Declan stares at me in shock.
“A couple months after I arrived at the ranch, I decided that I wanted it to be you.And I’ve been waiting ever since.For you.For this.”
Declan’s mouth falls open in disbelief, then he snaps it shut.“Why the hell didn’t you tell me, Summer?”
“The same reason you didn’t tell me.”
“I thought you weren’t interested in me that way.”
“Same.”
“So you’re saying we could have started this years and years ago?”
“Not necessarily.Maybe we’re only just now ready to be honest with each other.Maybe now is the right time for reasons we can’t even see.The only thing I’m sure of is that I don’t want this to ruin our friendship.I can survive most anything, but I couldn’t make it without you in my life, in some way.You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, and ever will have.”
Declan pulls me closer and then moves us so that we’re on our sides under the covers, our heads on the same pillow as we face one another.He strokes my hair.I may have dozed off, and when I open my eyes, Declan’s still there, watching me.
“’Sup?”I ask.
He grins.“I’ve been thinking.”
“That’s never smart.”
He laughs and pulls me close enough for our foreheads to touch.“Summer Stevens,” he says, “would you make me the happiest son of a bitch on earth and be my wife?Would you marry me?”
“Excuse me?Did you say something?”I wriggle out of his arms and put some daylight between us.
“You heard me.”
“Hold up.You want me tomarry you?Have you completely lost your mind?”
“Summer, listen.It may seem like it’s coming out of nowhere, but it really isn’t.I assure you.”
“Just last night I was calling you an assclown.And today you want tomarryme?That can’t be right.”
“Maybe it’s right for us.We’ve always done things our own way.”
I shake my head, dizzy with confusion.He looks serious.His eyes are clear and hyper-focused.He’s searching my face like a man who is making plans and needs to know if I’m on board.
But I can’t process this.
“Summer.Remember what I said when I was buried deep inside you?”
Uh-oh.I may be sore, but my pussy is already perking up and paying attention.
“You said a lot of things.”
“You’re mine, Summer.I meant it and I’ll always mean it.”
“Okay…”
“I don’t want to waste another second in bullshit indecision or stupid games and I don’t want to let another day go by without this—the way we are right now.You’re mine and I’m yours and I’m telling you that we really need to get married.”
Declan is as intense as any of the MacLaines, and I’ve seen him laser-focused on many occasions and for many reasons.This is a level I’m not used to, however.The man’s not fucking around.
“Butwhy?”
“After what I did, it’s my duty to marry you.”
