I can still remember that afternoon. Showing her the apartment I wanted to buy for us on my laptop, leading with the fact that Jude would have his own room, for whenever he could manage a visit. I showed her the brochures for several private elementary schools, hoping one of them would appeal to her. I would have stayed in Connecticut, no questions asked, if she’d said no to moving, but thankfully that didn’t happen. She’d fallen in love with my family, as much as they’d fallen in love with her, and wanted to be closer. I think Jude needs some space, anyway, she’d said. I’m up for an adventure, as long as you’re with me.
Like I’d ever be anywhere else?
Happiness doesn’t even begin to cover what this woman makes me feel. I’m grateful. I’m in fucking awe, to be honest. Finally I can see a future that isn’t shaded by the past. And I’m never spending a day without her. Which leads me to the box in my pocket. The engagement ring inside of it. When we moved in together two years ago, I was in a rush. I wanted to give Taylor everything she’d ever dreamed of—immediately. A ring. Kids. Ironically, Taylor ended up being the one to slow us down. I’ve met someone I want time with first. Let’s take our time.
She said that while I was Googling “what is a princess cut” on my phone.
Thank God I didn’t pull the trigger, because she’s way more of a cushion cut type. And the fact that I know engagement ring styles by heart might shed some light on how truly crazy I am for this woman. Is she going to say yes?
She’s going to say yes, right?
My knees almost buckle at the sound of a key being slid into the lock. I bang a fist on the living room wall to quiet down everyone waiting on the other side. Silence falls abruptly, except for the tap of Taylor’s heels when she enters the apartment.
Oh Jesus. Look at her. Beautiful beyond words.
Why did she have to wear the light pink dress today?
I can never think straight when she wears that thing.
“You’re home?” Beaming a smile in my direction, she tosses her coat onto the wall hook. “I thought you had meetings all day. Is that why you’re wearing a suit?”
She starts to cross the entryway, but stops short, gesturing to her dress, which I’m just now seeing has green splotches on the front.
“Art class got a little spirited. I can’t hug you or I’ll get paint on your suit.”
“I don’t mind.” I blurt—whipped. I can hear my brother’s eye roll from here.
“No! You’ll have to get it dry cleaned. Besides…” She gives me a long, leisurely once over and sends way too much of my blood south. “You should leave it on for a while. Remember that time you pretended to interrogate me? The suit could really make it believable—”
“Taylor,” I rush to interrupt her, pretty sure I hear a choked snort from the other side of the living room wall. “Why don’t you go change and I’ll—”
“Ooh, I have a better idea.” To my simultaneous delight and horror, she reaches back and unzips the pink dress, letting it drop and pool on the ground around her ankles. “Problem solved.” She steps out of the dress in a seductive move, running her fingertips up and over her tits. Jesus Christ. My tongue turns useless in my mouth. “Now I can hug you all I want…”
Yeah, there is simply no way I can stop my arms from opening when she’s walking toward me. It’s a deeply rooted impulse that will never go way. Here comes Taylor. Open your arms. Get her as close as possible and keep her there.
Still, there is that seriously pressing matter of seven people waiting in the living room to witness my marriage proposal. Dammit, I wanted to do this on a walk in our favorite park, but my brother convinced me that she’d like friends and family present. That she would want pictures. Now she’s in a bra and panties and I’m halfway to stiff. Last time I listen to Kevin.
“Listen, sweetheart. There’s something going on here.”
“I know.” Laughing, she rubs her belly against my cock. “I feel it.”
“Okay, there are two things going on here.”
She’s winding my tie around her fist, tugging me down for a kiss and I give it to her, because I don’t have the strength to turn it down. Not when her mouth is so soft and she’s being horny and playful and perfect. Would it be inappropriate to bring her upstairs for forty-five minutes or so prior to this proposal or—?
Yeah, don’t even think about it.
Harnessing every speck of my willpower, I break the kiss. As she watches me in confusion, I remove my jacket and wrap it around her—