22. 22
“Thank you for today,” Lisa said as they sat together on the sofa that evening.
“It was nothing and I enjoyed it too.” He tugged her close and kissed the top of her head.
Lisa loved it when he did that. His little gestures of affection sent warm tendrils spiraling through her body. She didn’t bother to resist the urge to rub her face against his shirt and inhale his scent. “Want to watch something?”
“Sure, but I thought we could talk a little bit first, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. We can talk about anything you like.” She turned to watch his face.
His gaze was fixed across the room, she didn’t think he was looking at anything in particular, but trying to draw his thoughts together.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said the other day.” His tone was serious, and when he looked back to her face, his eyes told her he wasn’t joking.
Her mind raced. What had she said to make him thinking like this? Was he about to tell her this wasn’t working, and he was done with her? She opened her mouth to say something, what, she didn’t know yet. But a finger to her lips stopped her.
“Let me finish.”
He seemed to be waiting for an answer, so she nodded.
“Good. Like I said, I’ve been thinking about what you said. I decided you’re right, but not entirely.”
Her stomach sank as if a rock had been dropped into it. He was going to tell her they were done. After one of the best days she could remember having ever.
“I need to take what happiness comes, grab hold and hang on tight, but I’m not the only one. You need to do the same. ”You asked me to move in and I’m willing to do that but that’s not all I want.” He stopped and watched her.
It took a moment for his words to sink in. He wasn’t telling her it was over, he was agreeing to move in.
“What—” she stopped to swallow the lump that had formed in her throat, then tried again, “what else do you want?”
“Everything. I want it all. You. Kids. Home. I want it all.”
Lisa stared at him for a moment, not understanding. Wasn’t that what she’d been offering?
“Lisa, I’m not just talking for a while. I’m talking about forever. I never want you to go anywhere. I want you here every night, I want your tears and your laughter. Your sorrows and your joy. I want it all.” He pulled something from his shirt pocket and held it out to her.
Her eyes blurred as tears pooled in them, then fell. In Deke’s hand was a ring.
“Marry me. Say you’ll share everything with me and make me the happiest man in the world.”
She couldn’t speak. Instead, she nodded. Bobbing her head up and down so quickly her ponytail flew.
Deke picked up her hand and slid the ring into place.
“I don’t care if we have a big party and everyone in town’s invited or if we go down to the courthouse and get married by the judge. You choose whatever you want. But the sooner the better. I’ve lived too long running from what I want. I want to make sure you’re mine as soon as we can.”
“I’d like that too. I’ve waited for more than ten years to convince you we were made for each other. I don’t want to wait any longer.” She thought about it for a minute. “I don’t have to be at work until ten tomorrow, want to hit the courthouse and get married as soon as they open?”
“Let’s do it. But now we have another big decision.”
“What?”
“Do we call and ask your brother and Ava to be our witnesses or just surprise them when it’s done? I mean you’re welcome to invite anyone you want, I just thought Ava would be your choice. And what about your mom? We can wait a few weeks and have all your family there.”
Lisa shook her head. “I’ve waited fifteen years for you. I’m not going to put off making you mine any longer than I have to. I want to do this tomorrow. And I know Cowboy would be your best man. I don’t know Ava all that well yet, but I’d be thrilled to have her stand up with me when I marry you. Let’s invite them.”
He picked up his phone and made the call, not telling her brother what they were doing, only that Deke needed him and Ava for about an hour in the morning, and they would come by and pick them up.
“You didn’t tell him?” she asked after he’d hung up.
“Nope. It will be more fun this way. After the way he reacted when he found out we were seeing each other, I want to be there to see his face when he finds out we’re getting married.”
Lisa shook her head. She couldn’t blame him. She’d spent a lot of years finding entertainment picking at her know-it-all older brothers.
“Oh, there’s something I forgot to tell you,” Deke said after a moment or two.
“What?” She frowned.
“I’ve loved you for years too. I’m glad you made me wake up and see what I was so blind to.”
“I’m glad too.” She leaned in and let him kiss her.
This was right where she wanted to be, for the rest of her life. In the arms of the man who would make the world stop to make sure she was safe and happy. What more could a woman ask for?