Page 114

“Lincoln,” she whispers, a smile lighting up her face as she grabs my hand. The glint on her ring finger catches my attention and time seems to stop as I stare at it, not quite believing what I’m seeing. Holy shit, it worked. My mouth pops open and she follows my gaze before grinning.

“Oh, yeah… about that…”

“Are you for real right now? You’re going to marry me?” I ask as my heart stutters in my chest and my mouth goes dry.

She nods. “If you’ll still have me.”

“Fuck yes,” I growl, wrapping my arms around her and lifting her into the air as I press my lips against hers. She giggles, threading her fingers through my hair and it’s the sweetest damn sound I’ve ever heard in my life. She’s mine now. Forever.

“I love you,” I whisper against her lips and she smiles.

“Turns out, I love you, too. And I’m sorry that I’m so stubborn and unreasonable. I was so worried about you when you left and I realized that I don’t want to spend another minute of my life without you.”

“And you’ll never have to.”

She giggles again and pulls back as I gently set her back on her feet. “I can’t promise to make it easy for you.”

“You wouldn’t be the woman I’m madly in love with if you did,” I answer, holding the back of her head and pulling her lips to mine again. Rodriguez clears his throat behind us and we pull away as Tate blushes.

“Sorry. Got a little caught up,” I admit. He shakes his head.

“No worries and congrats to both of you. You’re good for each other.”

I grin, looking back at my girl. “We have to tell the guys.”

She nods and I scowl, remembering that I left Smith to watch over her.

“Wait. Where’s Smith?”

She purses her lips and looks away from me as Rodriguez starts laughing.

“Tate,” I prompt and she sighs.

“I kind of tased him.”

“Tate,” I growl, pinching the bridge of my nose as she cuddles under my arm and presses her hand to my stomach.

“I’m sorry but he wouldn’t let me leave. I had to get to you.”

I roll my eyes and stare down at her. “He was protecting you like I asked him to.”

“Yeah,” she muses, biting her lip. “We’re going to have to get him a really good present to make up for it.”

“How did I get roped into this?” I ask, laughing and she holds up her left hand, now adorned with my ring, as she reaches up on her tiptoes to press a kiss against my lips. “I didn’t realize my marriage proposal came with apologies to my friends.”

“Sorry to break up this love fest but you should see this,” Rodriguez says, grabbing a piece of paper off the dining room table. I take it from him and blow out a breath as I read it.

I want my daughter

Monday

Sunrise Diner

2 p.m.

“Ready to meet your old man?” I ask, handing the note to her and her hand trembles slightly as she nods.

“Let’s take it to the club and see what everyone else thinks.”

My brows shoot up in surprise and she glances over at me, rolling her eyes.

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m not going into this alone so I’ll need support from y’all if I decide to face him.”

I shake my head. “I don’t like it.”

“I don’t either but it may be our only option.”