I wore jeans to her meeting. My mother eyed me when I walked in, but I told her it wasn’t for me and walked out to the back patio like I told Hadley I would after I said my hellos. I toe off my own shoes and socks before taking my shirt off. Then I set out to pour her a glass of wine and grab a bottle of beer for myself.
“I really hope opening a business from our home doesn’t put a kink in things, but I have to tell you the thought of not having to put on business attire day in and day out has its appeal too.” Hadley walks out of the bedroom. She nabbed a pair of my boxers, rolling them at the waist, and one of my undershirts. And I know for a fact she’s sans underwear and bra.
“Does this mean you’ll be wearing this all day? Because if that’s the case, I think I’ll benefit from it more than you.” I can hear the desire in my own voice.
“Yes, it does, you perv,” she jokes.
“Good, I think I’ll work from home more often, then,” I grouse, handing her the glass of wine I poured for her.
“Balcony?” she questions. The sun is slowly setting in the distance, and I know she’ll want to watch before people watching for the evening.
“Please.” I follow her out there, leaving the sliding glass door open to get a breeze from the riverfront.
“You’re going to do amazing things, Hadley Monroe,” I tell her as soon as we’re seated on the outdoor couch, my arm slung around the back, her body in the crook of mine. I put my beer down on the side table, another thing Hadley added to the place after she moved in.
“I couldn’t do it without you, your parents, and Tyler. You know how my parents are. Sure, they’ll be happy for me and us, but it’s a random call on a birthday or holidays, or a card. I’m so thankful to have you in my life, and I know when that time comes and we have children, they’ll have the best parents they could ever ask for.” Her head is tipped back.
“You’re damn right.” I pull her into my side, both of my hands going to that finger that I want my ring on so badly. I slowly move it from my own pinky finger to her left ring finger. “I may not be on one bended knee asking you to marry me, but I am asking all the same. Marry me, Hadley, become my wife, my partner, the other half of my soul, the mother to our children down the road.” I slide the ring on, placing the nineteen-thirties European style engagement ring on her finger. I would have gone bigger than the one-carat diamond ring, but when I saw this style, it was like it was made for Hadley.
“Yes, Cooper, so much yes.” I grab her wine glass before it spills everywhere, putting it beside my bottle of beer before she launches herself into my lap. There’s something to be said about my woman straddling me when she gets excited.
“Fuck, but I love you,” I whisper against her lips.
“I love you, so much. I can’t wait to become your wife.” Her eyes flutter closed as I take her mouth in a kiss, my tongue dominating hers every step of the fucking way.EpilogueHadleyTHREE MONTHS LATER“I can’t believe we’re married,” I breathe out. I’m wearing my wedding dress from the ceremony that ended only hours ago. Cooper is in a suit. His tie was discarded as soon as the pictures were taken. The white dress shirt he’s wearing is open at the collar, showing off his tanned skin and a throat that has me aching to lick, nip, and kiss it as he slowly sinks inside me.
“You better believe it, Mrs. Jackson.” Cooper’s lips meet my forehead while we sway to the music that Tyler has playing at The Alibi. Who knew he’d be able to pull off something this elaborate. I’m sure Sandra and Max had a lot to do with it though. We could have had something more elaborate with the whole shebang, but that wasn’t our style. We’d much rather have more of a honeymoon. Not to mention Cooper’s company is growing by leaps and bounds. My own is doing the same. Some days, Cooper has to peel me away from the home office by the time he walks in the door at six o’clock at night. My hair would be up in some kind of sloppy mess, I’d be wearing his borrowed tank top and boxers rolled up at the waist. He’d tell me time was up, it was our time. I never question him. I save my work, turn my phone over, and we’d either curl up on the couch or sit out on the balcony.