Perfect Fling (Serendipity's Finest 2)

She expelled a breath of air, a small sigh escaping. He leaned in and kissed her parted lips. “What do you need?” she asked.

“You, sweetheart. I need you and everything that you bring with you. You gave me back my father, or at least a shot at having him; you showed me I could have a life, friends, a family. You make me feel like I matter, and I want to give you anything you want in return. Even if that’s just a pancake breakfast.”

“Oh, Cole. I love you too.”

Her eyes sparkled with laughter and happiness, and the knot that had settled in Cole’s chest since the shooting finally eased.

“Besides, I never did learn to cook,” she said with a grin.

“Say yes to me and you’ll never have to.”

Erin leaned back to look him in the eyes. “Say yes to what?” she asked, more serious than he’d ever seen her.

He reached into his pocket for the other thing he’d taken care of in Manhattan and pulled out a small jewelry box. “You’re already having my baby. Marry me—”

A huge smile lit her face. “Yes!”

A light airy feeling he didn’t recognize suffused him and he realized what it was. Happiness, something he’d never before truly experienced. She’d given him that too.

“Are you sure?” he asked, teasing her. “You haven’t even seen the ring.”

“That’s just icing on the cake. All I ever wanted was you.” She ran her hand down his cheek. “But go ahead. Show me.”

He snapped open the velvet box, revealing a solitary diamond in a white-gold band. Simple yet elegant, like the woman herself.

“How can you . . . I mean . . . it’s—big!”

“I never had anyone to spend money on before.” He slipped the ring o

nto her finger, knowing it would fit perfectly. He’d already asked her father for his blessing and her mother for Erin’s ring size.

“Oh my God.” She held out her hand, admiring the glittering diamond. “I love it because you gave it to me.”

One more thing, he thought, drawing a deep breath. “I bought us Nick’s spec house.”

“What?!” she squealed in excitement. “Why?”

“You love it, for one thing. For another, we’ve already lived there together and you have to admit, it’s a perfect fit for our family.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close and kissing him hard. “I don’t know what to say. You’re right. It’s perfect for us, our baby.” She sighed softly. “Our family.”

He held her close and nodded, groaning in satisfaction. “It’s just more icing, honey.”

She laughed. “Are you sure you won’t miss the job?” she asked, sobering.

“I’m starting a business I know will work well. I’ll explain it later, but it involves security and a lot of guys I used to work with over the years. I’ll be fine. Want to know why?”

She nodded.

“Same answer every time. Because I have you. Everything else—”

“Is just icing,” they said at the same time.

“I love you,” she said, sliding her hand beneath his shirt.

“I love you too.”

Erin snuggled into his lap, her arms around him, her head on his shoulder, and Cole knew the icing was nice, but she was all he needed or would want. Ever.