Page 104 of Forever and Other Lies

“Are you always going to be so demanding?” His voice was deliciously low, and her stomach twisted.

“Yep.” Her toes started to tingle. His right hand swept over her cheek. The light touch sent shock waves through her.

His hand moved to her chin once more, cupping it. “I love you, Jayna.”

His head dropped and his lips covered hers. She had no idea how she didn’t collapse onto the floor. Maybe it was because his left arm was wrapped around her, holding her up. This man could seriously kiss. This man who was all hers. The word love flowed off his tongue like it wasn’t foreign or distasteful. He meant it.

He pulled away, grinning, and took his cell phone out of his back pocket. Holding the phone over her hand, he snapped a picture of the ring on her finger.

“Why’d you take a picture?” she asked.

He smirked, pocketing his phone. “I need proof to win a bet with Tommy.”

Jayna raised an eyebrow. “A bet?” Her temper started to rise as well.

“Yeah, Tommy didn’t think I had the guts to propose. And he didn’t think you’d accept.”

“You made a bet with your brother? Is this proposal real?” Was this guy for real?

“Of course it’s real. I’m miserable without you. I can’t stop thinking about you all the time!” His voice was filled with annoyance. “I mean, you are seriously the most annoying chick I have ever met. It’s easier to marry you than to get over you.”

“Wow, Brennan. You need to start writing for Hallmark.”

He pulled her close again, dropping his head for another toe-curling kiss. “Okay, I gotta run. I need to see a man about a dog.”

“A dog? Isn’t the saying ‘see a man about a horse’?”

“A horse? What do I want with a horse?”

Before Jayna could say anything else, he was heading for the door. “Seriously?” She called out to him, but he had already left. Who did that? Who proposed and then ran out the door? Derek Brennan did. It was so typical that the guy never did anything predictable. And it was ironic but summed up the man perfectly.

She stood in her kitchen. He was just messing with her. He would rush back any second. She stared at the basket filled with a dozen bottles of shampoo. Of course, the man wouldn’t show up with a dozen roses.

She tapped her foot and glanced at her watch. “Seriously?” She walked down the hallway and yanked open the door. His truck was gone. Then she looked down.

Her front door mat was gone as well.

With a growing sense of curiosity and mounting irritation, she pulled out her phone to access the security camera feed. Rewinding the footage, she watched as Derek bent down, picked up the mat, tucked it under his arm, and strode to his truck.

“Unbelievable,” she muttered and couldn’t help but laugh, speaking out loud. “Of course, he proposes and steals my door mat.”

Chapter 53

Derek had proposed, on bended knee no less. Then stole her doormat, which looked damn good in front of his mahogany door. He chuckled again, ‘The dog’s friendly, but the owner’s not. Go away.’ It was perfect. His phone dinged with an incoming text.

He thumbed a reply and hit send. If she wanted it back, she could come and get it.

He stepped back and took a picture, capturing the mat along with his front door. He sent the picture along with another text.

Ding.

Derek scooped up the German Shepherd puppy and set her on the doormat. He quickly snapped the picture before she scampered off after Tommy’s puppy.

He typed and sent his reply along with the new picture.

Three dots appeared on his phone screen, indicating that Jayna was typing. Then they disappeared. He chuckled. She was speechless, which was quite the feat. Glancing at his watch, he gave her 15 minutes. Exactly 14 minutes later, her truck pulled into his driveway.

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