9. Chipper
Chapter 9
Chipper
I’ve done many things in my life that I should have been afraid of.
I’ve been shot, stabbed, and even hit by a car once. I’ve faced down hardened criminals, been involved in police stand-offs, shoot-outs, and a few months ago I had my life flash before my eyes in a junkyard; life as a bounty hunter was not easy. How any of us stay out of the hospital daily was up to a higher power.
None of those experiences had ever scared me as much as what I was about to do did.
I got why some people got overwhelmed when it came time to take that next step in a relationship. Making a life-altering decision was a big deal. And yet, I knew without a doubt it was the right one for me, for us.
It had taken a bit of planning to get to where we were now.
I couldn’t rush. I didn’t want to. I wanted it to be perfect.
With Ollie and the other cousins’ help, I made a plan to surprise AJ with a ring, so I could get down on one knee and ask for her to be my wife.
I knew going into this my girl was not a big fan of surprises. I could only hope in this instance that things would go smoothly. Face it, I was already going in on a wing and a prayer.
My biggest fear was her saying no. It could happen if I wasn’t reading the changes between us correctly. I knew I wanted her to be mine, forever. I’ve loved her for years. But if she says no, if she’s not ready, that’s okay. It’ll hurt, but I won’t give up on her—us. What we have is something special, something worth waiting and fighting.
I told her a couple years ago that we would take this at her pace. I still meant to keep that promise. I just needed her to know where I stood. I was more than just here. More than a warm body for her to curl into. I wanted to be able to call her my wife, to show her she really was the other piece of my heart.
The changes over the last year especially, her shell has cracked and more and more, I’ve been pulled into her bubble of happiness, contentment. Holding her at night on the couch while we watch a movie. Sneaking in for a quick kiss when she least expects it.
The joy she brought into my life was something I never thought a guy like me would have. I came from a broken home, not really having parents who were around. I have too many tattoos, a hard exterior, and some days my nightmares make me not such a nice person. AJ makes me a better person.
For this woman before me, I’d do anything. No matter the consequences.
“Amber Jaymes Daniels, I love you. You make me want to be a better man. To be a part of your life has made mine better. Will you allow me to be yours? To love you. To cherish that beautiful smile and kind heart. Will you be my one and only? The wife that I don’t deserve but want more than anything?”
I watched as tears rolled down her red cheeks. Those gorgeous blue eyes shining in the sunlight. I held my hand out as she stepped closer. Taking the ring from the box, I held it up as her hand came out, shaking with the rush of emotions rolling through her. I know how she’s feeling. My own hand shakes as I slide the ring onto her finger, stopping at her knuckle.
Looking up, I met her gaze.
Waiting.
She needed to say the words.
“Yes. Yes, I will be yours.”
I slid the ring on fully before standing and scooping her against my chest. Her laughter sang out across the open yard as her head fell back slightly.
Cheering and whistling followed. Her family rushed closer to congratulate us.
“It’s about time.”
“You be good to my niece.”
“Treat her well, or else.”
“I’m so excited for you both.”
I lost count of who hugged my neck, the back slaps and the hard looks. It was all worth it. To show them all that she was the one and only girl for me, I’d do just about anything.
Trace was last, his gaze narrowing in on me. I knew what was coming and turned to face him fully. This wasn’t the first time he’d given me that same look, or the words about to come out of his mouth. You’d think with his wife being pregnant and that baby being due any day now, he’d mellow out. But nope, my best friend was an even bigger asshole most days.
“I want you to know that you’ve always been a member of this family. We,” he waved a hand around the gathered crowd, “are happy for you both. But, my man, if you hurt my sister?—”
“If you hurt my baby,” Betty chimed in, pushing Trace back a step, her rolling pin in her other hand. She wielded it like a sword. “What they do to those idiots in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre will look like child’s play. You hear me, boy?”
When I tell you every man, woman, and child in the yard went deadly silent as she spoke, it’s not an exaggeration.
I held my hands up in surrender as laughter filled the space. Stella waddled her ass into the crowd.
“Then what we scrape up off the floor will get fed to the dogs.”
I lost my composure then and a bark of laughter left me. “Fair enough. I assure you all, hurting AJ is the last thing on my mind.”
“Y’all forget I can take care of myself,” she grumbled.
“If she can’t, Diesel will eat him/” Ollie pushed in to hug AJ. “Right?”
“Yeah, that too.”
“Can we eat now, Mama? I’m starving.” The kids—teenagers—were all looking her way like they’d not eaten in a week. Betty grinned and waved toward the house. The crowd broke apart, everyone setting off to finish the tasks needed. I pulled AJ to me, my arms going around her. “I love you, you know that, right?”
“I do. I love you, too. That’s why I said yes.” Her lashes brushed her cheeks as she tried to hide her laughter.
Grinning, I tugged her closer and brought my mouth to hers.
I was promising her more than love. I was promising her my eternal—everything.
“Are we eloping or…” I teased.
Her eyes widened before she looked around, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth. The fact that she was actually thinking about it made my heart leap.
“If we do that, we will both be on Aunt Betty’s hit list. I’m too pretty to be minced meat.”
“That you are, darlin’. How about we go to the barn and discuss a few things?”
“Or, we can go down to the pond and discuss them as loud as we want…”
I kissed her hard, took her hard, and headed for the side-by-side.
“I know what you’re thinking, and if you value your life, those things can wait until after lunch,” Keith called out from behind his truck. He walked around with a cooler in hand. “Trust me, boy, no one wants to be on Betty’s bad side. Skipping out on her Sunday lunch?—”
“Dammit,” AJ cursed. “He has a point.”
Her pout had me chuckling, as I pulled her closer. “As soon as we’re done, we are heading back to my place. I’ll let you up for air again in a few days.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
I stole another kiss, and it took all of my willpower to pull back and let her go. I could be patient. For now. When I got her home though, I meant what I’d said. She was not leaving that bed until we were both satisfied.
I wasn’t sure I’d ever get enough of her.