Selling Scarlett (Love Inc 1)

I lift the arm rest so our two seats are more like one and lean my head against his shoulder. Hunter’s arm goes over my shoulder.

“Thank you for coming with me,” he murmurs as he kisses my hair.

“To Napa?”

He nods.

“Of course. You know I would go anywhere with you.” I lace my hand through his.

“Would you?” he asks. I search his face for hints of teasing, but he’s not. He looks miserable.

“Hunter, what’s the matter?”

He shuts his eyes and leans his head against the seat.

“Are you feeling bad?”

He shakes his head.

“What is it?”

He takes a deep breath and unbuckles his seat belt. At first I think he’s going to be sick, but when he gets down on one knee, my heart starts pounding.

“I was going to wait for the right time, but I don’t think I can keep this to myself anymore.” He reaches into the pocket of his pants, and I stop breathing. “Libby—I love you more than anything in this world. Will you marry me?”

He takes my hand and squeezes my fingers, while his other hand brings out a small, red box. I expect him to open it, but instead he closes his fist around it and looks into my eyes.

“I know you’re young and you’ve still got some school to finish. You might want to do things you haven’t done, but we can travel. We can do anything you want. Anything it takes to make you happy. If you want to sell the place in Vegas, we can. If you want to—”

“YES!” I throw my arms around his neck. “Hunter, we don’t have to do any of that. Yes, I’ll marry you!” I press my lips against his, and I’m laughing. “I love you!” I can feel his smile under my mouth. He deepens the kiss, and I can feel him shudder as I wrap myself around him.

“We don’t have to do anything different,” I murmur. “I don’t want to.” I lean down to kiss his temple and he locks his arms around me. His forehead presses against my throat, and I kiss his hair.

“How long have you been thinking of this?” I ask, giggling maniacally.

His eyes flick up to mine, and a grin spreads across his face. “You really want to know?”

“Um...yes.”

“I designed the ring when you would take naps at the hospital. It shipped to Dr. Libby and I got it from her weeks ago.” He arches one eyebrow. “I would have dropped it on you earlier, but I was worried you weren’t ready.”

“I’m ready! Hunter, let me see it!”

With one arm locked around me, he opens the box, revealing a beautiful, oval ruby ringed with diamonds.

His green eyes hold mine as he fumbles with the box and slides the ring onto my finger. I giggle and wave my hand around, buoyant enough to float through the roof and into the sky. “Thank you.” I throw myself into his lap and straddle him, and Hunter’s face burrows into my shoulder.

We sit there wrapped up in each other as the plane soars through the clouds, swooping lower as we near Napa—our home.

After a long stretch of blissful silence and lots of little kisses, Hunter looks down at me, smiling a little slyly. “I kind of already made some preparations.”

“That confident, were we?” I smirk, and he grins. I poke his ribs. “C’mon now. Out with it!”

“I had our room re-done...and I got you a new car. I hope you’re not upset.”

“Upset?”

“I know how loyal you are to your Camry. This can just be a weekend car if you want.”

“What kind of car is it?”

“A Porsche.” His eyes are dancing as he thumbs my cheek. “One time I fell in love with a woman in a Porsche.”

“I didn’t think that happened until a good bit later.”

He smiles, looking lazy and comfortable and handsome. My fiancé. He looks into my eyes. “I don’t know when it happened, but I’m damn sure glad it did.”

“Me too.” I snuggle up against his hard, warm body as we soar through midnight clouds. “Me, too.”