“But what if I’m never able to be completely intimate with you in the way you deserve?”
“Look how far you have come. You never thought you’d be lying in a bed with a man either, and yet here we are.”
I leaned in and softly kissed her lips, pulling a sigh from her.
“And look how responsive you are to my lips against yours.You told me that you wanted to be with me. I have faith we will get there. But if not, I meant what I said last night.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re crazy.”
“I’m crazy about you.”
More tears slipped down her face. “I’m crazy about you too.”
Raising my brows, I asked, “Crazy enough to marry me?”
Her eyes sparkled and danced with emotion. “I never thought I’d be saying this, but then again I never imagined meeting a man like you that makes me feel so cherished and loved. A man that has helped heal my broken heart and soul.”
My heart raced and anticipation built as she spoke.
“Yes.” She flashed a radiant smile at me, brighter than the sun and euphoria took hold of every cell in my body. “I will marry you and take your name.”
“I love you so damn much!” I hollered and pulled her into my arms, hugging her to my chest.
I guess I was a bit loud in my elation because the door burst open, and there stood the kids, their eyes wide with curiosity.
“Oh-oh, looks like we’ve been caught,” I whispered into River’s ear.
River’s muffled giggle against my T-shirt-covered chest was music to my ears.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
RIVER
He saidit reminded him of my eyes.
Mystical, hypnotizing, alluring and vibrant.
And that it was as precious as I was to him.
I wiggled my ring finger and stared down at the sparkling vintage style, princess cut amethyst diamond ring. It was still hard to believe even after a month of being asked to be Huntley’s wife, that this was my life.
After that life-changing morning and a whole month passing, Huntley had never gone home. While he still hadn’t been back to work yet, he was capable of caring for himself, but leaving had never crossed his mind, he said.
It never did mine either.
Lennon, Bre, and I were all used to his presence—even as large as it was—in the house and were dreading the day he went back to work. Sure, I worked, but he was always there when I came home. Unfortunately, before long, he would have shifts that kept him away from the house for days at a time.
Huntley would go back to the firehouse, the kids would be going back to school, and for the first time in my life, Iwas worried about having time alone. I used to be fine with it, but things changed when the hunky fireman swept into my life and refused to leave.
If he wasn’t in it, I don’t think I’d survive the loss.
According to him, I was stuck with him.
That morning after the kids found us in my bed, Huntley felt a bit guilty for not speaking with Lennon and Bre before asking me to take his name. But at breakfast, he rectified it and strengthened his relationship with the two of them.
He’d explained that he had been so caught up in the moment he just had to get the words out. Then he told them he’d never been in love before until he’d met me and couldn’t imagine me not taking his name and becoming his wife.
I was working overtime to keep my tears in check.
