Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23241 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23241 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
“I’m glad to hear that because I’ve grown pretty attached to you, too.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
owen
The day for the memorial finally arrives, and I’m relieved to see the sun shining bright with not a cloud in sight.
“Are you ready for today?” My spitfire walks up behind me and wraps her soft arms around my waist.
“You have no idea.” After today, my family will finally be able to move on from the tragedy twenty years ago, and I’ll be able to get a start on my future with my soulmate. The new engagement ring is burning a hole in my pocket as I wait for the right time to slip it on my girl’s finger.
I help her into the truck and rush around to hop in the driver’s seat. I’m ready to get this day over with so we can move on to the rest of our lives. The only cloud on the horizon is the six weeks she’s going to be on tour with The Wild Ones.
At first, I’d planned to hire another manager and go with her, but Radley was the voice of reason. There’s no way we can both be halfway around the world while construction is happening at the school. Plus, the extra apple cider orders put a crimp on our production times.
It’s going to take all hands on deck to recover from the extra orders.
“Are you okay?” Radley glances over at me.
“I’m fucking great.” It’s the truth. Making this memorial park a reality has been a long time coming. “I can’t wait for the memorial to be over so all of us can get on with our lives.” No more fucking treading water.
“It’s pretty cool that the park has a three-mile walking trail lined with peach trees surrounding a nine-hole golf course,” she tells me as I park the vehicle.
The park is mostly empty since the celebration doesn’t start for an hour, but I wanted to bring my girl out here early so I could finally place this ring on her finger.
“The town came up with the plans.” I take her soft hand in mine and help her from the truck. “But I think they did a pretty good job.”
I lead her past the beautiful sign at the entrance we added for visitors, and Radley stops to read it.
“We hope you enjoy your day at the Wild Park. The three-mile loop is a wonderful place to relax and forget your problems. Let your mind drift while you walk along the river or have a picnic under the big shade trees. We hope you enjoy the park and take a little bit of nature with you when you leave.”
--The Wild Brothers
“Your parents would be so proud.” Tears form behind my eyes, and I have to blink several times to clear them before they’re able to fall.
“Thank you, spitfire.” I hug her close. “And thank you for coming with me today.”
“We’re a team.” She smiles up at me and my heart settles into place. For the first time since my parents died unexpectedly, I feel happy and content.
“Yes, we are.” I cover her lips with mine and devour her. By the time we come up for air, I’m tempted to say to hell with it and drag her off behind the peach trees.
Instead, I lead Radley over to the memorial bench I recently installed with my brothers and sit her on it.
Her expressive ice-blue eyes widen when I drop to my knees and pull the blue ring box out of my pocket.
“I know this is fast and I’m way too fucking old for you, but I’m not letting you get away from me.” I’ve been practicing this speech for weeks, but it seems all my rehearsing was for nothing because I’ve already veered off-path. “I practiced this long, eloquent speech, but that isn’t going to work for us. Spitfire, you’ve been mine since that first wild night we spent together.” I slide the two-carat cushion-cut ring on her finger and lean over to place a kiss across her soft knuckles. “I’m going to fucking keep you forever.”
“I’m glad you’re keeping me.” She sniffs through the tears filling her eyes and throws her arms around my shoulders. “Loving you has taught me so many things. The number one thing is that your caveman bullshit really turns me on.”
My little spitfire is fucking perfect for me. “If you try to get away, I’ll chase you down and throw you over my fucking shoulder.”
“See,” she smacks my shoulder, “I should be appalled by that, but instead I’m ready to jump your bones.
“Fuck. You are goddamn perfect.”
“We’re perfect together.”
The rest of the memorial passes in a blur. We spend the day with my brothers and their significant others while nearly all the Peach Springs residents come out to join the celebration.
I enjoy introducing Radley as my fiancé to hundreds of people throughout the day, and I realize loving her has turned me into a goddamn caveman.