Chapter Twenty #2
She wiped her cheeks. “Only a little. I’m getting better every day, trying to focus on the happy times instead of how everything ended.
I don’t think I could have survived these past few months without being able to lean on you.
But you have to be getting tired of having me taking up space in your cabin.
Even though I’m a friend with benefits.” She waggled her brows.
He laughed, then, as if he couldn’t help himself, he kissed her again. “The benefits definitely outweigh the tirades of broken English you subject me to.”
She rolled her eyes. “Broken English, ha. My English is perfect. It’s your Spanish that needs improvement.”
“Truth. I’m working on it, mi amor.” He slid his fingers through her hair. “I’ll never get tired of having you here with me. And I’m here for you to lean on as long as you want. Always.”
She tilted her head. “Always? Careful. I might take you up on that.”
He arched a brow. “Really?”
“Pfft. Have I been subtle and didn’t realize it?”
He laughed, then grew serious, his gaze searching hers as if he was debating something.
She frowned. “What?”
“Hold that thought.” He jogged up the steps and rushed into the cabin.
Sierra fisted her hands by her sides. Every time she started to broach the subject of the future and what it might hold for them, he managed to change the subject.
Was it on purpose or not? She wasn’t sure.
She trudged up the porch steps to one of the rocking chairs.
But before she could sit, the front door opened and Beau hurried outside, stopping in front of her.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No. Everything’s finally right.
I don’t know what I was waiting for except, well, I wanted to make this perfect.
But this is the first time since…everything, that we’ll be apart for more than a few hours.
And although that will be hard, it also makes me deliriously happy knowing you’ll be here when I come home.
That got me thinking, maybe now is that perfect time I’ve been waiting for. ”
She stared at him, afraid to hope. “Deliriously happy? You’ve never spoken like that before. Perfect time? For what?” She teasingly pressed the back of her hand to his forehead. “Are you running a fever?”
He pulled her hand down and kissed it. “No. And I’m sorry I’ve never told you that before, how happy you make me. Because you do make me happy. And I hope I make you happy. And, well—”
“Beau?”
“Hmm?”
She swallowed against the tightness in her throat. “If this is leading up to something big and amazing, and I really hope it is, would you please get on with it? Madre de Dios, you’re so slow.”
He grinned and pulled a small black velvet box out of the pocket of his jacket before getting down on one knee.
Her entire body flushed with heat. It took all of her self-control not to jump up and down. “Finally. ?Apúrate!”
He was laughing as he opened the box and held it up for her to see the gorgeous teardrop solitaire diamond ring with a smaller circle of diamonds surrounding it.
“Yes!” She hopped from foot to foot, unable to contain her excitement any longer as she held out her hand with her ring finger at the ready.
He grinned. “You can’t say yes. I haven’t asked you anything yet.”
“Then, ask!”
“Stop jumping, little rabbit.”
“I can’t help it. Just ask me already.”
“Sierra Theresa Covington, would you please do me the extreme honor of becoming my wife?”
“I thought we’d never get to this part. Sí, Sí, yes. I’ll marry you. Duh.”
His eyes danced with laughter as he slid the ring onto her finger.
She tugged her hand from his and turned it toward the sun, angling it back and forth, watching the diamonds sparkle. “I was beginning to think I’d have to be the one asking. You took your sweet time. I was going to—ooomph.”
His mouth covered hers, and he swept her into the sweetest, hottest kiss she’d ever had. When he finally pulled back, she stared up at him in wonder, slightly out of breath. “Okaaay. Does this…does this mean you love me?”
His eyes widened in dismay, his expression turning serious. Ever so gently, he cupped her face with his hands. “Have I never told you?”
“I guarantee I would have remembered if you had.”
He briefly squeezed his eyes shut as if in pain.
“I’m so, so sorry about that. I think about how much I love you all the time.
I honestly hadn’t realized I’d never said it out loud.
” He stared down at her in wonder. “I love you, Sierra. And I’ve never loved anyone, not like this.
” He kissed her left cheek. “I love you.” He kissed her right cheek.
“I love you.” He kissed the top of her head and pulled her against him, hugging her, his love for her seeping into her skin and warming her heart. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she whispered.
He made a choking sound in his throat and tightened his arms around her.
She endured the smothering embrace as long as she could, then slapped her hands against his sides and strained against him.
He let go and stepped back. “What’s wrong?”
“I couldn’t breathe.”
“Sorry. I got caught up in the moment. You’ve never told me you loved me before either.”
“Yes, well. According to my mama, the man has to say it first. Now that you have, I’ll say it more often.”
“Good to know.” He reached for her.
She quickly scooted back. “No, no. Now that we’re going to get married, there are rules you have to agree to follow.”
His expression turned wary. “Rules?”
“What’s good for the swan and all that.”
His mouth crooked in a half smile. “Goose. Not swan. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”
She waved her hand in the air. “Whatever. What rule number are we up to?”
He crossed his arms. “There are only three rules, and you darn well know it.”
“Three. Right. Rule number four, then. No more thinking these I love yous in your mind and not sharing them. You have to say it, tell me that you love me. At least twice every day.”
“Twice?”
“Once in the morning when we wake up. And once at night before we go to bed. Even if you’re mad at me. You have to always tell me you love me. And you have to mean it.”
“I can handle that. I love you, Sierra. And I mean it. I always will.”
“That one doesn’t count as one of your two today.”
He grinned. “Of course not. What’s the next rule?”
“Oh. That was it. Just rule number four. It’s the most important rule of all.”
“No. There’s another one that’s even more important. Rule number five.”
She put her hands on her hips. “Five? You don’t get to make up another rule. You already have three of them!”
He tilted her chin up and softly ran his thumb across her lower lip.
“Rule number five. Never, ever put yourself in danger on purpose like you did the day you snuck off to confront your father. We’re in this together, from this day forward.
For better, for worse, we have to be honest and trust each other. No matter what.”
“Dang it.” She wiped her face. “My eyes are leaking again. I agree to all your rules. Now, hurry up and go to work so you can come back home. We have things to do tonight, new things, to celebrate.”
He blinked. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down in his throat. “New things?”
“Oh yes. Things you’ll like. Very, very much.” She winked.
His voice was hoarse when he spoke again. “Rule number six.”
“No! No more rules.”
He pulled his phone out and slapped it into her palm before scooping her up in his arms.
“Rule number six,” he repeated. “When your husband fakes being sick so he can stay home and make love to his wife all day, you have to call his team and let them know he won’t be going to work.”
She was laughing as he ran into the cabin carrying her.