Page 60 of Sexy Bad Escort

His eyeswiden, but he stays quiet as I drop my hand.Love, especially the kind that encompasseswho you are, the kind that supports and encourages you, can dowonders for your beliefs about commitment. It can change how youview everything and make you realize that you can be a better youif you are with the right person.

Itakea deep breath tocenter myself. “I don’t want to hide our relationship or keep itlow-key. And not because I can handle my mother carrying on aboutgrandchildren, because truthfully, I really can’t. I don’t want tohide anymore because I’m happy with you. I’m so proud to say we’retogether. That of all the people in all the world, you’re the oneperson who really gets me and loves that I am who I am. Who doesn’texpect me to be different than I am. Who doesn’t hope that I’llchange. Or worry when I display tendencies to act like my mother.You encourage me to embrace my own identity, and I love that aboutyou.”

“You’retotally one of those girls right now, aren’t you?”

Ipress my lips together,my eyes misting. “A little. But I’m trying to tell you that I’mcommitted to you whole-heartedly, Danny. I’m trying to ask you tomarry me.”

“What?”He swayson his feet, and his grip on me tightens.

Someoneclears their throat,interrupting our moment, and we both glance at theintruder.

Danny’sdad. “Aren’t you supposed to do that, son? It’straditionallythe manwho gets down on one knee and—”

“I thinkwe’ve worked out by now that I’m never going to be traditionalabout anything.” Dannyholds up a palm to silence him and then shifts his focus to me. “Goon.”

Maybe Ishould get down on one knee. Exceptthis tight little red dress I wore specifically toimpress Danny isn’t exactly designed for traditional proposals. Itwould ride up to my hips if I got down on one knee, not to mentionthe very real possibility that Paynt’s deck might give mesplinters. “Will you marry me, Danny Harrison?”

“Will I marryyou?”

“Yeah, willyou?”

“Let meget this straight,” he says, his lips startingto curl. “The woman of my dreams, who Ispent an entire year chasing, who I somehow wooed into becoming mywork wife and my girlfriend, is asking me to marry her?”

“Uh, Ithought that was obvious.” I pluck nervously at my dress. “Ifyou’re going to say no—”

“I justdon’t understand why you needed to phrase thatas a question.” He hugs me so tightly tohis chest, I can barely breathe. “You had to know I would sayyes.”

“Yes?”

“Yes.” He cupsmy face and swoops in for a back-bending kiss.

Ourfamilies clap and cheer.Someone grumbles something about having to be related to Danny bymarriage. Probably Garrett.

He kisses mebreathless before pulling away.

“My littlegirl is getting married,” my mother cries.

What have I done?I search out my mother, who is standing with Danny’s mom.Their gazes are shiny bright and a little too happy for myliking.

“Thisdoesn’t mean babies, Mom.” I shake a finger at her.“Although Danny and I havetalked about having kids. One day. In the future.Possibly.”

“What?”Shesniffles, and Danny’s mom hands her a tissue.

“We don’t needyou pressuring us. We’ll decide whether we want a family when we’reready.”

Danny’sstaring at me with a curious expression on his face.

Garrett andJames laugh.

Mom justgives me this smug,I’m your mother, I know you so wellraise of her eyebrows. “For the record,love, I’m not the one who brought it up.”

“She’sright,” Danny whispers. “Are you trying to tell me you want to havea baby with me, Ronnie? Because there’s a perfectlyacceptable closet in thefoyer we could practice in.”

Oh shit!I thinkthat’s what I’m saying. Taking his hand, I drag him across the deckand into the house. Pulling him into the closet, I close the doorand throw my arms around his neck. “Let’s make a baby.”

THEEND