Page 48 of The Hot New Single Dad Next Door

Scott offers me the half-eaten muffin. I snatch it from him, finding the missing chunk and looking for... the...

There is something inside of it. Something golden and shiny sticking out of the fluffy center.

A ring.

A diamond ring.

Scott lowers to one knee.

“Scott,” I whisper.

He licks his lips and smiles. “Lottie, I?—”

“Yes,” I answer.

“I haven’t asked you yet.”

“You don’t have to,” I say. “My answer is yes.”

“Hold on,” he says, grinning. “I’ve got a whole speech.”

“Yes.”

“Lottie…”

I press my lips together, my entire body buzzing with happiness.

“Lottie, I love you,” Scott says. “This past year has been the best of my life. And I’ve known this for a while now, but I want the rest of my life to be just as good. I want you and Liam, and me and Sonya, to be a family. The family you always wanted.”

He gently reaches out and takes the ring from me. Holding it up, he looks me in the eye and says, “Lottie, will you marry me?”

My heart leaps in my chest. “Yes!” I finally get to say.

He slides the ring on my finger and I squeal, the moment so perfect; my life so perfect.

He rises and I kiss him, his lips tasting of muffins.

“I love you,” I say. “So much.”

“I love you, too.” Scott smiles. “And we have all night.”

“We do?”

“Summer’s staying with the kids.” He kisses me again. “She sends her congratulations.”

I smile, thankful for her, too. Her kindness and friendship have been another highlight of this year. I’m happy for her to be a part of our family, too.

Scott kisses my forehead. My nose and cheeks. He wraps his arms around me, his kisses wilder as he lifts me up and sets me down on the counter.

“I love you,” he says again and again. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”

My heart sings for him. My body does, too; a spark of heat brewing in my core as I wrap my legs around him. “I need you,” I say, full of yearning as I reach for his belt.

Scott chuckles. “I’m here,” he whispers. “Always will be.”

I tingle with happiness, my skin alight with fire, as we undress each other.

Scott Smolders. My lover. My neighbor and business partner.

Now, my fiancé. The husband I’ve always wanted. The father my son always deserved.

It’s gonna be a good life.

I can feel it.

Everything is coming up Lottie.

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