Page 149 of Never Kiss and Tell

“I’m glad you didn’t,” I murmur, kissing him, again. “I had some things to work on here before I was ever going to make you happy.”

He pulls back with a rough sound, setting me on my feet, but keeping an arm banded around my back.

“You always make me happy. In fact,” he says, reaching into his coat and pulling something out. “I knew this was going to go one of two ways . . . either you would hate me and send me on my way or, you would accept that I fucking love you and still feel the way you felt when you wrote me that letter.”

He opens the small, black velvet box. The ring inside gleams in the dim light of the lights throughout the garden.

A well of emotions hit me all at once. I’m certain my heart stops.

“Charlie?” My voice shakes when I talk.

“It was my mom’s. I want it to have a second chance at a long and happy marriage. It doesn’t have to be right now, but yes, that’s what I’m asking,” he lets out a gruff breath. “I can get down on one knee if that’s what you want, but I don’t want toscare you.”

I meet his eyes, tearing my face away from the ring. He’s letting me see how he feels. The turmoil in his eyes — this man loves me.

“Yes,” I murmur, after a pause.

“What?” His eyes darken until they’re almost black.

I nod, pressing against him and wrapping my arms around his neck. “Yes.”

He groans in satisfaction, wrapping his arms around me and kissing me passionately.

“So, it’s a deal?” he grunts raggedly, his lips against mine.

I smile. “It’s a deal.”

“Thank fucking God.”

“Can we leave?” I ask, against his lips.

“Say when, baby.”

One month later…

Bailey

“. . . So, that’s the story.” I clasp my hands in my lap, avidly searching the therapist’s face for what she might be thinking.

“You’re waiting for me to tell you I think you’re moving too fast.” It’s not a question.

I shrug, wiping my sweaty palms on my jeans.

“Well, yeah, I guess. Everyone else thinks it’s too fast.”

Kenya eyes me, a glimmer in her eyes. “And what do you think?”

I let out a breath through my teeth.

“I think it’s just right. I’ve never been surer of something in my life.”

“Marriage is a big step for two people. There’s no set time that two people should get married. Sure, magazines and movies will tell you the perfect length of dating time to propose, but you have to do what feels right.”

I nod, touching the locket on my chest. This does feel right.I know with every fiber in my being that I’m one-hundred percent, devastatingly in love with Charlie Coulter and there’s not a single thing I can do to change that.

We’ve been apart for the last month while I finish up things here. It’s been stressful, missing him, but hearing the deep timbre of his voice on the phone every night — and morning and afternoon — almost makes it worth it.

Of course, last weekend, it hadn’t been enough and I had flown down to New Orleans for an impromptu surprise visit. I just wanted to sleep in the same bed as him, feel his warmth, enjoy him. Not to mention, the sex was great, too.

---