29
CASH
“ WE’RE GOING ON A DATE .” I lean over to pepper kisses along Everly’s jawline and tilt her head to look up at me.
She’s curled up on the bed with a copy of Pride and Prejudice that she found on my mom’s bookshelf. It seems when she’s reading alone, she prefers the classics over lumberjack romances.
After lunch with my family, I encouraged her to relax upstairs and take some much-needed time for herself while I ran an errand on the other side of town.
“A date?” Her eyes sparkle with excitement.
“Yeah, we better get a move on, or we’ll be late.” I nod toward the door.
“What should I wear?”
“It’ll be just us, so whatever you want. But if I had to pick, I’d go with your red sundress. You look incredible in that one, and I like that it’s easily accessible.” I wink.
Her cheeks flush as she climbs off the bed and changes, pairing her dress with the black open-toed heels she tried on at the boutique. They’re now her favorites, and every time I see them, I’m reminded of how her face looks when she falls apart at my touch.
“Where are your parents tonight?” she asks as we head downstairs, noticing the quiet.
“They’re meeting up with some friends.”
Everly lets out a soft gasp when I take the blindfold I used on the plane from my pants pocket.
“What’s that for?”
“Where we’re going is a surprise.”
“I thought you said I had to wait until the end of the trip for my surprise,” she says with a hint of curiosity in her voice.
“It’s not the surprise, but I would like to keep where I’m taking you a mystery until we get there if you don’t mind.” I motion for her to turn around.
She does as I ask, and I move her hair to the side before tying the blindfold in place, her breath quickening with anticipation.
As we step outside, a gentle, warm breeze greets us, and the scent of summer fills the air. I keep her close as we walk to my black Jeep parked in the driveway.
“I’m going to help you get in the car, okay?”
She gives me a small nod, and I guide her into the passenger side, careful to make sure she doesn’t hit her head. Once she’s settled, I shut the door and go around to the driver’s side.
“It’s a ten-minute ride,” I say, adjusting the mirrors. “We’ll be there soon.”
“Sounds good,” Everly replies.
My parents own a hundred acres of land offering incredible views, and I wanted to share one with Everly tonight. We used to play in this area as kids but never ventured to this particular spot.
I take her hand in mine, intertwining our fingers as we pull away from my parents’ house. We drive in peaceful silence, and I rub my thumb along Everly’s palm in reassurance.
She means everything to me. From the moment I wake up to the second I fall asleep, my thoughts are consumed by her, and every decision I make, big or small, revolves around how it will affect her. Everly’s happiness is my priority, and I’ll take every opportunity to show her that.
By the time we reach our destination, my stomach is in knots, hoping that she’ll like what I have planned.
After bringing the Jeep to a stop, I exit and help her out of the vehicle, making sure she’s steady on her feet. With a hand on the small of her back, I guide her forward with careful steps.
“Can I remove the blindfold yet?” Everly asks.
“Not yet. We’re almost there,” I assure her.
I lead her along the path to a transparent canopy tent and gently tug the blindfold off. Everly blinks rapidly, taking in the scene as the sun sets. We’re standing on a hill crest that overlooks the lake on the edge of my parents’ property. A rustic wooden table is set for two, adorned with flickering candles and fresh greenery. Two plush chairs are positioned next to each other. Nearby, there’s a smaller table with a food warmer holding our meal and bottles of sparkling water.
“What is all this?” She gapes at me in disbelief. “How did you make this happen? We’ve been together most of the day.”
I wanted to remind her of the magic of Aspen Grove. The last time she came here before we were married, she spent the holidays alone. Now, I want to make new, happier memories she can associate with our hometown.
Jack brought Presley to the same spot when they first got together, but it was on Christmas morning, complete with a horse-drawn carriage. It inspired me to create my own memorable moment here with Everly.
“I had some help,” I admit. “I wanted to make sure everything was perfect.”
My parents were more than happy to set things up earlier, and I reached out to the owner of Willow Creek Café, whose chef was thrilled to prepare a special meal for us.
“It absolutely is,” Everly says with appreciation. “Thank you, Stafford.” She winds her arms around my neck and tilts her head up to kiss me.
“My pleasure, Ev,” I say with a warm smile. “Why don’t we sit down and enjoy the beautiful view?” I gesture toward the lake.
I pull out a chair for her, and once she’s seated, I get our dinner. Under the warmer are two plates of seared salmon with lemon dill sauce, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, and grilled asparagus.
“This looks divine,” Everly says when I set her plate in front of her.
I take a seat next to her, and we dig into our food as we enjoy the breathtaking view, sharing memories of when we were kids and what we love most about Aspen Grove. The sun dips below the horizon, setting the sky ablaze with vibrant orange, red, and purple hues that cast a warm glow over the tranquil lake. Fireflies emerge, their tiny lights flickering like stars in the night sky. The distant sound of crickets fills the air. It’s a serene setting, one that never gets old.
