Page 21 of The Price of a Promise

I slung my arm over her shoulders, bringing her in close.“You just like what’s underneath the leather jacket.”

She turned toward me, looking up into my eyes.I had her full attention, and I was sweating bullets.Now.The time is now.I grabbed her arms.“Cora.”

Her smile dropped a little.“Axel.”

I drew a shaky breath.Her father was going to be so fucking pissed.But I had to plunge ahead, consequences be damned.We were meant for each other, and we both knew it.“You know why I brought you here tonight?”

“Because we like getting drinks in pretty places?”

“Yes, that.”I laughed, kissing her forehead.“But I also have a really important question for you.”

Her eyes went round.“Oh my god.Are you serious?”She clamped her hands over her mouth and a squeal leaked out.

“Cora—don’t—”

“Axel, oh my god, oh my god, are you going to ask me?”She fanned her face.Tears pooled in her eyes.

Over her shoulder, I spotted the server stealthily capturing the moment.All I could do was laugh.“I mean, yes, but you aren’t supposed to call me out about it.”

She wiped away a tear.“Oh my god, I’m sorry, I’m ruining it.”She fanned her face again.“Shit.Oh my god, I’m ruining it.”

“You aren’t ruining it.”I kissed her forehead again, so amused I could burst.“I was just going to ask you if you wanted to spend the night at my house.”

Her eyes widened again but for a different reason.Laughter rolled out of me.This was it.Everything was perfect.I slowly sank to one knee and her mouth formed a big O.

“Oh my god, youaregoing to ask me,” she whispered hoarsely.

I fished the ring box out of my pocket and clamped it in my hand.I’d had a million different monologues planned.But none of it mattered.I didn’t need to get it perfect with her.Because what we did was perfect for us.“Cora Jean Margulis.I’ve wanted to make you my wife since the week after we met.I knew from the beginning that you were it for me.The woman I’ve waited my entire life to meet.And I’ll spend the rest of our lives proving that I’m worthy of being at your side.”

She sobbed softly, a hand clamped against her mouth.

“Cora Jean,” I said, popping open the ring box.“My cowgirl.My sweet cheeks.Will you marry me?”

She blinked out some tears and collapsed on top of me, arms cinching around my neck.She cried into my neck, repeating “Yes“ over and over again.The ring didn’t matter.It was about the love between us.It was a small detail, but it just reaffirmed what I knew to be true.

“I love you so much, babe.”Tears pooled in my eyes and spilled over.From across the terrace, the server gave me a thumbs up and I returned it.Applause broke out around us, and Cora’s tears turned into laughter.

“I forgot there were other people here,” she whispered.

“They love that you just agreed to marry me.”

Her lips found mine, two grins meeting.Our salt-stained kisses grew deeper and more passionate.I pumped the brakes when I started getting hard right there on the terrace with an audience.

“Don’t you want to see the ring, babe?”I murmured into her ear.She laughed again, and we both stood.She peered inside the ring box and clamped a hand over her mouth.

“It’s so gorgeous, Axel.It’s exactly what I’ve always dreamt of.How are you so perfect?”She was blubbering now as I slid the ring onto her finger.Once it was in place, she flung her arms around me again.“How did you manage—”

“Shhh.We don’t need to talk about that right now.”I stroked her hair, and we started swaying back and forth.As if on cue, a romantic jazzy electronic song drifted from the bar.Yet another sign that this was right.Everything would be fine.It didn’t matter what Allan said or thought.He couldn’t intrude on the love we had for each other.

Cora squeezed me so tight around my waist that I coughed.She looked up at me, eyes shining.“I’ll be Mrs.Fairchild.”

“God, that sounds sexy.”

“I’ll change my passport so it shows my new name.”

“You trying to write your vows right now?Because that’s what it sounds like.”

The server came over to me, and I thanked him, slipping him another hundred dollar bill.Cheaper than a photographer at least, and I offered him a discount on financial management services if he ever needed them.As my phone began vibrating with the photos he sent my way, I brought Cora’s knuckles to my lips.

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