Page 17 of Dating the Grump

Before I’m able to get my feet to move, Hunt loudly proclaims, “I love you, little goddess. You’re the most important thing in the world to me. Ever since the first time a big paycheck hit my account, I’ve had to deal with leeches wanting me for my money, but I can’t get you to take a penny from me.”

His declaration echoes around in my mind on a constant loop as happiness pierces my soul, and I forget about all the other people in the room watching this play out. “I love you, too. I don’t want your money. I want you.”

“I know.” He pushes a strand of hair back behind my ear. “I can’t even get you to let me pay you back for the groceries you buy for both of us.” He smirks, bringing up the last little tiff we had over me paying for our groceries.

“It isn’t going to break me to buy groceries.” I laugh through the tears fighting to fall from my eyes.

“But it would kill me to lose you. You’re the most important thing in the world to me. You want the real me while everyone else wants what they think I can give them. Those women don’t see me, not the way you do. You see the real me, and that’s all that matters.” In front of everyone, he drops to his knees. “Please say you’ll marry me and protect me from all the money-hungry gold diggers out there. I promise to make sure no one is ever mean to you again. If any of these motherfuckers even try, I’ll make them pay for their mistake.”

The sincerity in his voice cracks the last of my defenses, and I finally let out the breath I’ve been holding. Who cares if I’m not going to be the most popular woman in Silver Spoon Falls as long as I have Hunt’s love? “Of course, I’ll marry you.” As he stands up and pulls me close to his hard body, all the patrons in the Park Avenue Bar clap loudly in appreciation for our display. My face turns bright red while the blood heats in my veins and I melt against him, hiding my face in his neck.

“Thank God,” he growls before leaning down to whisper in my ear. “Why don’t we head back to our place and celebrate?”

“I love the way you think.” I smile up at him, making sure he can see all my love for him shining from my eyes.

EPILOGUE

HUNT

ONE MONTH LATER

“Oh my gosh!”

I toss the resistance band and take off toward the kitchen as soon as I hear her frustrated cry, worry shooting through me. I don’t bother wiping the sweat from my brow or putting on a shirt. That shit can wait.

“Molly?” I call, practically jogging from the gym to the kitchen. “What’s wrong, goddess?”

I find her standing at the island, scowling at her phone.

“What? Nothing.” She quickly shoves the phone behind her back, spinning to face me. I know she’s lying as soon as I see her face. One thing Molly isn’t good at is lying.

I narrow my eyes, stalking toward her. “You want to try that again, goddess?”

“It’s nothing!” she cries, backing away from me. “You’re imagining things, Hunt.”

“Oh, really?” I smirk, despite myself. “So, I just imagined you scowling at your phone when I came running in here?”

“Yep. Definitely. It was all in your head.”

“Uh-huh. So, we’re not on the Silver Spoon Single Serve again?”

“Nope.” She takes another step away, her gaze darting to the side as she tries to map out an escape route. She can try all she wants, though. I played professional football for years. There isn’t a play she can make that I’m not prepared to counter.

“Go ahead and run, sweetheart,” I taunt, smirking. “See how far you get.”

“Hunt, seriously. Go back to the gym and work out those ridiculously oversized muscles. Everything is just fine here.”

“Uh-huh.” I take another step toward her, my cock hard. When isn’t it when she’s around? Now that she lives here permanently, I’m always fucking hard. I spend every night lost in her and damn near every morning making her come on my tongue before I’m inside her again. And I still stumble through every day, thinking about the next time I can fuck her.

Since I asked her to marry me in the middle of the bar, things have changed. The sex between us is even hotter. Hearing her moan that she loves me while she’s coming on my cock is goddamn perfection.

So is the fact that people mostly leave us alone now.

Oh, don’t get me wrong. The fucking waitress still glares when she thinks we aren’t looking. So do a few others. Mostly, I think people are simply getting used to the fact that I’m here permanently and this girl is my fucking world. And if they want to talk to me, they know they better treat her with respect. If they don’t, I’m not nice.

Truthfully though, most people in town seem genuinely thrilled about our engagement. I think it helped for Molly to know that not everyone hates her. In fact, I don’t think anyone hates her. But some people see fame and dollar signs, and it blinds them.

Not her. I don’t think she gives a flying fuck about either. Actually, I know she doesn’t. She’d probably prefer if I’d been some regular asshole instead of a grumpy bastard who used to be famous.

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