Once I clear our plates, I lean over to where the drinks are set up and retrieve the individual shots of tequila and whiskey I picked up at Main Street Market earlier.
Everly gives me an amused glance as I place them on the table, her lips curling into a playful grin at the sight of the shots.
“I figured this would be a harmless way to break our streak. Don’t worry, it’s just a single shot. It won’t lead to any impulsive decisions, like marrying your brother’s best friend during a work trip in Vegas.” I smirk. “To our future.” I hold out my shot of whiskey, bringing it close to the shot of tequila Everly has in her hand.
Her gaze meets mine. “To our future,” she echoes, knocking back her tequila in one shot and slamming the bottle down on the table when she’s finished. “Now that I’ve had the time to gather my thoughts, I have something I want to say.” She smooths her dress and turns toward me. “I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about us, just like you asked me to. Honestly, it’s all I’ve been able to think about.”
“And?” I press when she doesn’t elaborate further.
“We have amazing chemistry, and the sex is off the charts, but that’s not what defines a relationship. It dawned on me earlier that we haven’t talked about the important things. What if our life goals don’t align? Or we think we’re on the same page but find out later that we’re not?”
Everly wasn’t exaggerating when she said she’s been thinking about this a lot.
I cross one foot over my knee and lean back in my chair, settling into a more comfortable position. “I don’t see that happening.”
“We won’t know until we discuss it. I’d like to ask you some questions to start.”
I feel like I’m about to be grilled in a job interview, but I don’t mind.
“Ask anything you want.”
“Do you want kids, and if so, how many?” she asks without blinking.
“Damn, Ev, I would have brought more shots if I knew we’d be getting straight to the hard questions,” I tease.
“Cash, I’m serious,” she warns.
I hold my hands up in defense. “You’re right. I’ll take this seriously.”
“Thank you,” she says, tapping her foot impatiently while she waits for my response.
“I want kids with you ,” I state. “And I like the idea of having at least two so they have a built-in friend, but I’m on board with however many kids you want to have.”
Frankly, I never gave the idea of having a family much thought, but when it comes to building one with Everly? The thought of her pregnant, belly swollen with our baby, makes me feral.
She chews on her lower lip, mulling over my response before moving on to her next question.
“Once the Stafford Holdings London team is fully staffed and trained, are you planning to move back to the US?”
“This is an easy answer.”
“If that’s the case, are you going to answer it?” she sasses.
I lean forward in my chair, taking her hands in mine, my gaze locked on her brown eyes. “Wherever you go, I go. You love London, so if that’s where you want to stay, I’ll be there too. Next question.”
She furrows her brow. “I don’t understand. What about your career?”
“I love working in the London office. It’s given me the chance to be taken more seriously and venture out of my usual comfort zone.”
“But I thought you were just there temporarily to get the office set up?”
“The good thing about having my brother as my boss is that he’s very accommodating and will no doubt let me stay if I tell him I want to,” I assure her. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—you are the most important thing in my life, and you will always come first. It’s as simple as that.” I lean forward to kiss her forehead. “Now, next question,” I repeat.
“Aren’t you worried about what Theo or your parents will say? What if they don’t understand once we tell them the full truth?”
I shake my head. “No, I’m not. Our path to each other might not have been conventional, but it brought me to you, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything, regardless of what anyone else thinks. Besides, they’re our family.” I chuckle. “They have to love us no matter what.”
Everly gives me a ghost of a smile before moving on to her next question.
“Suppose I wanted a divorce and asked to date instead. What would that look like?”
“I would hope you’d be open to living together because I don’t think I could go without you in my bed,” I rib her playfully. “Aside from that, we’d go on lots of dates like we’re doing now, and I’d woo you until you agreed to marry me again.”
“What if it takes years?”
“Then the moment you agree to be mine will be even sweeter.” I brush my thumb along her hand. “Let me make one thing clear, Ev. I will wait as long as it takes and will move heaven and earth for you if I have to. Just say the word, and I’ll do it. I want you in my arms for the rest of my life.”
Tears flow down her cheeks, and I gather her in my arms and settle her in my lap. I cup her cheeks with my hands, wiping away the moisture with my thumbs.
“You mean every word, don’t you?” She hiccups as she tries to tamp down her emotions.
“Every single one,” I state with absolute conviction.
She draws in a shaky breath as she wraps her arms around my neck, gazing into my eyes. “I want this, Cash. I want you.”
Time seems to stand still, everything around me fading away when I hear those sweet words pass Everly’s lips.
“Do you mean it? Because there’s no going back after this. Once you’re mine, I’m never letting you go.”
She rests her hand against my cheek, caressing my scar with her fingertips. “Yes, Stafford,” she says as she leans in closer. “I want to be yours forever, and I want you to belong to me too.”
“Haven’t you been listening, Ev?” I murmur. “I already do.”