Sexy Six (The Bennett Brothers 2)

“Yes, but I can’t help thinking of everything I’m going to miss. Will it be the same when I return?”

“Absolutely. My parents are already planning to visit us this summer. Your parents are coming in May. Mathis and Claire are talking about a trip. Logan’s dying to get here when you have pieces to show. The only people who won’t be able to travel are Bizzy and Shaw, but that’s because Shaw is an overprotective idiot.”

She sits up and turns, her eyes wide. “Wait, your parents are coming?”

“Hell yeah, once I move here, it may be hard to get them to leave.”

“You’re moving here?” she shrieks.

“Of course, I’m moving here as soon as the season ends. What did you think when I said I was coming back in a month?”

“I thought you were coming to visit. What about football?”

“I choose you, Grace. That means I’m with you. I may have to go back and forth a few times until training starts, but otherwise, I’m here.

“Shaw’s already working on finding me a training facility to work out. Gail is looking into finding a decent place for us to live.”

“Place to live?”

“Baby, I don’t want to have to face your landlord every morning after what she hears coming through the walls. We need privacy.”

Her cheeks start to flush, and she nibbles on her bottom lip. “Good point.”

“And while I’m playing ball, you’ll be creating masterpieces. We’ll figure it out as we go. I’ll fly you home every weekend if you want, and during our times apart, we’ll become experts at phone sexing.”

Her face now grows red, but there’s a glint in her eye. “Experts.”

“But before I leave here, I need something from you. You can say no, but I pray to God you don’t.”

“I’ll do anything you ask.”

“Marry me,” I breathe out, knowing what I’m facing.

She sucks in a deep breath, staring at me in shock.

“And I’m not asking you to marry me in a few months, or even a year. I’m asking you to marry me today, right here under this tree.”

“Today? Here?”

“Right here.”

I see the wheels in her head start spinning as she thinks about what I’ve said. “What about our families and friends?”

“We’ll do it all again for them. We’ll have another ceremony in the peach orchard, under your favorite tree, and then the big celebration. But today, it’ll be only for us.”

I reach inside her purse and easily find the box I slipped in this morning while she was in the shower. Pushing back to my knees, I kneel before her and flip it open.

Her eyes grow wide, and she gasps, her hand flying to her mouth. “Where did you get that?”

“I went to the gallery before I left and told Logan I was bringing it to you.” I gently lift the glass figurine of the peach tree she made in remembrance of Kayla. “Take a closer look.”

She takes it from me, turning and inspecting it closely. The instant she spots the ring I’ve placed on one of the branches, she lets out a yelp, her eyes flying to mine.

I remove the ring and take her hand, sliding it on her finger. “Will you marry me, Grace?”

Her hand starts to tremble as she looks between the ring and me. She doesn’t make a sound as her lips quiver.

“I’m going to be Grace Bennett.”