That was another thing he liked about her. It didn’t take her an hour to get ready to eat pizza at home. She looked as good in ten minutes as his other girlfriends had taking five times as long.
“The pizza’s paid for and should be here soon. I need to make a quick call but will be back to answer the door. Do not answer the door. Got it?” She gave a smart salute, and he ducked out to make his call.
He returned just as the doorbell rang. Making sure there was one in the chamber, and the safety was off on his gun, he put it in his back waistband and slowly opened the door. A pimply-faced kid held up the pizza and snapped his gum. “Pizza for Fred?”
“That’s me,” said Mitch. He exchanged the pizza for a twenty-dollar bill.
The kid’s eyes lit up at the tip. “Thanks, dude.”
When he returned to the kitchen, Maggie had set out some plates and napkins and was halfway into a beer. She dove right into the pizza.
“Pepperoni and pineapple,” she said around a mouth full. “You got my favorite. Thank you.”
They ate pizza and drank beer with a Knicks game on in the background. Maggie was the perfect girl-next-doorcliché. She could be your buddy one minute and someone you wanted to throw down and have sex with the next.
She was also a distraction he couldn’t afford right now. This klutzy, sweet, sometimes irritating woman had gotten him to let his guard down twice now. As enticing as she was, he needed to refocus and tell her they’d have to pick this up again after Manuel was caught and they were safe.
“So, Mags. I spent the afternoon thinking, and I have something I need to ask you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
“Will you marry me?”
“What? Are you nuts? We just met a few weeks ago!”
“I know it seems crazy, Jenny. But these last couple of weeks have been life-changing for me. As ludicrous as it sounds, I’ve known since the second I laid eyes on you, that you’re the woman for me.” Adam was on one knee, holding up a little blue box with the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen.
“I…I…I don’t know what to say.” Tears filled her eyes, and she pressed her hands against her cheeks, trying to hold in the panic.
He stood and grabbed her into a hug. “You don’t have to say anything right now, sweetheart. I’m sorry I put you on the spot.”
He leaned back and kissed away the tears that were falling slowly. “I love you, babe, and I want to marry you just as soon as you’ll have me. I’ll drop it for now, but be forewarned, I’m a very persistent guy,” he said with a smile.
So many things were running through her mind. Jimmy was there for sure. What would everyone think? Was it too soon? What about the boys? And Mitch. Oh God, Mitch. He would freak for sure. There were lots of reasons sheshouldn’t do this yet. They’d only just met, and she didn’t know everything about him. People would talk.
But, when she stopped thinking and tuned in to how she felt, there was a warm, peaceful glow in her heart. Adam loved her. He didn’t feel sorry for her because her husband had died. He didn’t treat her like a widow. He treated her like a woman. A good man with a huge heart, he made her laugh and feel alive again.
It didn’t sound rational on paper, but in her heart, she was certain it was right. They could have a long engagement to get to know each other better.
“Well, not so fast. I haven’t officially answered you.” Jenny smiled. “Let me see that ring again.”
It fit perfectly. A two-carat, princess cut diamond set in white gold. She held her hand at arm’s length to see it in the light. “It’s gorgeous,” she whispered reverently.
“A gorgeous ring for a gorgeous woman,” Adam said solemnly. “If you want it now, it’s yours, love. If you want to wait, I’ll wait as long as it takes.”
“What will we tell the boys?”
“We can talk to them together and float the idea around. See what they think before we announce anything. I want them to feel like they have input. If they aren’t ready, maybe we have a longer engagement.”
“Oh, I don’t know what I did to deserve you.” His plan to deal with the boys was perfect. This would be a big change for them, and she needed them to be fully on board. “It does seem soon, but it also feels right.”
“Are you saying yes?” he asked tentatively and then held his breath.
“I’m saying yes.” This time they both teared up. “I love you, Adam. I do want to be your wife.”
“God, I am the luckiest man on the planet. We need to celebrate. How long do I have to ravish you until the boys come home?” He scooped her up into his arms and headed toward the bedroom.
“About fifteen minutes,” Jenny said between giggles.
