Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Mila,” he says when I step up to him.
I press my finger to his lips.
“You have to know what you’re getting into,” I whisper, my throat clogged with emotion.
“I know exactly what I’m doing,” he says, his lips working against my finger. “Three kids, and Jace was asking about a dog.”
“More than three kids,” I correct.
I chuckle when his eyes drop to my stomach.
“Not yet,” I assure him. I still have my IUD from after Sutton was born. “But I’m going to want more kids.”
“Are we going to start competing with Hound and Gigi?”
“Maybe?”
“Honestly, more kids excites me. I want to be a part of it from the very beginning.”
Old pain strikes out at me from the past, but I shove it down as fast as it rises. He’s never punished me for the choices I made in the past, so I do my best not to dwell on it. If he has forgiven me, then it’s damn time I forgive myself.
“Mila, will you marry me?”
I hate the uncertainty in his eyes because I know I’m the one that put it there.
“Yes, of course I’ll marry you.”
He slow blinks at me as if he can’t believe my answer. Either that or he thinks I’m going to take it back.
“Do I get to wear the ring or will it just stay in the—”
“Of course,” he says, fumbling with the box and nearly dropping it in his rush to get the ring out.
As crazy as it sounds, I feel complete the second he slides the ring on my finger.
“Jesus, baby. You’re sure? You’re not going to change your mind?” He stands, his hands going to my face so I’m looking up at him.
“I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”
His lips are on mine in the next breath. By the time we come up for air, half of our clothes have been tossed to the ground.
“Up,” he says, urging me off my feet and I wrap my legs around his waist.
I moan in relief when he slides me down his length, our lips but an inch from each other’s.
Our connection is fast and raw and utterly perfect, just how I know the rest of our lives together will be.
We no longer hold anything back.
We have no secrets.
Chapter 39
Stormy
“I wouldn’t have you here if I thought you were in danger,” I tell her.
“You say that but your eyes are darting all over the place,” she challenges.
I lift her hand, the one that’s now wearing my ring, and press my lips to her skin.
“I’m always like that.”
“I can feel the tension in your body,” she says, continuing to argue with me.
“Okay,” I cave. “I’m a little nervous about being out in the open, but most of Cerberus as well as all of Blackbridge are here to make sure everyone is safe.”
We decided to let the kids stay back in Farmington while we came to Lindell, Texas to show our support for the community.
Honestly, everyone at Cerberus was shocked to be invited to the memorial they planned. The men who opened fire at a wedding reception blamed their actions on Cerberus and a job we’d done that wiped out their organization. The community could’ve easily blamed us as well, but they were nothing but gracious to us even in the hours right after it happened.
They lost two people that day, and Cerberus returned home whole, yet they haven’t held a grudge.
“Having a good time?” Kalen asks.
I slow blink at the man. A good time probably isn’t something someone should expect at a memorial, but hell, if the groom whose wedding reception was shot up can smile, then I guess we can too.
“It was a lovely memorial,” Mila says, giving him a tight-lipped smile.
“When is your wedding day?” McKenna asks, noticing the ring on Mila’s left hand.
I stand a little taller beside my fiancée.
“We haven’t set a date yet,” she answers. “We just got engaged last week.”
McKenna nods in understanding, her hand going to her rounded stomach. “I had so much fun planning our wedding, and the town offered so much help.”
I keep my eyes moving through the crowds, making sure there’s nothing crazy going to happen. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to Mila.
I see several of the guys talking to Cash, the town’s police chief, and Walker, the guy who owns the bar. Walker looks fine, but the others look like they regret some of the decisions they made last night. Their green faces are reminiscent of Mr. Dobbs’s face when he had food poisoning not long ago.
“Oh hell,” Kalen grouses.
“What is it?” I snap, on high alert.
“Beth Moore,” McKenna says, laughter in her voice. “She and Kalen have history.”
“We don’t have history,” he argues. “And she should be named Beth Too Much because the woman is more than a little crazy.”