Epilogue
Weston
Daisy’s arms snake around me, warm in the bed, as morning light spills under the blinds of the beach house. I tug her into my side and press a kiss to her dark silky hair,
savoring the moment. Just waking up beside her is a blessing.
“Morning,” she murmurs sleepily.
“Morning, babygirl.” I want nothing more than to let my hands venture under the
covers, to find the softest parts of her and touch them until she’s satisfied.
But I have big plans for us today, and I’m too distracted to focus until I’ve seen them through.
Nerves ripple through me as I think of the little velvet box buried in the bottom of my weekend bag.
After my son, Jesse, gave us his blessing, I chose the most beautiful ring I could find.
I wanted to propose months ago, but every weekend I brought Daisy out to Greenport it’s been too cold. I have the perfect picture of how this will go in my head, and only a sunny day will suffice.
I’m not sure what the weather will do after lunch, but I can’t put this off anymore. I can’t wait any longer.
Daisy’s hands stray across my torso, igniting heat deep in my abdomen.
With great self-control, I gently remove them and roll out of bed.
“Time to get up. We’re leaving in an hour.”
Daisy groans, burying her head under a pillow, and I chuckle as I pad to the shower.
She might be protesting now, but I know she won’t be later.
At least, I hope she won’t.
I shake off the flicker of hesitation as I shower and dress, knowing we’re ready to take the next step. Both of us.
And that’s something that I wasn’t sure I’d be able to say for a very long time.
Daisy showers and dresses with mild protests while I load up a backpack for our walk.
In the kitchen, I make us oatmeal and she makes us coffee at the espresso machine, and when she hands me my cup, I smile at the heart shape in the foam.
It reminds me of our early days in Joe’s, when she created latte art to make me smile. And it worked.
“For my love,” she murmurs, leaning in to touch her lips to my bearded cheek.
My heart swells, thinking of the joy this woman brings to my life.
I can’t imagine another moment passing without falling to my knees and asking her to be my wife, but I force myself to be patient for a little while longer.
“Thanks, baby.” I pull her close and drop my nose to her hair, breathing in her sweet, citrusy scent, before kissing her chastely on the forehead.
Anything more and I’ll seriously derail my plans.
We eat in companionable silence, me flicking distractedly through the newspaper and Daisy gazing out at the sea.
Perhaps she can sense my nerves, maybe she knows what I’m planning.
When I glance at her, she’s smiling quietly to herself, but I can’t read her expression.
“Ready?” I ask, once we’ve drained our coffee and stacked our bowls in the dishwasher.
Daisy nods, running her gaze over me. “Are you sure you want to walk to the meadow today? I think it’s supposed to rain later.”
“It’s not raining yet,” I point out.
“No, but…” She slides her arms around my waist, nuzzling against my chest. “Why don’t we go back to bed and get naked, instead?”
Shit, that’s very tempting. Too tempting.
“Later, babygirl. Right now, I want to take you back to that beautiful meadow.”
She sighs, dropping her arms. Her brow knits into a frown, and it’s like a punch to the gut.
“I’ll make it worthwhile,” I add, stroking a hand over her hair.
She’s pulled it into a long braid, snaking over her shoulder, and she’s wearing the same buttery-yellow dress she wore the first time I took her to the meadow.
Whether that was intentional, I don’t know, but it feels like a good sign.
Daisy cocks a brow at my words, and I turn to grab the backpack before I do or say anything more to give away what I’m about to do.
When she’s not looking I double check the ring is in there, then we head out into the fresh spring air.
The walk along the beach is pleasant under the warm sun, but as we descend the rocks onto Sullivan’s Cove, I spot dark clouds looming on the horizon.
They’re a little way off and it’s still sunny, but I won’t have long. I need to move quickly.
I follow Daisy into the meadow and, if it’s possible, there are even more flowers here than last time.
“I love this place,” Daisy breathes, plucking a flower and lifting it to her nose,
smiling. Her gaze finds mine. “Every time we come here, it reminds me of that first time you brought me. How much I wanted you and thought I’d never get to have you.”
“Me too,” I murmur, watching her. The way she reaches out to touch the daisies, her expression dreamy.
I didn’t bring the camera this time, not wanting the distraction, but I can’t help myself, I pull my phone from my pocket and snap a picture.
That will become my lock screen later, for sure.
I set the backpack down, keeping my back to Daisy as I slip the tiny box into my pocket.
Then I rise and pull her into my arms, brushing my mouth over hers.
She sighs against me, placing a hand on my heart. She must be able to feel my jackhammering pulse, because her gaze searches my face, concern pinching her brow.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m more than okay, Daisy, and that’s all thanks to you.”
Again, I stroke her hair, taking in the constellation of freckles across the bridge of her nose, the way her lips curve upward at my words.
“This meadow is where I realized my true feelings for you. And it’s the perfect place for me to do this.”
Her brows rise in question. “Do what?”
I smile, taking Daisy’s hands in mine, nerves jumping through me. Then I inhale deeply, and drop to one knee.
Daisy
My heart stops as Weston falls to his knee in front of me. Is this what I think it is?
