Chapter 33
Lauren
“I think that’s everything,” I told Cole about a half an hour later.
Cole had gotten up and brought us both a drink before we’d settled back on the bed so I could tell him more about my week and everything my brother had said in his journal.
I’d changed into my sleep shorts and a matching shirt while he’d gone after his Scotch and my glass of wine.
We sat side by side on the bed, his arm around my waist and my head on his shoulder, while I’d done most of the talking.
I’d been deliriously happy when he told me one more time that he loved me.
I’d hoped that he felt the same way I did.
I’d told myself that I couldn’t possibly be this in love with someone if he didn’t feel the same way.
Still, I was elated to actually hear those words from him again.
“How do you feel about your brother now?” he asked.
I thought about that for a moment.
“I love him. I’ll always love him,” I explained.
“But I guess I realize that he was human. He made mistakes. Because he was my guardian and mentor, I think I idolized a man who didn’t exist. There was no way I could see that as a kid.
As an adult, I realize that he was imperfect, but he loved me.
He loved me so much that he was willing to do anything to protect me.
I wished he’d done things differently, but I can’t change the past. The best thing I can do is try to move on.
More than anything, my brother wanted me to be happy. ”
“That’s definitely something I have in common with your brother,” Cole said in a low, thoughtful voice.
“Asher came to see me earlier,” I shared. “He asked me not to reveal what I know about Keith. My brother was Asher’s friend. Your brother doesn’t seem to care about the lingering rumors about him killing his father. He doesn’t want me to go to Chief Norton with the truth.”
“I don’t, either,” Cole said firmly. “There’s no benefit to anyone if you do that.”
“The whole town would find out that you and Asher didn’t kill your father,” I argued.
“They’d also talk about your brother and about you,” he said irritably.
“I feel the same way as Asher. Your brother is gone, angel. Asher and I are the only ones who would care about the truth coming out now, and we don’t.
Tanner already knows the truth. He can share it with Millie and his brothers, but nobody else ever needs or has the right to know. ”
I took a sip of my wine and leaned back against Cole.
He was right.
The case would forever be unsolved publicly, but everyone who should know the truth would have that resolution.
“Is it horrible that I’m relieved?” I asked softly. “That I really don’t want my brother to be forever branded a murderer, even though he did kill your father?”
“Hell, no. I’d try to save Asher’s good name if I was in your position.
Especially if it was the last thing I could do for him.
Your brother wasn’t a serial killer. He made a mistake because my asshole father provoked him into it.
It sounds like he regretted it and was willing to own up to that mistake.
Your brother panicked. He knew my father had already killed at least one person in his past. I get that he didn’t feel like he had any other option at the time.
What happened doesn’t negate all of the good things he did, Lauren.
Asher considered him a friend. Keith was a hard worker, and he raised you and protected you with love. Let it go. It’s time, sweetheart.”
I let out a long sigh.
God, how I loved this man and the way that he supported me when I needed him.
“Have I told you what an amazing man you are today?” I asked in a lighter tone.
“Actually, I haven’t heard that in over a damn week,” he said in a disgruntled voice.
“Then I’ll tell you more than once a day to make up for that,” I teased.
“You’re right. It’s time for me to let go of the past and appreciate everything I have right now.
” I stretched my arm out until I could put my empty wine glass on the side table before I turned around and kneeled between Cole’s legs.
“I have a ton of Remingtons who are like family to me, and I’m grateful for every one of them.
But the one I’m looking at right now is the love of my life.
You’re my person, the man I thought I’d never find.
I’ll try to never take that for granted because that’s a pretty huge gift. ”
He reached out, wrapped a steely arm around my waist and put his other hand on the back of my head. “You’re my whole damn world, angel. That scares the hell out of me sometimes, but I wouldn’t change it if I could.”
My heart stuttered as he pulled my lips down to his.
The embrace was one of devotion and promises, and it was so damn sweet that I never wanted it to end.
However, it did end, and Cole reached for the drawer on the bedside table right after it was over.
“This isn’t the way I wanted to do this,” he said hoarsely as he pulled something out of the drawer. “I wanted this to be romantic and something you’ll always remember since I’m generally not a romantic kind of guy.”
My heart started to hammer as I realized that he was holding a red velvet box.
