Chapter 71
Seventy-One
B utch and I escape the first weekend of December for some alone time. He takes me to Cape Charles, a quaint historic town on the Eastern Shore.
Although some residents live here year-round, it’s clearly a place that bustles with tourism in the warmer months, with gorgeous bay views, beaches, a long pier, and a downtown full of shops and restaurants.
We spend Saturday exploring, stealing kisses, and winding down over a decadent dinner and a shared bottle of wine.
Our inn—an old spiffed-up Victorian—has beautiful floors, intricate crown molding, and high-ceilinged rooms. Our bedroom features a four-poster bed with spires that shoot close to chandelier height.
The floral wallpaper, antique furniture, and gas fireplace add to its charm.
When we return from dinner, wrapped chocolates lay on our pillows and the fireplace warms the room. I shrug off my coat and walk over to the hearth to help take off the chill.
Butch joins me, his arms wrapping loosely around my waist. “I want to watch the sunrise with you tomorrow.”
I squint one eye. “And that means waking up at what time? ”
He grins. “Not that early, sleeping beauty. If we leave here by 7:30, we’ll be fine. The beach is only a few blocks away.”
I place my hand on his chest, meeting his gaze. “As you wish, Lumberjack.”
“My wish is in my arms, baby.”
“Mine too,” I whisper.
We share a lingering kiss.
“Today was wonderful, Butch. The drive here, the walk through town and along the beach, this beautiful inn, being alone together…”
His eyebrows lift. “You don’t miss Emmy bothering us every five minutes?”
I chuckle. “I love her, you know that, but having you to myself comes with special fringe benefits.”
“Really? Do detail these benefits.”
I smack him playfully on the arm. “You know very well what I mean.”
His mouth hovers over my ear, his warm breath sending a jolt straight between my legs. “Like fucking you senseless for hours?”
Whimper.
“Making you come so hard you see stars?”
Whimper.
“Licking that perfect pussy?”
Moan.
“Having your mouth around my cock?”
“Yesssssss,” I beg.
“As you wish.”
The next morning, Butch gently wakes me. We brush our teeth and quickly dress, bundling up for our short walk to the beach. We snag a couple of to-go coffees downstairs, and he retrieves two blankets and a flashlight from the car.
We stretch one blanket across the sand, then he sits and motions me between his legs and wraps the other around us. The sky is washed in a purplish pre-dawn luster, the stars still visible. We’re quiet, watching and waiting. Butch presses a kiss to my temple, and I nuzzle in tighter.
The light shifts, a deep orange bursting against the dark depths of the water. Slowly, the sun breaks the horizon, lifting the color higher, painting the heavens with its brilliant hues. We’re mesmerized by this simple, beatific act of illumination, one of nature’s daily miracles.
The rays breathe a murmur of warmth onto my face.
“You see that?” Butch asks, his timbre sending a shiver through me.
“Mm-hmm.”
“You’re like the sunrise, emerging from the unknown, gaining strength as you rise, bathing me in your warmth, your abundant light, your rare beauty, all with the promise of a new day.”
My heart stutters.
“You brighten my entire world, Sundance. And I want to wake up every single day for the rest of my life with your sunrise.”
Before I can say one word, a jewelry box appears in his hand.
Oh my god.
“I want you to be mine forever.”
My eyes prick, my throat constricting as I open the black velvet box with trembling fingers.
My breath catches. A sizeable pear-shaped yellow diamond surrounded by a double halo of smaller yellow and white diamonds sits in the center of a platinum band.
I’ve never seen anything similar or so stunning.
I can’t believe this is happening.
“Marry me, Jacqueline Hall.”
I twist enough to press my palm against his rugged, spectacular face. My gaze fastens on his emerald eyes, so full of love and hope and promise. “Augustus James Hamilton, Jr., it would be my honor to marry you.”
Our mouths join for a deep, intimate kiss, sealing our sentiments.
“May I?” he asks, holding out his palm.
I surrender the box and seconds later, Butch places the ring in its rightful place on my left hand.
“Thank fuck it fits. I had to measure your finger while you were asleep.”
My laugh rings out as I return my gaze to that gorgeous symbol of our love, and of light—the light between us. “It’s so beautiful, Butch.”
“Like you.”
“You’re an incredible man. What you said…bringing me here this morning. I’m…you’re full of surprises.” I’m so overcome, I’m practically inarticulate.
“I’m full of love. For you , wife-to-be.”
“And Emmy’s okay with this?”
He stifles a laugh. “After we’ve lived in sin for months?”
I mock glare.
“After my parents lectured me to make an honest woman out of you?”
“So…you’re proposing under duress?” I tease.
“This proposal is all mine, Sundance. From me to you, because of what I want. You’re mine. And I’m yours. But making it official matters to me. Living with each other has only proven to me what I already knew. We’re good together. Was everyone else on board? Hell yeah.”
He fishes out a note and hands it wordlessly to me.
Please marry my daddy. Then we can be a family forever and he’ll never be a grumpy monster again.
Your favorite 8 ? year old,
Emmy
My teary laugh bubbles out. “God, I love this girl.”
“She loves you too, baby, and that’s another big reason this works.”
We kiss again, tenderly.
“There’s only one last bit I need to say.
” His eyes trace the horizon before locking with mine.
“Regardless of what difficulties we face in the future, promise me we’ll always work it out.
Let’s agree right here and now that leaving each other is not an option.
Even if the going gets tough, no matter what, we figure things out.
That’s my commitment to you, and I couldn’t bear it if?—”
I won’t make him say it, let alone think it. “I agree a hundred percent. I commit myself to you and to us. I’m not going anywhere, Butch.”
His expression relaxes.
I lean back into him, and our mouths connect, binding our promise of a forever together.