Forest scratched the side of his head. “You know, it’s cold as shit out here. Do you mind if we head home? I hear there’s this mediocre band playing a half-decent show in town tonight.”
“Half-decent?” Ash laughed. “Thought you were a fan?”
“Meh.” Forest waved. “A real fan would have had an autograph or two by now…” He headed to the curb where a black town car was pulling up.
“When did you arrange for that?” She stared at the car as the driver got out and opened the door.
“Multitasking, my summer Skye. Now, get in.”
Ash pulled her to her feet and gave her a kiss on the lips. “You think you can do it?”
“Do what?”
“Give me six months? I warned you, I’m in this for the bigger prize.”
“And it doesn’t bother you that Bean and I?—”
“Our pasts belong in the past. I want your future. Do I get six months to prove we belong to each other?”
She bit her lower lip.
“I only have one rule,” he said.
“What’s that?”
“Easy,” he said with his signature smirk. “I want to touch you.”
She pulled back, but he held her fast.
“I won’t push your triggers,” he said, “but I damn well intend on making new memories.”
“I don’t know if I can make that promise.”
“All you have to do is try. We’ll get help.”
“I don’t need professional help, Ash. I’m fine.”
“I don’t know anything about what you went through. How to help you? How to step back? How will I know if I’m pushing too hard or not hard enough?”
Hearing his words forced a truth to settle around her heart. He loved her, and she could no longer deny his conviction. Her heart bloomed with a radiance she had never felt before.
Tuttle’s words—“flavor of the week”—returned to her, bringing back all her doubt.
“Why me?” She sought an answer she could hold on to. “When you can have anyone you want, why me when I’m so broken?”
He pulled her close. “You see me. From the first moment we met, you’ve seen me. I never knew how powerful that could be. Until you came into my life, I didn’t know I could be free.”
Her fears refused to subside. “What about your family? Your band? What will they think when Spencer?—”
“Mom will deal. Dad is all about the Lord’s forgiveness. And the guys are already scared to death of you and your juju moves. Now, you have even more street cred with them. Don’t worry. Fate brought us together for a reason.” He thumped his heart. “Try to believe because life isn’t worth living alone.”
She wished she’d had his confidence. “I don’t believe in fate.”
But, staring at him, she could no longer deny the truth. Ash Dean had mended the cracks in her heart.
He winked. “That’s a shame because fate has bound our lives together. I’m not stopping at six months.” Ash’s smile flashed in the light. “I intend to spend the rest of my life uncomplicating yours. Skye Summers Dean, will you be my wife?”
“I like the sound of that.”
