Dance With The Devil (Devil's Riders 4)

I shook my head. My man was extremely organized .

We’d done all the prep. His house was baby proofed to the nines, even though I’d told him it was early to worry about that stuff. She wasn’t crawling yet so the likelihood of her sticking her chubby little finger into a socket was zero .

But he’d done it all anyway. He even painted the living room, bedroom and nursery. And next week he was painting the exterior of the house. I’d even picked out a soft mint color for the trim and shutters, with glossy black for the front door .

Just like he promised .

And now it was all happening. For real. Mae was inconsolable that we were moving out, which was the only dark cloud of this perfect, wonderful, fabulous day .

Today was moving day .

The guys were loading the small truck out front. Whiskey had already put my good hanging clothes in the back of his car. He’d even brought a cooler to bring the backup breast milk in the fridge .

The man was truly a marvel .

Kaylie came back in, looking sheepish .

“ You okay ?”

She nodded .

“Sorry. It’s not you, little Miss Petunia .”

She tickled the baby’s tummy. Eliza kicked her fat little feet in the air, squealing in excitement. She loved being tickled. And she was always chipper when she got a fresh diaper .

I gave Kaylie a rueful smile .

“I don’t think she was offended .”

Kaylie laughed weakly. She looked beautiful as always, but a bit tired .

“Hey, you don’t have to be here. Maybe you want to go home and rest ?”

She shook her head adamantly .

“No, I can’t leave. Not yet .”

Janet elbowed her ribs .

“Ow! Er, I mean, if I nap now I won’t be able to nap later. And if I don’t nap later I won’t be able to stay up long enough for dinner with Dev .”

She shifted nervously on her feet .

“I don’t want to mess up my schedule .”

I gave her a suspicious look .

“You’re babbling .”

“It’s the hormones .”

“Uh huh.” I said, not all convinced. “Whatever you say .”

“Come on, let’s get going !”

We stepped out of the way as the guys came in for the last of the furniture .

I watched as the changing table was carried out by Callaway and Donnie. I took a last look around the room. Other than the year I spent alone and pregnant in that crappy apartment, this had been it. My first home as a mother. My rocking chair and Eliza’s crib were already outside .

This was really happening .

God, I hoped it would work out .

Sally asked if she could carry the baby and I nodded my agreement. I followed the girls outside and there he was, my man, loading one last box into the truck .

Every time I saw him, it felt like the first time. I sighed .

What a man .

“Okay. All your stuff is in the truck. It’s time .”

I smiled at him. He looked so serious. Almost like he was worried about something. He nodded once and I looked over my shoulder to see what he was looking at. Everyone had come out of the house to stand on the front stoop behind me .

Mae was openly crying now, but she looked like she was… smiling ?

I turned back to Whiskey .

“Time for what exactly ?”

He lowered himself on one knee and time stopped .

Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God .

What .

Was .

Happening .

He pulled a black velvet jewelry box out of his pocket and held it out. I felt my stomach do a back flip as he opened it. It was a simple gold band with a solitaire diamond set inside a small gold heart. It was not too big and flashy .

It was perfect and very, very pretty .

“Before you say anything, I want you to know that I picked this ring out last year .”

He knew just what I was thinking. How did he do that? I tried to smile but I was too close to tears .

“ You did ?”

“Yes. I’m not asking you because of Eliza. I’m asking you because this is what I have always wanted. I want you to be my wife .”

Tears filled my eyes. No wonder Mae was crying. I was on the verge of blubbering myself .

I’d been worried that he would ask someday. Worried that he would ask for the wrong reasons. But everything he had just said washed my doubts away .

“So, what do you think ?”

“Whiskey …”

He looked expectant. Nervous even. He was such a big, strong man but I knew he wasn’t even a little bit tough where I was concerned .

When it came to me and Eliza, he was a big ol’ softy .

“There is nothing I want more in the world .”