Epilogue #2
The front door opens as he steps outside, a bottle of beer in his hand as he comes to sit next to me. His arm automatically comes around my shoulders, and I lean into his side, tugging the blanket covering my legs over his lap.
“Hi, darlin’.”
I lean my head against his shoulder, smiling up at him. “Hi.”
“You okay?”
I rest a hand on his denim-clad thigh, letting out a gentle sigh. “Yeah, I am. This was exactly what I needed. And you know what? Oakley hasn’t mentioned that stupid gaming console once since we got here.”
He laughs. “You’re right.” He presses a kiss to my forehead. “As always.”
“What about you? You okay?”
He lets out a long sigh, his lashes fluttering closed, and that smile still curving his mouth. “I’m perfect, darlin’. Couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.”
“You don’t even mind going away with my friend and two kids?” I tease. “It’s not exactly the vacation you must be used to.”
“You’re right.” He nods slowly, eyes still shut. “But you know what? It’s so much better.”
His fingers dig gently into my arm as he pulls me against him, his woodsy cologne filling my nose. He lifts his beer to his lips, taking a long swing, and then he’s leaning forward to set the bottle on the porch. He sits back next to me, but there’s a nervous tension to his body.
“I have something for you.” My attention drops to his lap, covered by the blanket, and he groans. “Anyone ever told you that you have a dirty mind?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say primly, ignoring the knowing look he levels on me as I finish my wine. Before I can decide what to do with the glass, he’s scooping it out of my hand and putting it next to his bottle.
He digs something out of his pocket, a piece of paper. I watch as he unfolds it, and then again, revealing an—
“Why do you still have that?” I demand. “I thought we were done with this.”
His eyebrows lift. “We were supposed to be done with it, but if memory serves, you distracted me.” He waves the envelope. “This doesn’t have money in it.”
I eye him curiously. “Are you just carrying around an empty envelope for sentimental reasons?”
He slicks his tongue over his upper lips, the security light above the door lighting up the dull flush creeping into his cheeks. “No. I usually keep it in my bedside drawer for sentimental reasons.”
His tone is mulish, and I giggle. “So, why did you bring it here?”
Cale taps the envelope gently against one leg.
“I debated how I wanted to do this, but Oakley and me talked. I mentioned going out to a fancy restaurant, and he shot me down. I suggested somewhere romantic, like…I don’t know.
Like Paris or something. And he told me that it was corny.
He said I shouldn’t do anything over the top or flashy, because that just wasn’t you. ”
I bite my bottom lip, trying to hide my amusement, but the dry look on Cale’s face tells me I don’t do a great job. “Sounds like my son was full of advice for you.”
“Full of something,” he mumbles, flicking open the edge of the envelope. He holds out his pointer finger an inch from my face, demanding, “Look. More glitter.”
“And I’m still not sorry.”
He squints at me, but doesn’t comment. I watch as he tips the envelope upside down. Something falls into his palm, but he quickly closes his fist, hiding it. “See? No money.”
“I’m glad, otherwise you would have found the cash nailed to the hood of your truck.”
“Ruthless.” He grins, but then surprises me when he whips the blanket off and away.
“Hey, I’m cold!”
Cale ignores me as he stands, turning around to face me. I stare up at him in consternation, his hand still tightly clenched into a fist. I open my mouth to ask what’s going on, but he sinks to one knee, and my breath stutters, my teeth clacking as I close my mouth.
“I never thought I’d be doing this,” he confides.
“But you…Melanie, you turned my world upside down. You flipped a switch inside me, making me want things I never even dreamed of.” His throat bobs as he swallows roughly, reaching out to take my hand in his free one.
I’m frozen in place, my eyes stinging as I stare at him, unable to stop the tremble of my lips.
“I never want you to doubt how much you mean to me, darlin’.
You and Killer…You’re everything I never knew I needed, and I don’t ever want to give that up. So, you need to give me forever.”
A broken laugh leaves me. “I need to, do I?”
“Yes,” he says firmly, slowly opening his hand to reveal the glittering solitaire. I suck in a breath, blinking rapidly but unable to stop a tear from slipping down my cheek. “I love you, Melanie. And I want you and Oakley to be mine.”
“We already are,” I vow, leaning forward and pressing my hand to his jaw, stroking my thumb over his lip.
“But now I’m ready for the whole world to know about it.” He smiles, unable to hide the emotion darkening his eyes. “Plus, you won’t fight me as hard about building a new place with soundproofing if we’re married.”
“You haven’t actually asked me,” I point out reasonably.
Cale’s brows draw together in bemusement. “I didn’t?” His mouth quirks as he slides the ring onto my finger. A perfect fit. “Huh. My mistake.”
“Are you gonna ask me?” I demand.
He leans down, pressing a kiss to my knuckles, and then turning my hand over and pressing another to my palm. “Melanie, darlin’, would you do me the honor—”
I lunge for him, knocking him backward onto the porch, sprawled out over top of him. I hear a thud of glass against wood, but my focus is on Cale as I pepper kisses all over his face, telling him unequivocally, “Yes.”