Could I really be that lucky? When he pulls a tiny box from his pocket, I know my suspicion is correct.
And I could cry with happiness.
The truth is, I wasn’t sure if he’d ever be ready for this again.
Not after losing Lydia, and then almost losing his son in the process.
I know it’s taken years for him to heal, and I like to think I played a part in that, but I also wondered if we’d get to this point.
If he’d ever want marriage again.
But as he gazes up at me from among the daisies, my heart has never felt so full. He’s ready, and he’s chosen me.
“You helped me put the pieces of my heart back together after life ripped them apart,” Wes says, his ocean-blue eyes shining in the morning sun.
Shit, my eyes are filling with tears. I suck in a deep breath, trying to control myself so he can at least get the words out.
Wes notices, and smiles through his own emotion.
“I never imagined I could feel this way again, but you’ve shown me what love is. How it can heal. How it can bring a person back to life. And I want to spend the rest of my life making you feel the same.”
Oh, God. I can’t help it. Tears spill down my cheeks as Wes pops open the velvet box, revealing the most stunning ring I’ve ever seen.
“Will you marry me, Daisy?”
“Yes,” I choke out through my tears, and Wes rises to slide the ring on my finger.
I throw my arms around his neck, laughing and crying at the same time, my heart racing a million miles an hour. He laughs too, lifting me and spinning us around in the meadow,
like the first time we were here.
I wish I could reach back in time and tell that version of me to be patient, to trust what was coming, but I’m not sure she’d believe me.
When we part, Wes presses his mouth against mine in a hard kiss.
“I love you, baby. So, so much.”
“Me too,” I breathe. I look in awe at the ring on my finger. It’s shaped like a daisy,
with a yellow diamond in the center, surrounded by marquis-cut white diamonds, all set in a delicate gold band.
I’ve never seen anything more beautiful. More unique. More me.
God, this man knows me so well. He understands me, he sees me, in a way no one ever has.
I am the luckiest woman alive to have his love.
When I glance back up at Weston, he’s studying me, like he’s waiting for my approval on his ring choice. It makes me laugh. As if I could possibly not like the ring.
“This is…” I stroke my hand across his cheek, admiring the ring as I do, the way all the diamonds catch the sun.
“The most perfect ring I could ever imagine.”
His lips curve in a relieved smile. “It’s a daisy, for my Daisy.”
Fuck. How is it possible to love someone this much?
Wes tugs his phone from his pocket. “I wasn’t going to take any pictures, but…”
He shakes his head, holding the phone up for a selfie. “I need to capture this moment.”
I grin, holding up my hand to showcase my ring, and he presses a kiss to my cheek as he takes the photo.
I watch as he sends the picture to Jess, with the words, She said yes!
underneath. His phone buzzes almost instantly with Jesse’s reply, and my heart leaps nervously.
Jess has been incredibly supportive since we patched up the relationship at Christmas, and I know Wes would never propose without Jess being on board, but I can’t deny the flicker of anticipation I feel as I read his response.
Jesse: Of course she did. Love you guys.
I breathe out at his words, so happy to see in black and white that we have his blessing.
It’s clear from the shine in Wes’s eyes as he slides his phone away that he’s relieved, too, and I grin, knowing there is nothing standing between us and our future.
I rise on my toes to take Wes’s mouth with mine, sliding my arms around his neck.
He complies without hesitation, and when I tug him down into the daisies, he follows eagerly. I push him onto his back and climb onto him, straddling his hips.
There’s no one around for miles, and I’m going to have him right here, right now, just as I fantasized when he first brought me here, so long ago.
His eyes flare with heat as I roll my hips over his shorts, feeling his thickening cock.
I drag my hands down the front of his white linen shirt, lowering my lips to capture his.
When I sweep my tongue into his mouth, he growls, fingers tightening on my hips.
“Careful, babygirl,” he warns, “or you might have to give me what I want right here.”
I smile against his lips. “I plan to.”
He groans as I rock against him, his cock flexing under me. “Daisy, we probably shouldn’t—”
I take his hand and place it on my breast, fixing my most devilish smile on him.
“Shouldn’t we?”
His jaw hardens, and for a split second I worry he’s going to say no, but he flips us over, pushing my dress up my thighs.
Heady with desire, I stare at him surrounded by daisies, the sun behind him giving him a halo.
“You want my cock here?” he asks thickly, fingers teasing my inner thighs. “Now?”
“Yes. I need you.”
“Fuck,” he mutters as his fingers brush across my damp panties. He shoves them aside to swipe a finger through my wetness. “You really do, don’t you?”
I nod, arching into his touch. “I always need you, Wes.”
His eyes press closed as he savors my words, and when they open again, they’re black with desire.
I push his shorts over his hips, taking his hardness in my hands.
It seems I’m not the only one who needs this. Especially because he can’t seem to wait; he shoves my panties aside and thrusts into me, sending stars scattering across my vision.
“God, you feel good, babygirl. So tight and wet for me.”
I moan as his mouth covers mine, his beard rough on my cheek as we kiss deeply.
