Back to Us (Cameron Falls: A Small Town Romance Book 2)
Page 15
“What would she say?” I ask, peering down into her tawny eyes, my heart pounding in my ears.
She drops her view and scuffs a piece of hay with her heel. When her gaze hits mine again, I know… Hopefulness trickles through me.
“I’m sorry, Blake. I’m sorry I never gave you a chance to explain. I’m sorry I allowed years to go by and distance to grow. I’m sorry I allowed hate to enter into our world of love. But more importantly, I’m sorry I left.”
“You’re here?” I need clarification. “I won’t go through this again. I can’t, Dakota.” I hold my breath waiting for it all to be a dream.
“I’m sure there will be meetings and conventions to attend, but I’m here.”
“You’re not leaving again?”
Her head shakes from side to side. I snatch her by the back of the head, sinking my fingers through her hair, and slam my mouth to hers. It’s frenzied, tongues tangling, as she fists my shirt.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to realize I left my heart behind,” she whispers against my lips.
“I love you, Dakota Jayne,” I breathe, saying the words I’ve held onto so tightly. “I love you so fucking much.”
“I love you, too.” The words I’ve longed to hear for so very long are finally spoken. A grin takes over my face as my damn eyes sting and my chest feels like a chaotic mess. My paradise is in my arms, promising me a tomorrow. Gone is my heartbreak. Those words just sealed my future… again.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Dakota
Six months later…
The palms of Blake’s hands are sweaty as he pulls me blindfolded through the snow-covered grass. It’s freezing today, a fresh snow covering the ground from last night.
“Stand right here and don’t move,” he instructs, kissing my cheek and leaving me on my own, unable to see a thing. I can hear him moving around, the snow crunching under his boots, and I’m dying with anticipation.
Things have been incredible since moving back. Blake went back to California with me to pack my things and bring them home. We stayed two days, and he hated it. He said everything felt… city. Duh. He also got to meet Izzy. Though it was their first time meeting, instead of being her polished professional self, she threw herself into his arms and told him she was secretly rooting for him all along. He also got to meet Kirra, which about ended his life. When he called her a rat, I almost pushed him off the balcony. It made him crack up at how possessive I was of her, but he also hated to see my tears when I had to leave my little furry friend behind, which is why I think he surprised me with Kota, a ferret of my own.
I moved in with him a week after I moved back. It only made sense. I was always at his house anyway. After getting my things from my apartment, we blended our lives together. I thought Ally would’ve been an obstacle, but when Blake told her that he and I were together, she left him alone and has ever since.
“Are you almost done?” I call out to the quietness, almost afraid he’s left me out here alone.
He chuckles. “Almost.”
I’m grinning because I’m pretty sure I know what he’s up to. Two weeks ago, he told me I needed to get rid of my BMW and get a truck. Since then, he’s been a little secretive. Funny thing is…I’ve been hiding a secret of my own.
“Okay,” he finally says and I reach up to pull the blindfold off.
My breath gets sucked right out of me. Our arbor has fairy lights with white sheer fabric draping from it. Blake is on one knee in front of it, holding a black box and wearing a nervous smirk.
“Blake…” I breathe, not prepared for this.
“Dakota Jayne, I’ve known I was going to marry you since I saw you running around on the playground. Years apart never dulled that dream. You’ve always been the reason my heart beats. You were made for me. Meant to be mine forever. Marry me, Kota. Marry me and I promise you I’ll keep doing my best to make you the happiest woman on earth. I promise I’ll continue to cherish you, to worship you, to love you. Just…” He takes a shaky breath. “Marry me?”
Four steps and I throw myself at him, causing him to fall backward into the snow with me on top of him. “Yes,” I say and kiss him…hard.
Chuckling, he sits us up and pulls out a simple but elegant ring and slides it onto my finger.
“This has been yours for years. I held onto it hoping like hell I’d be able to put it on your finger one day.”
“This is…” I hold up my finger looking at the round diamond sitting in the center of smaller ones that gracefully dance along the silver band. It had to cost him a fortune at eighteen.
“It did,” he says, wrapping his arms around my waist. Guess I said the last part out loud. “I started saving when I was fifteen, when Pops started paying me for the work I did on the ranch. When I’d travel with Rhett to buy cattle, he’d cut me some of his commissions.”
