As he flipped through the pages, ones he could tear out and redeem when he wished, I saw many different expressions cross his face.
“This is the most amazing gift I’ve ever been given. You have a coupon in here for everything I could ever want or need. I especially love the dirty ones,” he said with a wink.
The book contained coupons for a new beach trip, a massage, dinner of his choice; there were several he could cash in for his favorite goodies that I’d bake him, and then there were showers together, along with many more dirty ones he mentioned. There were a lot. I couldn’t remember them all, but I had fun making it.
“There’s something else,” I said, handing him a cute Christmas bag with tissue hanging out the top.
It was adorable to watch him tear into it with the excitement of a kid. He pulled out two items and held up the first one. A navy-blue t-shirt with white lettering for himself that said, “Promoted To Daddy - Est 2023 -” with baby footprints under the words. Then he looked at the other item, which was a baby onesie in white with black lettering that read, “Ain’t No Daddy Like The One I Got.”
When I looked up into Paxton’s eyes, they were misty, but a huge grin was on his face. “I wasn’t sure what to get you,” I said a bit sheepishly.
“It’s all perfect, just like you.”
He grabbed me under my arms and pulled me onto him so I was straddling his lap. We made out right there next to the Christmas tree, its woodsy fragrance surrounding us for who knows how long. For me, it wasn’t long enough.
Both breathless, we finally managed to drag ourselves from each other.
“Thank you for the wonderful gifts, sweetheart. Now I think it’s your turn.” He gently ran the back of his hand down my cheek. “Go look up there at the top of the tree.”
Anticipation zipped through my body as I stood to search for my gift. When my eyes landed on a red velvet jewelry box tucked into the fir branches, my heart began to race. I slowly reached out with shaky hands to pick up the small package.
Once I had it in my hand, I turned, looking down at Paxton, and gasped.
There he was, on bended knee right in front of me.
ChapterTwenty-Six
PAXTON
My knee was wobbling.
Christmas Eve night went better than I imagined. I was worried for a few minutes that my girl wouldn’t like me taking it upon myself to buy us a house, but she was so pleased that she let me unwrap her.
Just as I wished when I first saw her that evening, I’d slid the red dress down her beautiful body to find a red lace matching panty and bra set. And that wasn’t all. I’d managed to talk her into leaving the black boots on.
It went down as a night in history.
But it was morning and was one of the most important moments of my life and all I needed was for her to say yes to my very important question.
Capri hadn’t opened the box yet, so I softly plucked it out of her hand as she stared at me with her wide, gorgeous green eyes, illuminated with anticipation.
I flipped the top open and she sucked in a gulp of air. Pulling the engagement ring from the white satin lined fabric inside, I held it up to her and took her shaky hand in my free one.
“Baby, I know that you’ve been down this road once before and had told yourself it would never happen again.” I brushed my thumb soothingly over the top of her hand. “But if you feel an ounce of what I do for you then you know we’re meant to be together.”
Taking a deep breath, I pulled as much oxygen into my lungs as possible so I didn’t hyperventilate before I could finish.
“Capri, you brought love into my life with an intensity I didn’t know existed or ever believed was possible. You are everything I want but never knew I needed and I don’t want to ever live my life without you. Take a chance on me.”
I gave her a pleading look because I was so damn nervous and needed her to say yes more than I needed my next breath.
“Take a chance onus. I will never betray you, I will always stand by your side, and I will cherish you forever.”
Tears poured down her smooth cheeks, and her lips trembled as my hand holding the ring did.
“Darlin’, please marry me and make me the happiest man in the world. All I need is to make a family with you and our child, or children if we decide to have more. I love you so damn much, Capri. Say yes.”
Ring forgotten, she threw herself down into my arms causing me to tumble backward. She landed on top of me and smothered my face in kisses.
