“That makes two of us. I had no idea why you wanted to see me. I believe you owe me a kiss, future husband.” She lifted her lips toward his and waited for him to bend down.
“Hold that thought. I have something else for you.” He turned back to the cooler and reached inside.
She groaned. “You’re killing me, Bryson. I don’t want anything else but you.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’m pretty sure you want this. And I did make a promise after all.” He handed her a pink bag with little pink ribbons tied all over it, and the name of a very exclusive store on the outside of the bag.
Her eyes widened. “You didn’t.”
“I did.”
She opened the bag and peeked inside, then squealed with delight as she shoved her hand in and pulled out an aqua-colored lace bra and panty set. “They’re gorgeous, perfect. And they’re my size. Oh my gosh, please don’t tell me you asked my mother my sizes.” She gasped. “Or my dad!”
“Give me more credit than that. I asked your mother for your best friend’s name. Then I asked your best friend.”
She laughed with obvious relief and sorted through the contents. “Twelve. You bought me a dozen bras and matching panties. Bryson! This cost a fortune!”
“I can afford it. I’d pay ten times that to see your eyes light up and your glowing smile.”
The tears that had been threatening spilled over and down her cheeks. “I’m so happy.”
“Because we’re going to get married?”
She shook her head. “Because you promised that when you replaced my hundred-dollar bra that you’d buy me more, and then you’d take them off me.”
He threw his head back and laughed harder than he had in ages.
“Hurry, Bryson. I’m not waiting one more minute for you to keep your promise. I’ll strip right here on your back lawn if I have to.”
Still laughing, he scooped her up in his arms and ran with her to the house. But before going inside, he let her legs slide down him as he’d done so long ago. And this time, he did what he’d wanted to do since the first time he’d seen her. He kissed her. Really kissed her. Kissed her with all his pent-up emotions, love and longing and lust all rolled into one. And when he was done, he pulled back to soak in the haze of passion in her eyes and the love reflected back in them.
His hands were shaking as he cupped her face. “I don’t know what I did to make you love me. But I’ll thank God every night for the rest of my life that you showed up on my doorstep. You’re a treasure, Teagan. A gift to my battered soul. I love you so much.”
She shifted the bag of lingerie to her left hand and grabbed his right in hers. “I love you too, Bryson Anton. But you have one more promise to keep. You have to make my toes curl.”
“Challenge accepted.” He scooped her up in his arms and kissed her again as he strode through the house.
Her toes were curling before they even reached the bedroom.
