurt me,” I say confidently. “Adam’s a great guy.”
Sydney smiles over my shoulder a split second before I’m lifted in the air and swung around.
Adam sets me down, holds my face in his hands, and kisses me. “I heard you singing my praises.”
“Of course. I always do.”
He grins and looks over at Sydney. “She’ll show anyone my portfolio of work. Complete strangers.”
“He’s an artist with wood,” I say.
Wyatt snickers.
I glare at him and then turn to Adam for backup. He’s biting back a smile. “What?”
“Nothing. Let’s go home.”
“I love the sound of that. Home.”
We say goodbye and walk hand in hand back to where he parked the car across the way at The Horseman Inn. A lot of people parked there and along the road behind it, as instructed to. It was all marked off by Eli and his boss, Chief Daniels. The police chief is in his late sixties and planning to retire, which means Eli will get a promotion soon.
I spot Eli, out of uniform, talking with big animated gestures to someone in a red Honda Accord. Jenna has that car, but it could be someone else. Eli must’ve joined us late to watch the fireworks after his shift. As we get closer, I realize he’s gesturing angrily.
“Uh-oh,” Adam says. “I think someone backed into Eli’s car.”
The person steps out of their car, and I recognize tall blond Jenna. She walks around to examine the back of her car.
It looks like she backed into Eli’s brand-new shiny silver Mustang. He showed it off to Adam when he bought it. I dutifully admired it too.
“Calm down,” Jenna says. “It’s a little ding. I’m sure they can fix it.”
“Did you even look before you backed up?” Eli shouts.
“I have a backup camera,” she says. “It just wasn’t working for a moment because I pressed the radio.”
Eli stalks closer to her, his voice dropping too low to make out the words.
She looks up at him and licks her lips, her shoulders pulling back. It almost looks flirtatious. She shifts away suddenly. “I’ll pay for it, okay? Just let me know how much.” She gets in her car and drives away.
Eli runs a hand through his hair, watching her before turning back to his car.
Adam speaks up. “That sucks. You’ve had it, what, two weeks?”
“Yeah,” Eli says, looking a little dazed.
“Sorry, man,” Adam says, heading for his car.
I follow Adam, and as soon as we’re in the privacy of our car, Tank in the back seat with the windows down, I share my latest keen observation. “I think Jenna’s going to hook up with Eli.”
His head whips toward mine. “No way. She just ruined his new car.”
“It’s not ruined just dinged, and now they have a reason to talk. I read the body language on Jenna. I’ve seen her flirt with the delivery guy. And Eli seemed dazed.”
He holds me by the chin and kisses me. “You, my brilliant little matchmaker, have got to stop seeing love everywhere just because we’re swimming in it.”
“Do you think it would be difficult to make love in the lake?”
He chuckles, starts the car, and heads toward home. “What in the world made you think of that?”
“Swimming in love.”
“It’s doable if you’re not in too deep. But we’re not doing that because the lake’s public and surrounded by houses.”
“Remember our picnic in that shady spot by the lake on one of our first dates? That was pretty private over there.” Until his ex showed up. I never mention her name. She doesn’t exist as far as I’m concerned.
He glances over at me. “Would the shower work?”
“Yes. And we’ll try the water in Hawaii on our honeymoon. We won’t know anyone there and can do it under the moonlight. I’m glad I went on the pill so we can be spontaneous like that. By the way, I’m getting us matching swimsuits and, of course, bride and groom baseball caps to wear on the beach. That way everyone will know we’re newlyweds. They’ll probably all be extra nice to us and pile on perks like free drinks and extra flower leis.”
“Love your enthusiasm. That’s all I can say.”
I squeeze his arm. His ex-fiancée wasn’t enthusiastic about any part of their engagement. He didn’t realize how much that bothered him until I went full steam ahead with all my excitement over our wedding and honeymoon. We’re waiting on kids for a few years. I’ve got time and want to enjoy just the two of us. And Tank of course.
Once we’re back home again, we get Tank taken care of, and get ready for bed. I love that I get to cuddle with Adam every night. He’s so good at it.
I turn off the light on the nightstand, slide into bed next to him, and roll to my side so he can spoon me. His knees tuck under mine, his arm banding around my waist.
The heat of his body warms my bare back. We made an agreement. He’ll spoon me every night as long as we’re naked.
His hand roams, as it always does, coasting over my skin, caressing my breasts, sliding between my legs. Sparks fire everywhere he touches, a languid heat taking over my limbs. He kisses a hot trail along my neck, his fingers gently stroking me in tantalizing circles. I melt into him, letting him take me on a slow journey of pleasure. He’s much more aggressive and demanding in daylight hours. At night, it’s slow and easy. I love it every way.
Pleasure builds and builds, my breath coming harder. He’s in tune to every movement I make, every sound, every breath. Giving me more when I need it, slowing it down when I’m close, but always, always pushing me to greater heights. I cry out as my hips jerk, my climax roaring through me.
He immediately hitches my thigh up and enters me, pushing as deep as he can go. I moan. He rocks into me, seeking just the right movement until I gasp. He keeps going, right there, right where I need him, his fingers trailing down to my sex, stroking me gently. I grab his wrist, the intensity almost too much. I don’t know if I’m trying to keep him there or push him away. My ba
ck arches, and I grab his shoulder from behind me, my nails digging in.
He murmurs in my ear, dirty words of encouragement, urging me on, telling me he’s going to take good care of me. I’m wild with need, rocking back into him, my body tight and hot. Oh God.
I’m chanting his name, trembling as he rocks into me, his fingers relentless. I break with a harsh cry, my body clenching around him, even as he pushes me open, over and over. I’m coming in wave after wave of endless pleasure. He pumps deep again and again until his own release takes hold, his hand clamping onto my hip, holding me tight to him.
I’m still catching my breath when he rolls me to my back and kisses me soundly on the mouth. I reach up and stroke his hair, too spent to speak.
His words run hot over my lips. “I told you I’m not much of a cuddler.”
My lips curl up. “Your version of cuddling totally works for me.”
“I love you so damn much.”
My heart squeezes. “I knew from the start. You were the guy. Nobody else came close.”
He pulls me into his arms, so we’re facing each other side by side. He kisses my forehead, my nose, my lips. “Love. Sleep.”
He speaks in monosyllables sometimes, but I get the message. He loves me fiercely. And I wore him out.
I close my eyes and let out a soft sigh. He’s a secret cuddler afterward. I won’t mention it. I like the way he proves he’s not a cuddler every night.
My Adam. Cuddler, craftsman extraordinaire, and my best sexiest friend.
Don’t miss the next book in the series, Sporting, where Eli and Jenna take an unexpected road trip together!
Get your copy of Sporting!
Sporting
Jenna
After accidentally dinging a brand-new car, I’m suddenly face-to-face with an angry alpha male. And the sparks are flying.
Wait. Eli Robinson?
How’s it possible the irritating younger brother of my best friend has morphed into this gorgeous swaggering man?
I can’t let myself be tempted. Eli is off-limits. My best friend, his sister who helped raise him, makes sure I know it.
Dashing: A Friends to Lovers Romantic Comedy (Unleashed Romance, Book 2) Page 17