Connell (Carolina Reapers 3)

Again, she nodded, but this time she looped her arms around my neck. “Want to take a tour with me?”

“Aye. I think you’d better show me what you’ve been up to, my sweet little innocent Annabelle.”

She pressed a kiss to my lips, then took my hand. “This is because you are never what I expect.”

“Aye, that was a wee bit unexpected,” I admitted.

She led me down the hall, and I followed, watching the sway of her hips. It might have only been a week, but I was desperate for her.

“This room—” she pointed into the room full of lollipops. “Is because from that first day, I was a sucker for you.”

I chuckled softly but melted a little. That had to have taken her hours.

Her smile was radiant as she looked back at me and then led me to the next guest room. “So you have to remember to handle me with care.”

The bubble wrap.

“And promise to stay just as playful as you are now,” she pointed to the ballpit that was our bedroom. “Because sometimes, I take life too seriously.”

My hand still holding hers, she led me down the steps to the living room. “You turned my life upside down, Connell MacDhuibh,” she told me with a soft kiss.

When the kiss shifted, becoming deep and thoroughly arousing, she pulled back and led me to the hallway.

“And all I see now is...well, you.” She pointed.

I laughed out loud. Somehow I’d missed that she’d replaced every single photo down my wall with my headshot from my rookie year.

“You are utterly, completely brilliant.” I ducked for a kiss, but she spun away, walking right through the front door.

I followed her. How the hell could I not?

“Holy hell.”

Every one of our friends stood at the end of our driveway, each holding a poster board that when put together, spelled HAPPY B-DAY.

Oh. God.

She was going to be so embarrassed. It wasn’t my birthday. Not even close. This...oh shit. What was I supposed to do?

I tried to pick my jaw up off the floor and close my mouth, but I was stumped. She’d done all this work, and it was going to make her feel so—

“Is there a problem love?” she asked, winding her arms around my waist with a wide grin.

“Um...No...it’s...It’s perfect, Annabelle.” I hugged her to me and looked over at my friends with wide eyes. Didn’t at least one of them know that I was a November guy?

“You sure?” She looked up at me with mischievous eyes.

“You are completely perfect.” I kissed her in full view of everyone, much to their cheering. I lifted my head, releasing her lips with remorse. “But love, I need you to know—”

“Look again,” she urged.

My brow puckered, but I did as she asked. The signs had been flipped, and the two on the end were now blank. The rest spelled out MARRY ME.

I jolted, swinging my gaze back to lock with hers. “It’s the 25th of June,” she said softly. “A year ago, you started a six-week community service term with me, and I fell hopelessly in love with you. Now I’m wondering if you might want to sign up for a life sentence.” Her smile shook.

She’d done all of this, and was...proposing? My heart stopped.

“Are ye proposing to me, lass?” I cupped her cheeks with my hands.

She nodded nervously, excitement shining clear and bright in her eyes.

“You know I’m supposed to be the one that does that, right?”

She nodded again but didn’t shy away. She really was doing this in front of our friends, facing her worst fears for me. “I figured that nothing about us has been traditional.”

Well, she certainly had that right.

“Aye, Annabelle, I’ll marry ye. But only if you let me run upstairs and get the ring I already bought ye.” It was classic, just like she was, and had been waiting patiently for the right time to shine.

Leave it Annabelle to surprise me.

“That’s a yes?” she bounced up on her toes.

“It’s always a yes when it comes to ye. Yes to marrying ye. Yes to building a life. Yes to forever.” I swept her up in my arms and kissed her deep, savoring the taste of joy on her tongue.

Then I waved to our friends and carried Annabelle into our home, where I promptly shut the door on them. Forevers were something you started in private.

And this was most definitely our forever.