Page 28 of New Home for the Holidays

Then she’s kneeling down and giving Roscoe love as well. I knew she would. She doesn’t miss an opportunity to pet and snuggle our big ball of fur. I’m pretty sure Roscoe loves her more than me even though I had him since he was a puppy.

I can understand his feelings and don’t begrudge him. Morgan is loveable as hell. I’ll just never admit out loud how jealous it makes me sometimes.

Her hands roam around his neck and it’s like I can barely breathe as I kneel down next to her. I know the moment she feels the ring before her eyes snap to mine and her jaw drops open. Her fingers scramble to see what she’s found, wrenching his collar around his neck. Roscoe doesn’t seem to mind and simply pants before his tongue lolls out of his mouth.

“Morgan,” my voice is gruff as I reach out and help her hold the ring up, “you’re the other half of me. I knew it the moment I saw you after I pulled you over.” Even though her eyes fillwith unshed tears, she giggles, and the sound makes me feel invincible. “I want to be able to take you back to where I grew up tomorrow and introduce you to everyone as my wife.”

I don’t call it my hometown or my home. It’s not. Jasper Ridge is where I grew up, but this woman, my Treasure, she’s my home.

She jokes, “Wouldn’t I be your fiancé?”

I shake my head firmly, “No, once you accept this ring, you’re my wife as far as I’m concerned. The paper is a formality. Honestly, so is the ring. You’ve been mine since the first time I looked into your eyes, but this way everyone else will know too.”

“And you’re mine,” she whispers, her eyes soft and filled with warmth as she looks at me.

I nod slowly as I take the ring off the clip and hold it up toward her. “Is that a yes?”

“I didn’t hear a question,” she sasses me with a huge smile on her face.

I growl and slip the ring on her finger. “You’re right. It wasn’t a question. We’re getting married.”

Morgan’s laughter fills the room and Roscoe huffs as he walks away from us, probably thinking we’ve lost our minds or knows what is about to happen. She launches herself at me and I take her mouth in a kiss that is filled with desire and need. It’s carnal, it’s feral.

I don’t know how I’ll be able to wait for her to plan whatever wedding she wants, but I’ll do it. Only for her.

But now? It’s time to celebrate.

I stand up with her in my arms and carry her back to our room, our clothes falling making a messy trail behind us.Wife.She’ll be my wife soon.

She gasps, “I can’t wait.”

Me either.

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