“It is,” I agree.
She smiles and leans in for another kiss.I want to deepen it, but I know we’re outside her work and she might not want to full-on make out in the parking lot.
“Thanks for lunch,” she says as she gathers her things.
“Anytime.”
“See you after work!”Larsen calls as she hops out of the truck.
I watch her go, grinning as she stops at the front door and turns back to wave at me.I wave back, then pull out and drive down the block to the jewelry store.
This might seem fast to some people, but I know Larsen is it for me.I want her.I need her.If I don’t have her, nothing else matters.
I enter the store and walk straight to the engagement ring section.The man behind the counter looks down his nose at me, taking in my dirty coveralls.No doubt he assumes I can’t afford anything in his fancy store.What he doesn’t know is that I’ve saved almost every dollar I’ve ever made since I was a kid.I never liked things.I got by with my old truck and was happy.Now I have someone to spend it all on.
I’m going to spoil the shit out of Larsen, I think with a smile as I point to the ring I want.
The salesman suddenly becomes a lot friendlier when I get the engagement ring with the matching bands.I tap my card, and half an hour later, I’m walking back into the shop.
“Whew!Expensive day,” Foster comments when he sees the bag in my hand.
“Great day,” I correct.
“Congratulations, man.”He grins, clapping me on the back.
I chuckle.“Thanks, but I haven’t asked her yet.”
“She’ll say yes.”
“She better,” I grumble.
“She will.It’s Wolf Valley,” he says knowingly as he wanders off.
I tuck the ring box into my jeans pocket and get back to work.But in my head, I’m counting down the seconds until I see Larsen again and figuring out the right time to ask her to marry me.
I hope I find the perfect time soon because I don’t think I can wait much longer to see Larsen wearing my ring.
NINE
Larsen
Everything still feels a little unreal.A little too good to be true.
The past few days—days?Has it really only been a few days?I’ve lost track—have blurred together into a whirlwind of stolen moments, laughing and learning more and more about each other, secret driving lessons, kisses that leave me dizzy, and so many steamy embraces that I’m a little sore.
Sore, but happy, and it’s all thanks to my grumpy, overprotective mechanic.
Kian.
My man.
The thought still makes my chest flutter.
We pull into my driveway, the truck crunching softly over the thin layer of snow.The engine idles, and the headlights bathe the front of my house in warm light.Neither of us moves.
This has become our thing.The drive ends… but we don’t.
Kian turns toward me, one big hand sliding to my thigh, his thumb brushing slow, absent-minded circles over my jeans.His dark blue eyes drag over my face like he’s memorizing me all over again.
