Dropping my hands, I said, “I wasn’t supposed to say anything.”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. You’re secret is safe with me. I won’t tell a soul until the two of you are ready.”
Moving my feet as if I was running in place, I let out another squeal. “I’m engaged!”
We both jumped up and grabbed hands as we jumped all around until we hugged. I knew in that moment Whitley was going to be so much more to me than just a mother-in-law. I already felt like I could tell her anything. I had just gained someone amazing in my life.
The day couldn’t get any better . . . that was until Whitley pushed me back at arm’s length and said, “Welcome to the family, Taylor.”
Jase
Rounding up the last cow, I led her back onto our property as my father whistled for Reed and Walker to bring them on up while we worked on repairing the fence.
I grabbed the fence pulls and headed over to where my father was working.
“So, are you going to tell me why you can’t wipe that shit-eating grin off your face?”
Thinking back to Taylor saying yes, my damn stomach fluttered like a pansy ass.
I had no clue why I did it, but I blurted it out. “I asked Taylor to marry me and she said yes.”
My father stopped what he was doing and looked up at me. All I could see was his blue eyes set off from the black cowboy hat he was wearing. When a smile slowly moved across his face and his hand reached out for mine, I let myself breathe.
“Well, congratulations are in order then.”
Nodding and feeling like a damn schoolboy who just got his first kiss, I replied, “Thanks, Dad.”
“Oh hell,” he said as he pulled me into his arms. He slapped me three times on the back and said, “Your mother is going to be a crying mess when she finds out.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “I feel like I’m about to be a crying mess.”
“And that’s okay if you do. Love does crazy things to us. I once washed with women’s fragrance soap then kicked one of my best friend’s asses all before a huge business meeting.”
Furrowing my brows, I asked, “Why?”
He shrugged and said, “Because of love. Your mother had me in knots in the beginning. Half the time I didn’t know which way was up and which way was down. Shit . . . she still does.”
Letting out a gruff laugh, I agreed. “Sounds familiar.”
“Did you make it special for her?”
Looking away, I sighed. “Nope. I kind of blurted it out in the truck at the end of our driveway. It’s weird, Dad. It was like I had to ask her right that second or I was going to explode.”
“Sometimes it’s the spur of the moment things we do that they love the most. There have been times when I had every intention of planning the most elaborate romantic evening ever, only to have it fall apart and I have to take her on a moonlight picnic. It never fails . . . she falls apart in a crying mess and proclaims me to be the most romantic man in the world.”
My mouth fell open. “Holy fuck, Dad. I’d hate to see what an elaborate romantic evening would be because I’d have never thought about a moonlight picnic.”
He smiled and winked. “You can use it, son. I don’t mind.”
Laughing, I clipped the fence pullers onto the fence.
“I just want to make her happy.”
My father attached the clips as he looked up at me. “It’s not that hard. Make sure you always make her feel special. Even if she is sick as a dog and her nose is all red from blowing it all day and her hair looks a mess and she’s talking like Fran Drescher . . . tell her she’s beautiful.”
Looking at him with a confused expression, I asked, “Who’s Fran Drescher?”
He rolled his eyes and twisted the clip. “Never mind. The point is, never lose an opportunity to let her know how special she is to you. Remind her every day that you love her more than life itself. Surprise her with little things like a single rose.” He stood up, took off his hat and wiped the sweat away with his shirt sleeve. “Better yet, pay attention when she says she likes something. Your mother once went on and on about this book she loved so much. With the help of Courtney, I contacted the author and got her a signed book.”