Naughty Stranger (Dangerous Love 1)

His arm tightened around her. “Yeah, I know.”

“Besides,” she said, bringing her feet up, wrapping her arms around her legs, leaning into him. “I love my shop. I’d never give it up now.”

“It’s a good shop. I especially like what’s in it.” He winked.

She laughed softly.

He gazed out at the sparkling lights in the night and sighed heavily. “I used to think after New York City that I’d hate cities forever, but it’s actually kinda beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Gorgeous,” she agreed. “But there is something to be said about cute small towns too.” She nudged her shoulder into him playfully. “Especially ones with sexy detectives.”

He chuckled, then switched the subject. “Did your parents know you came out here?”

“Are you kidding me?” She laughed, straightening up and resting her chin on her knees. “My mother would have had a heart attack.”

He leaned back on his hands and his smile was warm when he looked at her. “And what did your teenage self think about while you were out here?”

“Oh, what a teenage girl always thinks about: all her secret crushes.”

He gave her a measured look. “Teenage boys are far different creatures.”

“You didn’t think about your crush?”

“I thought about getting to second base with my crush.”

She barked a laugh, then covered her mouth, trying not to be too loud.

Boone was smiling with her, and yet, something suddenly changed in his expression. A softer emotion reached his eyes. “I love hearing that laugh.” He grabbed her hand, taking it in his. “Don’t hide it.”

She leaned into him. “I love that you can make me laugh like that,” she admitted, knowing there was a time she thought she’d never laugh again.

Boone stared at her intently for a beat, then he leaned away to reach into the little pocket in his jeans, shoving his fingers in there.

She blinked.

Then she discovered he’d placed a ring on the top of her knee where her chin had been. “This is my grandmother’s ring,” he said. “My grandfather left it to me when he passed away. I never considered giving it to anyone”—his voice went velvety soft—“until you.”

Emotion clogged up her throat. “Boone,” she whispered, barely able to breathe, glancing between the ring on her knee and his intense gaze.

“I’ve been carrying the ring with me for two days now, wondering when I would do this, considering all you’ve been through.” His voice thickened with emotion. “While I do like hearing you call me your boyfriend, I’d much rather hear you call me your husband.” He brushed his knuckles across her cheek. “Will you marry me, Peyton?”

“Yes.” The answer easily fell from her lips as she stared into the strength of his expression promising her forever. She was one of the lucky ones. She didn’t just get one happy life. She got two. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

His smile took her breath away when he slid the ring on her finger, and then that smile grew as he pulled her onto his lap and took her in his arms. His mouth met hers, and she felt her tears dampen his cheeks with every swipe of his lips across hers. He held her tight, and she realized then that they’d both come together broken, and somewhere in all this danger and fear, they came out of this better, stronger. Together, they mended the shattered parts of their souls.

When he broke the kiss and wiped her damp face, she reveled in the happiness shining in his gaze. Happiness that she put there. That she’d always protect. “While I would be perfectly happy staying right here in your arms all night, I just want to point out that we have a problem,” she told him.

“What’s that?”

She smiled. “I have no idea how we’re going to get off this roof and back down into the bedroom.”

Boone’s laughter spilled over and he brought her in close, kissing her again. “Damn, am I happy that is the only problem we’ve got.”

Epilogue

One week later…

“I hope Mrs. Miller enjoys your gift,” Peyton said to the white-haired, well-kept man with the checkered shirt and dark blue bow tie at her counter.