Page 45 of The Forever Game

I don’t want to take away from Tammy and Baxter’s big day next weekend, and I’m guessing Asher is thinking the same. He probably has some grand plan which he’ll show me, maybe even the day after the wedding, but I don’t need anything fancy.

Why should guys always get to propose anyway?

I’m doing it today and have spent the last two hours setting up the top floor of the villa. I’ve lit enough candles in our bedroom and the living room to put the fire station on high alert and have classical music wafting out of the speakers. I’ve spent all week compiling the perfect playlist—selecting all of the most romantic classical music I could find.

I bought all of Asher’s favorite treats—the coffee table is piled high—plus I wrote a quiz. Just ten quick questions, the last one being… Will you marry me?

Sweet, simple, and romantic.

Tick, tick, tick.

I’m grinning as I pad down the hallway, heading into the bathroom so I can double-check my makeup and put on Asher’s favorite dress. Then I’ll?—

“Lani?” Asher’s surprised voice reaches me from the living room.

Shit, he’s back early. I didn’t even hear him coming up the stairs!

I run out to find him, my bathrobe flying open because I forgot to tie it back up…

And there he is in a tuxedo, holding a large bunch of roses and gaping at me.

His eyes heat with desire as they travel down my body. Yes, I’m in my lacy black lingerie. And is he about to…?

“Don’t you dare get down on one knee,” I warn him, pointing my finger with the sternest look I can muster.

He narrows his eyes at me, glancing around the living room, then arching his brow.

“Leilani Iona, will you?—”

“Marry me?” I pop out the question before he can.

His face bunches into a scowl and he goes to drop to one knee, but I fall to the floor—yes, still in my underwear—and quickly rush out, “Asher Bensen, will you?—”

“Marry me?” he interrupts, and I huff, jumping back to my feet and resting my hands on my hips.

“Will you marry me?” we both blurt in unison, then end up growling.

The bouquet of roses hits Asher’s leg, some of the petals falling to the floor. “Dammit, woman. Can’t you just let me propose? I got you a ring!”

“Yeah, well, me too!” I flick my arm at him. “Why should you get to be the only one to gift the person you love a beautiful piece of jewelry!”

He goes still, blinking at me and suddenly fighting a grin. “You got me a ring?”

“Yes,” I mumble, pulling my bathrobe around myself and tying it securely.

“Can I see it?” He lays the roses down on the table, eyeing the food before grinning at me. “Did you bake it into the chocolate cake?”

“Ewww, no.” I scrunch up my nose, then sigh, my own lips starting to quirk up at the edges. “I’ll let you see it if you let me propose.”

He rolls his eyes, sucking in a breath and holding it like he’s counting to ten.

I arch my eyebrow at him.

“Okay, fine. But then I get to propose after you.”

“Fine.” I roll my eyes, but my giggle is soft and uncontrolled as I walk to the coffee table and dig the ring box out of my prize bag. “I wrote a quiz, and I was going to give you a little prize after each correct answer.”

“Really?” His voice perks up. “I love that idea. Hit me, boo.”

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