Tears sting my eyes as I blink back to him. “I… I don’t know what to say.” I look at the ring again. “It’s beautiful.”
The grin he gives me pops off his dimple and he kisses the tip of my nose. “I’m glad you like it.”
“Eighteen-year-old Blake had some really good taste,” I titter.
He chuckles again. “Your parents gave me their blessing again.”
“They knew?”
He nods. “Wouldn’t be right if I didn’t ask them first… again.”
I kiss him slowly, passionately, and full of love. “We need to talk.”
His face crumbles, the smile falling off his face and worry etching into the dark edges of his brown eyes. Since I’ve been back, I’ve been able to contain my work here, even been able to video conference in for a few meetings. But Blake knows there’ll be a time when I will have to travel, and I’m positive that’s what just crossed his mind.
“You know I hate that phrase,” he says, his body tensing under mine.
“Yeah,” I nod. “But this is important,” I try to sound worried.
“You just told me you’d marry me. You’re not going back. Just a meeting or something. Right?”
I hide my smile. I knew he’d think my statement had something to do with work.
“It’s a little more than that,” I admit.
He exhales a long breath. “Quit beating around the bush and tell me.”
I kiss the corners of his mouth and this time I’m unable to hide my grin. “I’m pregnant.”
His eyes widen and then he drops his view to my stomach and back up to my face. A silly smile crosses his lips like he’s on the verge of being drunk. “Seriously?”
“I don’t know how far along yet. I’ve got a doctor’s appointment next week.”
“Fuck, Kota.” He wraps his arms around me and in one swift movement, he somehow stands up with me in his arms. “We’re having a baby,” he says in awe, more to himself, and starts walking back to the quad. “We’ve got to get the extra room ready.”
I laugh. “We have time.” I try wiggling for him to put me down, but he doesn’t.
Stopping, he looks down at me. “We can wait however long you want to, but I’ve been waiting eleven years to claim you as my wife and now that you’re pregnant, I’m going to be more impatient than ever.” He sets me down on the pad of the seat. Slinking his fingers through my hair, he fists it gently and turns my face to his. “I didn’t realize it was possible, but I think I just fell even more in love with you.”
Our mouths meet and he kisses me gently, tenderly, lovingly.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“Not nearly as much as I love you, Kota.”
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THE END
Sneak Peek of Back to Home
I REALLY thought I’d be in the position to add a sneak peek. Unfortunately, Cash is being a stubborn man. (Pffft. Men. Imagine that. Insert eye roll here.)
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As soon as he gets his ass down from the ladder, I’ll add it. Until then, just know I’m really enjoying watching his sexy swagger. ;)
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> Stay tuned.
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Add it to your Goodreads here.
Also by TC Matson
CAMERON FALLS
Back to Me
Back to Us
Back to Home (Coming 2021)
Back to Love (Coming 2021)
TAKING CHANCES SERIES
Set Up
Hook Up
Slip Up
DEBONAIR SERIES
Broken Boundaries
Persuading Perfection
Seductive Secrets
THE FIGHTER SERIES
Blindsided
UnExpected
Awakened
No Holds
No Hesitations
Leveled
No Limits
No Control
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STANDALONES
Reckless Rebel (A Cocky Hero Novel)
Open House
Mistaken Identity
Connect with TC Matson
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Acknowledgments
I always mess these up. It never fails. I either forget someone or forget a lot of someones.
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My PA & best Hooker, Angela. I love your unwavering support and confidence in me. How even when I’m writing out of my comfort zone and having a complete meltdown, you’re able to smack me back into focus. Your friendship, although pretty damn abusive at times, means everything to me. I love your persistent huffs and eyeballs and everything else in between.
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My beta’s, Fran and Megan. Wooo! I love your frickin’ faces so much! Thank you for pushing me to do and be my best. Thank you for being my sounding boards, brainstorming buddies, and putting up with my insecurities. Most importantly, thank you for being a part of my process and making it so much more.
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Carla. You claim to be odd and well, you are, but dammit if I don’t love the hell out of you. You make life interesting and I wouldn’t trade you for anything. We’re sisters by souls. Thank you for being you, for talking me off the ledge, for trusting me enough to talk you off the ledge or at the very least, jump off the damn thing together. You’re my Louise.
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To the bloggers and bookstagrammers. The biggest and loudest THANK YOU! You all are rockstars!