Page 166 of Forgot to Tell You Something

I laugh, although she’s not wrong. Her voice, combined with the mental image of her naked ass as I pound into her, gets me hard in seconds. “You’ve got me pegged.”

“Knew it.” She stifles a yawn. “Are you okay, Owen?”

“Marry me, Tally.”

“What?” She’s wide awake now.

I feel eyes on me and look up to see Charlotte approaching. The woman is like a hound dog, tracking me down. I can tell by her expression that she knows exactly who I’m speaking with, but she won’t grant me the courtesy of a private conversation.

Too damn bad, Charlotte. I’m done pretending that Tally isn’t everything to me.

Deal or no deal.

“Marry me, Tally.”

It’s as if time stops as soon as the words leave my mouth. Charlotte, hearing my request, halts dead in her tracks, and there’s silence from the other end of the phone line.

Charlotte I can handle, it’s my tiny vixen’s response that worries the hell out of me. “Are you there, Darlin?”

“I’m—I’m here,” Tally stutters. “I damn near fell off the bed. Way to shock the hell out of me, Owen.”

“You still haven’t answered me.” I widen my eyes at Charlotte. It’s a universal signal to back off and give me some privacy, neither of which my former fiancée is doing. “I promise, I’ll give you the best damn proposal in the entire world as soon as I get back, but I couldn’t wait any longer. I love you so much and I want—”

“Yes! Of course, I’ll marry you, silly man!”

Tally’s laughter is the second most beautiful sound in the world.

The first? Hearing her say yes.

“You will? You’ll marry me? God, I wish I was there right now.”

“I’ll marry you. Whatever order it comes, Owen. Remember?”

“I want a ring on your finger before our baby is born.”

Tally groans, but it’s tinged with laughter. “I already look like an over-inflated beach ball! I don’t want to be fat in my wedding photos!”

I’m laughing, she’s laughing. It’s one hell of a moment. “You’re not fat. You’re beautiful. And if you don’t want to be any bigger, we’ll have to get married as soon as I get back.”

I send one last glare in Charlotte’s direction. Seriously, the woman can’t take a hint. “I have to get back to the bullshit extravaganza. They’re looking for me. You need to get some sleep.”

“Fat chance of that. I have a wedding to plan.”

“I love you, Darlin. I’ll be home soon.” I hang up the phone, releasing a sigh of relief.

“Isn’t that cute?” Charlotte hisses, leaning against the wall next to me. “How nice of you to propose to another woman at the party that I’m hosting.”

“You wouldn’t have heard the proposal, if you weren’t snooping on me.” I shake my head. I won’t allow Charlotte to rile me up. I’m too excited that Tally is going to be my wife.

Mrs. Owen Stevens.

It’s about damn time.

“You disappeared. I was worried.”

I shoot her a sharp glance. “No, you weren’t.” I sip the whiskey in my glass, knowing there’s a permanent smile on my face. “I don’t expect you to understand, but I expect you to respect my decision, and my fiancée.”

“Marrying Tallulah before you know if the child is yours? Brave choice.”

---