The feel of him inside me in this most sacred of places is too much, and I wrap my legs around him, holding him close.
“The first time you brought me here,” I rasp between thrusts, “I imagined you doing exactly this.”
He draws away to look at me as he slows his pace. “Just like this? Here?”
I nod. “I went back to the beach house and touched myself, wishing you’d fucked me right here.”
“Shit, baby.” He forces my leg higher, giving himself better access. “I wish I’d known.
I wish I could have been the one to make you come.”
I sigh as he frees my breasts from my dress, dipping his head to take my nipple into his mouth.
Pleasure surges through me, and I thread my hands into his hair, lifting my hips to meet his movements.
“But it’s okay,” Weston growls, shifting the angle to get deeper. “I was the first man to have you, and I’ll be the last.”
He’s right, and I fucking love that. I writhe under him at his words.
I rake my fingernails down his back, and he thrusts harder. I can’t fight the moan that tears from my mouth, not caring who might hear.
In all the times I’ve been to Sullivan’s Cove I’ve never seen another person, but I don’t care if an entire crowd gathered around us right now—nothing could stop me from making love to this man.
“You’re mine, Daisy.” Wes grips my waist as he slams into me. “You’ll always be mine.”
“I know,” I whimper, pleasure spiraling through me.
“Say it,” he demands, eyes growing wild as his movements become more erratic.
“Tell me.”
I love when he does this. How possessive he is, needing to know who I belong to.
And now that I’m about to become his wife, I will tell him over and over, for the rest of my life.
“I’m yours, Wes,” I sob. “I’ll always be yours, and no one else’s.”
“That’s my good girl.” He reaches under my dress, and when his fingers find my clit, the pleasure builds.
“Come for me,” he says roughly, reading my face as I inch closer to orgasm.
“Make that pretty pussy come on my cock.”
Fuck. He always knows the exact filthy words to push me over.
I dig my fingernails into his shoulders, needing to anchor myself as the pleasure overcomes me, shattering my sense of time and space.
His mouth finds mine again, his moans spilling onto my tongue, and we hold each other close, riding the wave together.
When I come to, the sky above us has shifted from cobalt-blue to dull gray.
Weston rolls off me and tugs me against his side, tucking a daisy behind my ear, and I smile,
turning to face him, waiting for my heart rate to slow.
“I can’t believe you’re going to be my husband,” I whisper, studying his handsome face. “I wasn’t sure if you’d ever… you know…”
“Honestly, Daisy…” He shakes his head.
“I wanted to propose months ago, but I had this idea of doing it here, and the weather hasn’t been good.” He plucks another daisy,
studying its velvety-white petals. “I should have just done it. I guess I was… I don’t know.” He blows out a breath.
“Waiting. But I don’t know for what .”
I caress his cheek tenderly, bringing his gaze back to mine. “I do. You needed to be ready, that’s all. And I don’t mind. I would have waited for you forever.”
He gazes at me for a long moment, then leans forward to touch his lips to mine.
“You are the most amazing woman, you know that? I don’t want to wait anymore. What would you think about getting married soon? Before summer?”
I press a hand to my heart, trying to contain the emotion spilling through me.
“That sounds perfect.”
He grins, brushing a strand of loose hair from my face. A cool breeze rushes across my skin, and I glance at the sky.
Dark clouds have drifted in, blocking the morning sun, but I don’t care. All I care about is this man in front of me.
Knowing that, very soon, he’ll be my husband.
When I shiver in the cooling air, Wes notices.
“We should head back,” he says, rising with a sigh. He pulls me to my feet, and I adjust my underwear. I’m sticky between my legs, but I don’t mind.
I like knowing it’s there. Like feeling where he’s been.
“I don’t want to leave,” I murmur, and he laughs.
“You didn’t even want to come out here, remember?”
I giggle. “I didn’t know I’d get great sex and a fiancé out of it, or I would have sprinted here.”
He hooks an arm around my shoulder, pulling me close. His lips press to mine, but a rumble of thunder has him drawing away with a frown.
“Come on, babygirl.”
I nod reluctantly, and we climb the rocks around the bend, the air thick and heavy with the threat of rain.
I’m certain we’ll make it back in time, but as we descend the rocks onto the main beach, there’s a crack of thunder and the sky unleashes a torrent.
Wes looks at me from under low brows, and I can’t help but laugh as we’re drenched.
His white shirt sticks to his muscular torso, and I admire the view through the rain, sliding my hand into his.
“For the record,” Wes yells over the sound of rain and pounding surf as we run along the beach, “this is not how this was supposed to go.”
I laugh again, squeezing his hand. “It’s better,” I yell in response, and when he looks at me again, his mouth curves into a smile.
By the time we reach the dunes in front of the house, he’s laughing too, and stops to pull me close, kissing me in the pouring rain.
“I love you so much,” I say, pressing my soaking body to his.
“I love you too, Daisy.” He pushes a lock of soggy hair from my eyes. “Now let’s go inside and make love in our big, warm, dry bed.”
And I sigh, knowing I will never be happier than I am at this moment. “Sounds perfect.”
* **
Thank you so much for reading I Saw Her First!