Page 77 of Recklessly in Love

Greg smirks and looks down. I follow his gaze. And in his hand is a small velvet box. My heart stutters as he opens it to reveal what appears to be a stunning diamond ring that’s the same shade of blue as my eyes.

“Joanie,” he begins, his eyes shining with emotion. “You came out of nowhere and made me feel alive. Being with you has made me a better man, one who wants everything out of this life with you by my side. As your husband, if you’ll have me. Joanie Morris, will you marry me?”

“You know,” I muse, looking away so he doesn’t see the sheen of tears in my eyes, “I always pictured you proposing during sex.”

Greg tips his head back and laughs loudly. Then he leans in and kisses me. “Then let’s go home, and I’ll try this again.”

I shrug lightly and gesture for him to give me the ring. He shakes his head, chuckling as he withdraws the ring and slides it onto my finger. I hold my hand out, examining the gorgeous jewelry exaggeratedly as I pretend to contemplate it and his question.

“Wait …” he says before I can say anything else. “You just said you’ve pictured me proposing.”

I give him a sly smile. “Maybe.”

He grins. “And did you see yourself saying yes to that proposal?”

My grin widens. “Maaaaybe.”

Greg laughs. “Joanie?”

And I can’t keep it up anymore. I laugh and grab him by the shirt, pulling him toward me. “Yes. Make me Mrs. Mountain Man, stud.”

Greg laughs against my lips, pulling me into his lap. And I don’t give a shit that I’m wearing a dress; I wrap my legs around him. He runs his hands up my bare thighs and groans into my mouth.

“I might get to propose again sooner than I thought,” he murmurs, pulling my core against his hard length.

“Public sex?” I gasp in a scandalized tone. “For shame.”

Greg sucks hard at the spot under my ear, and I moan. “You know you love it, dirty girl,” he teases.

I lean back and put my hands on his face. “I know I love you,” I reply sincerely. No snark, no teasing. “And I’d be honored to be your wife, Gregory Tyler.” And I seal it with a tender kiss so there’s no question that my “yes” is for real.

When his mouth breaks away, he rests his forehead against mine. “Ready to go home, fiancée?”

I nod, my heart soaring at the new title. At the idea of being his forever. Because he’s most definitely mine.

As we walk back to the community center, hand in hand, I can’t stop smiling. The future stretches out before us, filled with promise and possibility.

It’s wild that I’ve finally found my home. My happy ever after. I never imagined that path would lead me here, to this incredible man, to this life that feels like a dream come true.

But that’s the beauty of life, isn’t it? The unexpected detours, the surprises that catch us off guard and change everything.

Alpine Ridge brought me a better life than I’d had planned. It gave me love, purpose, and a sense of belonging. And now, it will be the setting for the next chapter of my story. Our story.

And I can’t wait to see what adventures await us. Mountain man and (former) city girl. Ready to take on the world. Together. Forever.

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