She tears off her tank top while I strip out of my shirt.
She’s lost her pajama pants and?—
Fuck me.
She’s commando.
She grins and points to my belt. “Your turn,” she whispers.
I strip out of my pants and boxers in an instant, and then I’m leaping onto the bed with her, wrapping us in the covers while I kiss her and stroke her and make love to her until she’s moaning my name, both of us trying to be as quiet as possible.
“I love you,” I say against her skin as we lie there, both of us catching our breath.
“I love you with everything I have to give and more,” she pants.
“We’re gonna get married one day.”
She laughs. “Is that a proposal?”
“Not if you have to ask.”
She giggles.
I kiss her neck.
I mean it.
I’m marrying this woman one day.
But when I propose for real—she’ll know it.
And I’ll do it in a way that’s worthy of her big heart.
And in the meantime, I’ll do what Cricket’s taught me to do.
Be brave.
Live for today.
And love fearlessly with all of my heart.
EPILOGUE
MY NEW BEST FRIEND’S SISTER’S WEDDING
Cricket
Caro’s weddingday dawns dark and stormy, prompting worries about both the wedding and the grapes—we’re right at harvest time—but by midmorning, everything has cleared away with less rainfall than expected, and we put on the world’s most perfect outdoor winery wedding.
Mostly.
Is anything ever really perfect?
The bride walked down the aisle, led by Lavender the dragon-slaying flower girl who kicked and punched her way to the front and accidentally threw her whole basket of flowers in Simon Luckwood’s face.
Not just the flowers.
The basket too.
