I reach for her hand and lace her fingers through mine. “I know. That’s why we’re going there.”
“We can’t swim, though. It’s too cold.”
“We won’t be swimming.”
“So what…”
“Patience, Olive.”
“I think I’ve proven I’ve got plenty of that, J. I waited for you for a long time. Years. You should get a medal in endurance too.”
“What kind of endurance?”
Her cheeks flush. “The bedroom kind is definitely in the running. Although that’s not what I meant.”
I chuckle as I pull into the parking lot and drive around the lake. When I park, I hop out and then open the passenger door for Olivia. I help her down and tell her to stay right there. She puts her hands into the deep pockets of her winter coat and waits while I climb into the back of the truck.
“Okay.” I come back to her with a big bag over my shoulder. “Let’s go.”
“What are we doing?” Her eyes narrow.
Olivia doesn’t love surprises. I can’t say I blame her after all the unplanned ups and downs our relationship has taken over the years. But she’s going to like today’s surprise.
I put my free hand on the small of her back and guide her down the wooded path. “You’ll see, babe.”
We walk for over a mile to a spot Olivia’s never been before.
“And I thought I’d been everywhere in Liberty Falls,” she says in a low tone. “But this, this is…an abandoned house?”
The farmhouse in front of us is dilapidated and has clearly seen better years. But it has a homey charm to it that I felt the first time I laid eyes on it.
Olivia seems to feel the same way. She starts walking toward it without hesitation.
The lake borders one side of the property, but the other side has miles of forest behind it.
“It’s so beautiful I could cry,” she says in nearly a whisper.
Living in suburbia has been choking her off. She’s been wanting more land and more quiet. She told me all of this late one night, after hours of lovemaking, while we were lying tangled up in a mess of bed sheets and nothing else. I told her that I wanted that too. It felt like a confession of the heart, another secret we had been afraid to voice.
“I can’t believe I’ve never seen this place before,” she says.
I study her face. “I thought we could spend the night here together. Do you want to look inside?”
“Can we?”
“Sure. Nobody’s living here right now.” I lead her up the steps and turn the doorknob.
“Oh, I love this place inside, too!” She spins around, taking in the country kitchen, the awesome reading nook by the bay window, and the cozy living room with a picture window looking out at the lake. “This is amazing, J.”
“I love it, too.” My eyes find hers. “Do you want it to be ours?”
She gestures around the house. “This—is for sale?”
“Was. For Sale.” I zero in on her blue eyes with my green ones. “I bought it. For us.”
“You”—she shakes her head in confusion—“I don’t understand. How could you afford it? And what about my bonus? I was planning to use it toward our down payment.”
“You can use it to help with the renovations if you’d like. Clearly the place needs a little work before we move in.” I drop to my knee, and Olivia covers her mouth with her hands. “I love you, Olivia Graham. This moment is something I’ve dreamed about my whole life. Will you marry me and live in this farmhouse with me?”
When I pull the little box out of my pocket and open the cover, the ring sparkles as brightly as the blue in Olivia’s eyes. A sheen covers them as she swallows hard.
“Oh.” She bites her beautiful plump lip. “I always held out hope, but I just never thought…”
“I know.” I fight the emotion clogging my own throat. “Me, neither.”
“It’s beautiful, J.” She gets on her knees across from me and touches the ring lightly with her finger. “But you didn’t need to buy me this incredible house or this gorgeous ring to get me to say yes. I said yes to you a long time ago, and I’ve never changed my heart.”
“I want to give you everything because that’s what you deserve. And I’ve been thinking…”
“Oh, no.” Her expression turns teasing.
I grin. “Nothing bad. I know we’ve gone back and forth on this, but I really do think that we should have a real wedding. In front of family and friends. It can be super casual, but I feel like an actual wedding is important for us. Maybe because of what we’ve been through.”
She holds out her left hand. “Great minds think alike. Hayley and I were just coming to the same conclusion. Will you put the ring on me?”
I take the ring out of the box and slip it on her finger, right next to the one she already wears from me. “They fit together,” I say.
Her eyes fill with tears. “I’m going to make this ring my wedding band,” she says, pointing at the band. “They make a perfect match.”
I bring her into my arms and put my mouth over hers. “Yes, they do.”
For so long, I lived my life in a daze, missing Olivia and fearing the worst—that I’d lost her for good. I was lucky enough to get another chance to make her mine. And despite all our spin-outs and missed opportunities, here we are. Just the two of us, together forever. Olivia Graham is finally mine, and I’m never letting her go again.
Coming Next!
What happens when you mix football and cowboy? You get BRAYDEN! He’s the only Wild cousin still living in Montana, and he’s also the most private, but he’s about to find himself in the middle of a love triangle with a woman he never thought he’d see again. Pre-order now!
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Take a peek at BRAYDEN, a contemporary love triangle romance:
Leleila
Brayden Wild was my first kiss. The Montana football star with the cowboy boots and sexy tattoo. He salvaged my heart from a bad choice I wish I never made, on a night I wish I could forget.
But that was twelve years ago. And since then, I’ve been wise enough to play it safe. Certain. Risk-free.
Until I go to the store and spill granola all over…Brayden Wild. He’s still rocking a wild mess of blond hair. He’s still sexy as hell.
My smooth reaction? I trip and fall on him. And then I run off like a frightened deer.
Because I still WANT him.
But I’m getting married in a month.
Brayden
Leleila Wills. The bookish, teenage girl with the sad, beautiful eyes and killer body who electrified me at first sight—is now a grown woman living here in Mountainview. I finally know her name. I finally have a second chance to ask her out. But I can’t.
Because I DON’T go after women who are taken. Ever.
I try to focus on coaching my football team and on taking care of things at the ranch. So why can’t I get her the hell out of my head?
I tell myself it’s because she needs a friend. I mean, what kind of tool stands up his wife-to-be before their wedding dance class? But the truth is…
I like Leleila’s awkward, quirky personality. And I can’t deny how my body’s on fire whenever she’s nearby.
I’ve got one month to get to know her the way I wanted to twelve years ago, even if it’s only as her friend. That will have to be enough.
So what the hell will I do if it’s not?
READ BRAYDEN AND LELEILA’S STORY IN BRAYDEN, COMING IN JANUARY 2019! PRE-ORDER NOW!
Acknowledgments
Thank you so much as always to: Dawn for your eagle eyes; J. Hunter for your artistry and technical skills; and J.W. for your multiple talents.
And to my husband—thank you for your patience and unconditional love.
Also by Melissa Belle
The GORGEOUS Series
UNDERNEATH THE MASK: The Gorgeous Stranger
FINDING JOY STREET: The Gorge
ous Neighbor
WHO RIDES SHOTGUN: The Gorgeous Driver
WILD MEN Series
COLTON
DYLAN
AYDEN
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About the Author
Melissa Belle writes contemporary romance novels in a style that's sexy, sweet, and steamy. She lives in New England with her family, and often works through her story ideas while hiking with her husband, or hanging out with her two rescue kitties.
When she’s not writing love stories, Melissa Belle loves to travel. Her first novel was written while riding through Europe on the train.
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