Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
He runs his fingers through my hair, slow and gentle, and I swear I can feel him thinking. He’s quieter than usual tonight, like he’s got something on his mind. I want to ask, but I’m scared to break the spell.
Instead, I stretch, press my cheek to his thigh, and mumble, “You know, I could get used to this.”
He doesn’t answer right away. Just keeps stroking my hair, almost like he’s memorizing everything.
“You’d better,” he says finally, voice so soft I almost don’t hear it. “I’m never letting you go.”
“Good, because here with you is where I want to be.” The “L” word sticks on my tongue for a second, and I take a deep breath, ready to tell him, when he pulls me up into his lap and beats me to the punch.
“I love you.” He stares into my eyes. “I’ve loved you from the first moment you spilled coffee down the front of me.”
“I love you, too.” The words roll off my tongue. It’s like the world pauses. He just stares at me, eyes so dark and intense my knees actually go weak, and I have to fight the urge to burst into happy tears like a total lunatic.
Instead, I do the only thing that makes sense—I throw my arms around his neck and kiss him as hard as I can. He hauls me onto his lap like I weigh nothing, hands gripping my hips, and crushes his mouth to mine. I could kiss this man forever and never get tired of it.
Gabe finally pulls back, breathing hard, his forehead resting against mine. “You’re my everything, Alice. You know that, right?”
I nod, grinning like an idiot. “I’m obsessed with you, in case it wasn’t obvious. I’m ready to discuss cohabitation now.”
He lets out a low, dangerous laugh. “There’s nothing to discuss. You’re here with me, and I’m never letting you go.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.”
“So, do you want a big fancy wedding or a small courthouse ceremony?” he asks like he’s asking what I want for breakfast.
“Uh…” I lean back and stare at him. “I think you skipped a step here.”
“Oh. Right.” He sets me back on the sofa and walks out of the room. What? I wonder what in the world is happening when he comes strolling back in. He drops to his knees in front of me and takes my hand in his. “I’m crazy about you. In fact, I can’t fucking live without you.” He slides a stunning diamond ring on my finger. “Alice. Will you marry me?”
“I’ll think about it.”
Gabe blinks at me, like he can’t quite process what I just said. Then he bursts out laughing and pulls me off the sofa, straight into his arms. “You just have to push my buttons, don’t you?”
“What can I say? Pushing your buttons is the highlight of my day,” I tease, grinning at him because I can’t help myself. He’s still kneeling in front of me, but the look in his eyes is so achingly real I almost lose my nerve and start crying.
No way I’m going to ruin this moment by bawling like a baby.
I clear my throat and go for it. “I absolutely want to marry you. More than anything in the world.”
He doesn't hesitate for even a second. "Thank God," he breathes, his voice rough with emotion, and his eyes gleaming like polished amber. "I was thinking I'd have to kidnap you and hide you away on some private island until you changed your mind."
"Hold up." I sit back, shaking my head, feeling the weight of the diamond catching the soft lamplight as my hand moves. "Was the private island thing really an option?"
"For the honeymoon." He smirks at me, that devastatingly handsome half-smile that always makes my stomach flutter like I've got a thousand butterflies in there. His thumb traces slow circles on my palm, sending tingles up my arm.
That definitely sounds like a plan to me.
EPILOGUE: ALICE
SIX MONTHS LATER
I’m standing on the penthouse balcony, contemplating the Worthington Hills skyline.
Below me, the city glows soft and gold and promising. It’s a perfect Texas sunset—sky shot through with streaks of orange and pink, clouds brushed in gold leaf. The wind is barely a whisper, just enough to ruffle my hair and tickle the nape of my neck. I lean into the glass railing, let the breeze lift the fine hairs on my arms, and breathe it in.
The sliding door whisks open behind me, and I don’t even need to turn around to know it’s Gabe. “How was your day, Mrs. Mercer?” He wraps his arms around me and pulls me close to his muscular body. He’s lost the jacket and tie, wearing a white button-down and black pants, sleeves rolled up. His hair is tousled, like he ran his fingers through it a dozen times.