After that, we found a great place, signed the lease, and moved in a few weeks later. The timing had even worked out for Summer, too, so if you ask me, it was all meant to be.

I smile at Mom when her amused stare brings me back to the present. “Yep, I’m a pretty lucky guy,” I say in answer, although I’m not really talking about the job.

When the proposal day arrives, the Ball House is pumping like always. I haven’t seen these guys for a while, so I do the rounds and catch up, all while keeping my hand very close to my pocket to protect the goods. After an hour, I’m done; I can’t wait any longer. I’ll have to make up for it another day. I signal to Summer across the yard, as she’s helping me distract Cory, and then sneak away like planned.

It may not be original, but I’ve filled the space with tea candles and secured fairy lights to the tree and swing. Despite the sweat pouring down my back and my rapid heartbeat, I’m ready. Now, I just have to wait.

A few minutes later, I’ve moved to pacing territory when Cory's voice sounds behind me. “Nate?” she says in a quiet tone as her eyes roam around the garden. When they lock with mine, I see it. She knows. Her breath hitches, and she bites her lip before moving toward me slowly.

“What’s going on?” she asks as I pull her into my arms.

“Nothing in particular. I just thought it would be nice to come back to the place where it all began.” She stares at me for a second, and her eyes blink rapidly, as though she’s trying to mesh what I’m saying with what she can see.

I move her toward the swing and then point to the lights when she’s sitting down. “One of the guys set this up for a date with his girl. Nice, huh?” She smiles, but I see her deflate at my words, and it helps to remove every nervous thought from my body. She wants this, too. I shouldn’t have lied, but I desperately want to surprise her.

Cory’s silent after that, so I push her on the swing until she’s moving at a nice pace. While she’s still in full swing, I move to stand in front of her and laugh at her confused frown. Without my pushes, her momentum dies, and she slows down. Perfect.

“Cory, you once said we fell hard and fast, and you were right. I’ve never been so sure of something so quickly in all my life. I knew you were special from the moment I saw you. And after getting to know you, here, on this swing, I knew I was done for.”

The swing slows even more as Cory stares at me, trying to hold back tears, completely aware of what I’m about to do.

“You are my world, my heart, my sunshine. I can’t imagine my life without you.”

I drop to my knee in front of her at the exact moment she comes to a complete stop.

“Cory Ann Walton. I love you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

She gasps and jumps off the swing, falling into my arms. “Yes! One hundred percent, yes.”

“Thank, fuck!” someone yells from somewhere in the garden as cheers ring out around us. So much for being alone.

Cory giggles and buries herself into my chest. I can picture her face flushing with embarrassment, but I also know that she won’t mind. She loves these guys as much as I do.

Dylan’s loud voice booms across the yard, causing Cory and me to laugh. “Come on, let’s give these two lovebirds some space. Move along.”

Like me, he’s just visiting the Ball House for the Christmas celebrations, and everyone’s thrilled he’s back in town for a few days.

When the crowd has dispersed, Cory looks up from her position in my arms and smiles. “Did that really happen? It felt so real.”

I laugh and pull her hand up to my lips. Shit! In all my nerves, I forget. Pulling the ring from my pocket, I hold Cory’s finger and slide it on before kissing each of her knuckles. “There. Does it feel real now?”

Cory’s hand flies to her mouth as she gasps again and tears fall. “Oh, Nate, it’s beautiful… Wow… it’s just… ah, it’s perfect.”

She throws her arms around me in excitement, and we fall to the ground. As soon as we’ve landed, Cory’s lips meet mine, and that’s where we stay, for how long I don’t know, but just like Cory’s ring… it’s perfect.

We head home after our make-out session without saying goodbye. The second we’re inside our apartment, before the door has even clicked shut, Cory’s on me again. She leaps into my arms, wraps her legs around me, and slams her mouth to mine. I groan on impact because it’s so fucking hot when she gets desperate like this.

“We’re engaged,” she says against my lips, barely pulling away to talk.

“We are,” I grunt out at the same time she grinds down into me.

Cory kisses her way along my jaw and up my neck until she reaches my ear. “Have I told you how hot you look on your knees in front of me?”

I thrust up into her as I become uncomfortably hard, even though she’s referring to the proposal. “Careful now. You’re getting dangerously close to dirty talk,” I say through gritted teeth, trying hard not to get too carried away just yet.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Nate.” She giggles, and the sound is my undoing.

Dropping her feet to the ground, I unbutton her jeans and slide them down her legs. She’s in the sexiest white lace thong I’ve ever seen, so I leave it in place, with thoughts of ripping it off later filling my mind. As soon as she’s free of her pants, Cory takes control. Something she’s been doing a lot lately, and I’m not complaining.

Tags: Katherine Jay Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net