I flashed him a smile and said, “I don’t have a ring yet, you’re right.”
The crew member winked at me just as he said, “Boss, you better get on that. She’s hot. Won’t last long.”
Price picked me up, food and all, and swung me over his shoulder.
I all but squealed my way out the door.
Eventually, I found my ass on the back of his tailgate.
“There are drinks in the truck,” I told him as my butt met the metal. “And don’t forget to grab the silverware in the middle console.”
He placed a quick kiss on my lips, then started off toward my truck.
It was a toss-up on what part of him I watched as he walked away.
His muscular back was hot, with all those sinewy striations and bulges rippling under his skin. But his jeans were tight as hell, and that tool belt was really doing it for me.
By the time he came back, I’d managed to only undo the tie on the bag of food.
He winked at me as he placed the cup holder of drinks onto the tailgate, then hopped up beside me.
“Whatcha get?” he questioned as he started digging in. “I ate an hour and a half ago, but I was still really hungry. I’m glad that you brought me food.”
“Tacos,” I said as he handed me the smaller container with no veggies, which he knew was mine. “Tell me how work is?”
Five minutes later, he’d demolished all of his tacos, two of mine, and had devoured an entire order of rice and beans that were meant to be shared.
I could do nothing but grin when he finally reached for his coffee.
“Damn, that was good.” He patted his belly. “Where are your ginger snaps?” he teased, lifting the lid of his coffee off and setting it on his tailgate beside his leg.
My heart lurched at the memory. “I… I didn’t get any. I just…”
I trailed off when he handed me his coffee. “Here, hold this.”
I blinked in confusion, but took the coffee, watching as he walked around to the passenger side of his work truck. “When I got something at the grocery store for lunch, I saw these on sale. Grabbed them because I thought they were cute.”
He pulled out a small cookie container of ginger snaps, shaped as pumpkins, and smiled.
I stared at it as every single emotion that I felt sifted through me.
And all of a sudden, I couldn’t keep my words in any longer.
“I love you because you actually put effort into me. I love you because nobody has ever given me the love that you have given me. And you are the only one that could ever love me this way.” I sniffled. “I love you because you always make me feel like I am worth something. I love you because you have a nurturing nature and you take care of me. I love you because you make me smile when I almost forgot how to. I love you because you have a huge smile, an even bigger heart, and the ability to make me feel like I’m worth it. I love you because you are you.”
His shoulders drooped. “All of that over some cookies?”
I took the box and ripped it open, pulling out a single cookie and dipping it into his coffee before saying, “All of that over some cookies.”
There was a long moment of silence as we shared coffee and cookies before he said, “I don’t have the flowery words that you do. But I love you, too. I’ve loved you since the moment I saw you.”
I swallowed hard. “I don’t need flowery words to know how you feel about me, Price. Big biker you may be, but you wear your heart on your sleeve.”
His eyes went down to my hand, which was busy dunking a cookie into his coffee. “You do need a ring, though. And an actual ceremony. Want to get married tomorrow?”
I giggled. “Just go talk to my daddy first.”
• • •
PRICE
“Are you treating my little girl okay?” Daniel asked.
He looked better today, but not much.
The last few months had been hard on him, and I knew the only reason he was fighting at this point was because of Sabrina.
He looked downright exhausted, ready to give up at any second, and refusing to let the devil win.
Because Sabrina wanted him to.
“Sir,” I drawled. “Your little girl is fully capable of taking care of herself. She has anger issues and throws hands like a gangster defending her block.”
Daniel laughed, and that was one thing that hadn’t deteriorated over the last several months. His voice always sounded strong, and his laughs stronger.
“Why are you here when you should be at home catching up on some sleep?” he asked, not letting me inside.
I grinned and leaned against the pillar that held up his front porch. “Your daughter told me that in order to marry her, I had to ask you first. So I’m here, asking you first.”