Page 128 of Roses and Skulls

“I want to believe you but how will I ever know that this is what you really want? What I just told you changes everything. I know you are an honorable man, Elijah. I knew you would say it didn’t matter.” Her heart and her head are at war. But I think I may know how to give her peace.

Taking her face in my hands, I try my best to reassure her. “I have a way to show you. When we get home, you’ll see, and then you will have no doubt this is what I want.”

My thumbs brush over her cheeks as she fights with herself. I see hope lingering in her galaxy eyes. “Okay,” she whispers.

“It’s a big surprise.” My tongue runs over the ring in my lip and her eyes drop there, her hips rolling on their own accord.

“Bigger than this,” she holds up her hand. “Or this.” She rubs her hand over her stomach.

“Yes, and no.” I tease.

She presses her lips to mine. “I have a surprise for you, too,” she mumbles into my mouth. Her hands wrap around my shoulders.

“Give me a hint.” I buck my hips and she laughs.

“Not a chance.” She jumps up and starts to run. I’m up in a second, excited for the chase. I wrap my arms around her, swinging her in the air.

We continue down to the water before I set her on her feet. Walking hand in hand, she tells me how much she enjoyed seeing the sun set over the ocean every night. “I’m glad your dad recommended that place. My mind was going so fast, they really helped me.”

“I think it was good for everyone, honestly. I’d bet you’d never guess that I’ve been having dinner with your parents a couple of times a week.”

Billie Rose stops abruptly, almost yanking my arm off. “What?”

“Yep, I figured if I was going to marry you then maybe I should get to know them. Better yet, it was a chance for your dad to get to know me.”

After she wraps her head around that image, we continue along.

“I even asked him permission for your hand in marriage.” This time when she stops, I’m ready for it and I yank her to my chest.

“There is no way he said yes.” Her hair blows around her cheeks as she shakes her head back and forth.

I flash her my best smile and a wink. “He did.”

“No,” she says, disbelief pulling her brows high. She grabs my shirt and shakes me. “Did he hit you?”

Laughing, I lean down and give her a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Nope. But there were some stipulations.”

“So, they know about your proposal.” She lays her head on my chest and sighs. “Grandpa told me that someday I would find someone who would fight for me. He said even my frightening ass parents wouldn’t scare him away. I didn’t believe him then, but now.” She looks up at me. “Do I dare let myself believe?”

“Believe it, baby. I’m here for the long haul. We’ve waited a long time to be together. Remember when we were young, and we walked this same beach looking for shells. Your arm was in a sling, and I knew by the way your dad looked at me that it would be a long time before I would get to see you again. I may not have known then that we were destined to be together, but I do recall the ache that filled my chest at the thought of being away from you. I watched you meticulously pick through the shells, so concerned with finding one for everyone in your family. I wanted to be part of your family, Rosie. Not because they were bikers and cool but because I wanted you to love me like you did them.”

Billie Rose pulls away from me and hits the light on her phone, kneeling in front of me, she searches the ground. She looks up and smiles. “I found the perfect one.” When she stands, she places a shell in the palm of my hand. On the inside of the shell is a light pink heart. “I love you, Elijah.”

I grab the back of her head and pull her into my chest. “I love you too, baby.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Billie Rose

The drive back is nothing short of torturous. What was I thinking, asking him to bring the bike? Not because my ass can’t take it but because he is close, so damn close. My hand roams over his toned abs and I can’t help myself, I let it drop lower.

“Billie Rose, don’t think I won’t pull this bike over right here and fuck you on the side of the highway like there’s no tomorrow.”

I tip my head back and laugh. It’s not very nice of me to tease him. His parents made us sleep in separate rooms last night. I was dog tired anyhow, so it was fine, but I don’t know how much longer either of us can wait.

Am I nervous about it?

Yes.

---