She shivered, her breath catching.
"That was very nice. I'd like to request an encore sometime."
I grinned and pulled back, grabbing the burned toast and tossing it in the trash. "Go sit down. I'll make breakfast."
She rolled her eyes but didn't argue, settling onto one of the barstools at the counter while I got to work on eggs and bacon.
The past six months had been the best of my life.
I'd set up a regional office for Black Hawk downtown, hiring a full staff and delegating enough that I wasn't constantly traveling. I still took the occasional high-profile job when itrequired my personal attention, but for the most part, I was here. With Betty.
We'd fallen into an easy rhythm. Mornings together before she headed to the bar. Nights curled up on the couch or in bed, talking and touching and making up for lost time. Weekends spent exploring the city or just being lazy, wrapped up in each other.
It was everything I'd never let myself hope for.
And I wanted more.
The ring had been burning a hole in my pocket for three weeks now. A simple platinum band with a round diamond, nothing too flashy. Betty wasn't the flashy type.
But every time I thought about asking her, the words got stuck in my throat. What if it was too soon? What if she wasn't ready? What if she said no?
"You're thinking too hard," Betty said, interrupting my spiral. "I can practically hear your brain grinding."
I forced a smile. "Just planning my day."
"Liar." She came around the counter and slid her arms around my waist from behind, pressing her cheek against my back. "What's going on in that head of yours?"
"Nothing."
"Hudson Cole, you are the worst liar I've ever met. Tell me what's wrong."
I turned in her arms, looking down at her. She was so beautiful. So fierce and stubborn and perfect.
And I was an idiot for being scared.
"Nothing's wrong," I said. "I was just thinking about how lucky I am."
She smiled and went up on her tiptoes to kiss me. "I'm the lucky one. You know that, right?"
I kissed her again, deeper this time, and felt her melt against me. My hands slid down to cup her ass, and she gasped.
"Hudson, the eggs are going to burn."
"Fuck the eggs." I lifted her onto the counter, stepping between her legs.
She laughed, the sound bright and happy, and wrapped her arms around my neck. "The eggs. Seriously."
"Fine." I stepped back reluctantly and turned off the stove. "But this conversation isn't over."
We ate breakfast at the kitchen table, like we did every morning. Normal stuff. Domestic stuff. The kind of life I'd never thought I'd have.
"So," Betty said, pushing her empty plate away. "What are you really not telling me?"
I blinked. "What?"
"You've been weird all morning. Distracted. And you keep touching your pocket like you're checking for something." Her eyes narrowed. "Spill."
Shit. She knew me too well.