Our gazes met and locked, and I knew exactly what he was going to do.
“Unfortunately,” he continued, “I can’t wait another second to do this.” He flipped the box open. “Maybe it’s only a symbol, but I need my damn ring on your finger. I need another way to make you mine.”
I gasped as I saw the ring nestled in a bed of velvet.
It was absolutely spectacular.
As usual, Cole hadn’t done this in half measures.
The diamond was enormous, and the two sapphires that lay beside the huge center stone on both sides were breathtaking.
The gold and gemstones definitely had some bling, but the ring was a classic style that I fell in love with instantly.
I knew it was an outrageously expensive ring, but that was exactly the way my man did things.
“Marry me,” Cole said huskily. “I know it’s quick, and we can have a long engagement if that’s what you need, but I know exactly what I want.”
“We talked about moving in together, but we haven’t talked about marriage,” I said in a stunned voice, my heart pounding so fast that I was almost breathless.
“Your fate was sealed the second you told me that you loved me,” he answered.
“You not loving me was the only way this wasn’t going to happen.
The ring was finished two weeks ago. I knew I was going to have to wait, but I was hoping I wouldn’t have to wait long.
Tell me you’ll marry me, angel. I’ll take you somewhere romantic to celebrate. ”
My heart squeezed inside my chest.
Cole liked to think he wasn’t romantic, but I thought he was the most romantic guy I’d ever met.
He wasn’t overly sappy, but when he said something sweet, it came from his heart.
I reached out and reverently touched the diamond. “It’s so beautiful. You know I’m going to marry you. I already told you that I love you.”
He grinned, and my heart started to do a happy dance as he pulled the ring from the box and slipped it onto my finger.
I had no idea how he knew my ring size, but it fit perfectly.
“We can make adjustments to the ring if you don’t like—”
“No,” I interrupted firmly. “It’s absolutely perfect.”
Cole tossed the box aside, kissed the ring on my finger, and then pulled me into his lap.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he kissed me.
Long.
Slow.
And seductively.
It was a kiss of commitment, but I could also feel the heat in his embrace this time.
My heart sighed.
I was so happy that I felt like that particular organ was going to explode.
I was breathing hard when Cole finally released my mouth. “We’ve never talked about having kids,” I told him.
“I’ll happily do my part to get you pregnant whenever you’re ready,” he informed me as he nuzzled my neck.
“You’ve never mentioned wanting kids,” I pointed out as I tilted my head so he could have access to any part of me that he wanted.
“It wasn’t something I really thought about before we met,” he said as he lovingly stroked a hand over my hair. “Now, I’d like to see that happen for us someday.”
I speared my hands into his coarse hair, trying to get as close to him as possible.
“I’d like to wait for a while,” I told him. “I think I’d just like to have some time for us first.”
Oh, I definitely wanted a child or two, but I was going to want some time to just be with Cole.
“I’d like that, too,” he said in a sexy baritone that made liquid heat flow between my thighs.
“We’ve talked about so many things we want to do and places we want to go together,” I said.
“I think I’d like to focus all of my attention on my husband before we decide to take that next step.
But I’m very happy to know that you’re willing to put in your best effort when we’re ready to have a family. ”
I squeaked when he tightened his arms around me and lifted me until I was on my back and his hard body was over mine.
“I’m about to show you how hard I’ll be willing to work in the future,” he said as he grinned down at me. “The best part of having that ring on your finger is going to be looking at you wearing nothing except that ring when you’re screaming my name in ecstasy.”
I wrapped a lock of his hair around my finger and twirled it as our eyes met and held. “So you think I’m going to be screaming your name in ecstasy?” I teased.
“I know you will be,” he said with that Cole confidence that I loved so much.
God, how had I ever gotten lucky enough to have Cole Remington as my future husband?
Not only was he the love of my life, but my man was seriously hot.
The hottest guy on Earth, and he was mine.
He was going to be mine for the rest of our lives.
I was done questioning things.
Cole claimed my mouth, and I opened to him with a muffled moan.
Right now, there was only this.
There was only us .
When he finally lifted his head, I whispered, “Make me scream your name in ecstasy.”
The shit-eating grin on his face told me that was exactly what he was planning to do.