Page 95 of When You Saved Me

“The kind of man who makes his woman suffer by not telling her what we’re doing.”

I chuckled. “I like to call that intrigue. Or keeping things spicy.”

“Oh!” She perked right up. “So, this is a sexy time surprise.”

She followed me down the steps of our front porch and when she moved in front of me, I gave her perfectly round peach a smack. “Only if you’re a good girl.”

She spun around, her fire red hair whipping across her shoulders as she said, “I’m always a good girl.” Then she winked at me before sashaying her hips all the way to the fucking truck.

Tilting my head back, I got a sobering look at the summer sky and moaned. “She’s going to be the end of me.”

“Come on, grumps! This door isn’t going to open itself.” When I looked over at her, she had a hand on her hip as she eyed me with a mischievous glint. My woman was independent as all get out, but she knew I loved opening doors for her. It was the small gestures, showing her acts of service that made me feel good.

Striding over to her, I pressed a kiss to her temple before opening the door. When she hopped in, I rounded the hood of my truck and sat in the driver’s seat next to her.

“You ready?” I asked.

She nodded enthusiastically.

“Good, because I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time.”

“I still can’t believe you own all this property. I mean, I knew you owned it, but seeing all of it is just incredible.” The awe in Charlie’s voice had my chest swelling with pride. She’d come to Pebble Brook Falls in search of a sanctuary. She’d wanted to get away from the concrete jungle and find a place that called to her soul. The fact thatIwas able to provide that place for her…it was the greatest accomplishment of my life.

“I’m glad you like it, Sunshine.”

She snuggled up to my side as I crested the top of a hill on our drive back to the house. “I love it.”

Turning the steering wheel, I positioned the truck until the bed was facing west. Right where I wanted it.

“What’re you doing?”

I looked down at Charlie, her crystalline blue eyes shining with wonder. “Getting your surprise ready.”

“I thought showing me all of the property was my surprise.”

“It is, but you haven’t seen the best part yet.”

“EEK!” She clapped her hands together and I laughed. “Okay, now I’m excited.”

Leaning over, I gave her a peck on the lips and said, “Stay here.”

“Don’t take too long!” she called out to me as I shut the door.

My heartbeat kicked up. This moment was finally happening, and she had no idea. Which, honestly, boggled my mind because the woman was damn near clairvoyant when it came to what I was thinking.

Unfolding the air mattress, I used the portable pump to blow it up before spreading the blanket and pillows over top of it. Rubbing my hands together, I patted my jeans pocket to make sure the ring was still there. It was, much to my relief.

“Okay, it’s go time,” I whispered to myself. Then, I rounded the back of the truck and opened Charlie’s door.

She placed her hand in my extended one and hopped out. As soon as she looked over the bed of the truck, her face glowed with excitement.

“Deacon! This is so cute!”

I swallowed the knot in my throat. “I’m glad you like it. Let’s get you settled in.”

Placing my hands under her arms, I lifted her onto the tailgate of the truck before I hopped up myself and we both crawled onto the air mattress.

“This is what I wanted you to see.” I pointed ahead of us where the sun was skimming the top of the tree line, hues of orange, red and purple painting the sky like one of Charlie’s art pieces.

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