Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
She’s wearing her work polo and pants, but she could be wearing anything, nothing, and she’d be the same.
My Brook, beautiful down to her cells, the only person I ever want to be with.
She stops at the gate to the house.
It’s wide, new, and shiny, with a clean gravel path winding through a long garden of luscious green grass, the five-bedroom home sitting there with a Sold sign out front.
“I’ve got a beach out back,” I say, trying for a casual laugh even as the force of what’s about to happen – or not happen – threatens to cripple me. “To remind us where we started.”
“A beach?” she turns, then laughs, making me think of the countless laughs we’ve shared since returning home, and she’s moved into my apartment. Showing that we’ve started our life together. “Oh, I’m gullible.”
“You must be,” I say, a teasing note in my voice. “You fell for my charm…and all via text.”
“Then you’re gullible too,” she says, walking over with a toss of her head, making her beautifully messy hair shift around. “Because you fell for mine.”
“Of course I did,” I say passionately, then pull her into my arms.
It feels so natural every single time, but it’s also never lost that freshness.
Every time I feel her lips, we’re back in the grove on the island. We’re back in that rush of excitement… but with a sturdier foundation now, two weeks of being together confirming what we already knew.
We’re the real deal.
“Is it really ours?” she asks.
“Yes,” I say passionately. “Did you think I would make you raise ten kids in a three-bedroom apartment in the city?”
“Ten kids?” she laughs, slapping my chest. “I think you might be a little off there buddy.”
“Oh,” I grin. “Eleven?”
“I love you so much,” she says as if she’s said it a hundred times before. It just comes out. Then her eyes widen when she realizes what she’s said. “I didn’t mean….”
“I love you too,” I say fiercely. “I loved you ever since the island. Hell, Brooke, I loved you the night we almost kissed. I should’ve told you a hundred times, a thousand.”
“Then….”
She blinks as tears glitter in her eyes.
“Why didn’t I say it?” I prompt.
“Yeah.”
“I wanted to wait for this,” I tell her. “The house, and….”
“And?” she whispers.
“I love you, Brooke. Now I’ve said it once, and I can’t stop. But I wanted to wait until I could make it all happen at once, the beginning of our life together. The house, the love, and the marriage.”
“Banner,” she says, her voice croaking as if it’s difficult to get my name out.
“I should’ve done it on the island. I waited because….”
“I know why you waited,” she whispers.
She doesn’t need me to explain. I didn’t want to overshadow Gil and Sonya more than we already had…not that we revealed our relationship on the island to anybody else.
“But I’m done waiting. I spent my whole life never knowing I could feel this way. You made me love you more in one text than any woman could in twenty years of being alone. You’re the only woman I ever need. You’re mine.”
“Brooke Carter…,” I kneel, reaching into my pocket, taking out the ring box, and opening it to reveal the diamond ring. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she cries, jumping up and down on the spot as though her excitement is bursting out of her. “Yes, Banner. Yes. That ring is beautiful. Oh, my God, yes!”
I slip it into her finger, then rise to my feet, pulling her into my arms and kissing her.
She throws her arms around me, leaping forward, knowing I’ll catch her and never let her fall.
EPILOGUE
ONE WEEK LATER
Brooke
I walk around the house, Loki padding at my feet. I wanted to take the longhaired Jack Russell home as soon as he came to the shelter, but I couldn’t since dad’s allergies are so bad.
But this is our home, and Banner grinned when I suggested getting a dog. We were standing in the kitchen, our moving boxes piled all around, and he swept me into his arms, spun me around, then placed me down gently.
“A dog is a great idea,” he said. “I love how nurturing you are. It will be good for the baby to have a little friend too.”
Now, I walk into the kitchen, and to the window, looking out at the lawn as the sun shines down.
I’ve got my cell phone in my hand.
I almost scream when it vibrates, the tension buzzing.
Did you tell him yet?
I look down at Mila’s message, typing quickly. No. He’s got a big meeting today. I don’t want to disturb him.
Is the meeting ALL day?
No, but I don’t know how long it is.
Can’t you text him?
I bite my lip. The idea occurred to me too.
I’ve been flooded with excitement ever since I did the test, unable to focus on Loki’s training. He looks up at me, sitting still, head tilted as if asking me what’s wrong.