Page 111 of Sinners Retreat

He steps to the side, and I see his pumpkin. It sits on a small table. The top has been cut away, and a hand sticks from the opening. Whoever created this fake appendage has a real eye for detail because it looks incredibly realistic. They even took the time to chip some of the nails and add a really convincing yellowish glaze to the skin. And is that bruising?

Ezra pulls the hand—complete with attached arm—from the pumpkin and turns it over. Attached to the palm is a small velvet box.

“Is that the fucking hand from thebeach?” I screech as realization dawns on me.

Ezra winces. “I wanted to use that one, but the gulls had already destroyed it by the time I went back for it. I had Jim go into the ravine and cut the arm from that woman who attacked me. He shipped it to me, and I’ve been storing it in the freezer at mine.”

I should be disgusted. I should be so repulsed that I throw this rotting arm at him and tell him to fuck right off.

But I’m neither disgusted nor repulsed. I am a woman in love. Ezra has given me the perfect proposal. All he has to do is ask the question.

He plucks the ring box from the decaying palm and opens it. “I needed to show you this first because if I take on this winter retreat, you’ll have to be part of it too. The time for making decisions on my own has passed. Now I want to make every decision together. Starting with this one. Kindra, will you marry me?”

I stare down at the ring. Though Ezra has plenty of money, he’s chosen a simple diamond on a simple white-gold band. It’s simply me.

Unable to form the word, I nod my head.

He pulls the ring from the box and slides it over my finger, then kisses my hands. “You have made me the happiest man. Now, what do we do about this winter retreat, Mrs. Carter?”

His arms wrap around me as he pulls me in for a kiss. We lose ourselves in each other, and his length hardens and presses against my stomach.

“How much time do we have before everyone gets here?” I ask.

A car door shuts in the driveway, and Ezra groans. “Not enough, I’m afraid.”

Bennett charges up the steps and stops in his tracks when he sees us wrapped in each other’s arms. “Aw, for fuck’s sake, do you two ever stop? You’ll put New York into a condom shortage at this rate.”

“Where’s your pumpkin?” I ask.

He scoffs. “I’m not carving a shitty pumpkin. That’s kid stuff.”

Ezra looks behind Bennett and studies his car before turning to him. “Where’s Cat? Wasn’t she supposed to arrive with you?”

“She wanted to ride withMaverick.” He uses a whiny baby voice when he says their friend’s name. “The girl is barking up the wrong tree with that one. She’s not his type.”

“Is someone a little jealous?” I ask.

That earns a laugh from Ezra and a scowl from Bennett.

“Whose shit-ass pumpkin is that?” Bennett points to Ezra’s pumpkin. “And why is an arm on the ground?”

I look at Ezra, and he gives me a slight nod, so I push my hand toward Bennett.

“Ezra just proposed,” I say.

“And she said yes,” Ezra adds. “Well, she nodded yes.”

Bennett takes a deep breath, and I’m not sure if he’s going to turn and leave or explode right here. Then he steps toward me and puts his hands on my shoulders.

“Welcome to the family.” He smiles and pulls me in for an awkward hug, though I can feel the sincerity in it.

“Don’t touch him!” Cat screams from the car window as she and Maverick pull into the driveway. “You’ll get rabies!”

Bennett mumbles something under his breath and swipes his hand down his face. “I was hoping to give you guys some news before the blond squad arrived, but I guess I’ll just have to tell everyone.”

“We have some news too,” Ezra says, then glances at me. “Or we might. I’m not sure yet.”

“Don’t tell me she’s fucking pregnant,” Bennett says.

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