“About that and our life together…”
He raised a brow. “What about it?”
“I want to use the money the governor gave me and buy the pizza place I told you about. Instead of a partnership with Mrs. Marino, I want to buy it outright, so she can let the place go after it’s served her family all these years, and she can do what she wants now, instead of carrying on a legacy for her late husband that she doesn’t want anymore.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
She rubbed the back of her fingers over the scruff of his stubbly beard. He hadn’t shaved this morning before chasing after her.
He smiled and kissed her fingers when she brushed them over his lips. “You’re smart and organized and can accomplish anything you set your mind to, like making me fall head over heels in love with you.” That made her giggle. “I think it’s perfect, Brooke. Whatever I can do to help, I’m in.”
“I can already see the renovation and the new menu. I want to add an ice cream counter, where kids can pick out their favorite flavor and toppings. For her. Because she made me crave ice cream every day.”
He smiled and brushed his nose against hers. “I love it.”
“Now that I’ve told you and you’re excited about it, too, I feel like I can really do it.”
“Of course you can.”
“I’ll have my bookstore, the café, and Italian place with ice cream as the cherry on top. And we’ll run the ranch together. It’s our home. It’s always been ours. Someday soon, we’ll get married, and as soon as it’s possible, and we’re both ready, I want us to have another baby. Or two. Three tops.” Her vibrant smile brightened her green eyes. “We’ll make a real life together.” She was practically doing the proposing for him.
“I want you to be my wife, the mother of my kids, my partner in everything. I want you in my arms every night and to wake up to you every morning.” He squeezed her to him and stole a kiss, then slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out the red velvet box. “Will you make me the happiest man on the planet and in the universe and marry me, Brooke?” He flipped open the box and showed her the sparkling round pink diamond solitaire ring. Pink for their little girl. A reminder she didn’t need but she’d carry with her every day.
She gasped. “Yes,” she squealed. “I can’t wait to marry you.”
He kissed her so passionately she was panting and curled around him in seconds as they celebrated and poured their love and excitement into the kiss.
Brooke started giggling against his lips. “I can’t believe you asked me.” Her eyes were bright with joy. “You know you’re the only man I’d ever marry.”
“Absolutely. You can’t resist me.” He slid the ring onto her finger.
The diamond caught the light and sparkled as bright as the smile on her face.
“It’s so pretty. Why a pink diamond?”
“To remember what we lost and what we have. Forever, Brooke. Me and you.”
The smile she gave him was full of love and joy, touched with the sadness they’d always feel when they thought of the missing piece of them.
He kissed her again and held her close to his chest, and breathed a huge sigh of relief. Things were finally as they should be.
They’d only get better now. They’d turned a corner.
“I can’t resist you.” She reached up and cupped the back of his neck and brought his mouth to hers for another scorching kiss.
He smiled down at her. “I like your quiet spot by the creek.”
“It’s so pretty here.And private. I can share a quiet moment among the flowers with the man I love.”
He gave her a wicked grin. “Let’s make the moment count.”
She smiled right before he took her mouth in a searing kiss and made love to her right there on the bank of the creek with the birds chirping, butterflies dancing from flower to flower, and the sound of the water carrying their soft sighs and moans away as he showed her how much he loved her.
This was how he planned they’d spend the rest of their lives. Happy. Together.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Adam had been planning for this day since the moment he woke up in this place. His parents wanted to keep him trapped. He wanted out. Of this place. Of his life. He was done.
