Page 152 of The Wife Situation

“Nothing I said to him was a lie.” Her eyes soften.

I think back to her saying she was falling in love with me. Could that even be possible? I hope it is.

She crawls onto my lap and I hold her. I want to stay like this for a lifetime.

“Lexi,” I whisper “There’s no other woman I want to do this with. I can’t imagine my life without you in it, and while it scares the fuck out of me, I’m ready.”

She smiles and kisses me. “This will be the adventure of a lifetime.”

“Guaranteed.”

I think Lexi needs more time to realize the kind of life we can have together, but time is something we’re running out of. I hate the invisible clock that’s hanging over us, but I wonder if we’d have taken the risk without it. There’s no way of knowing.

She studies me. “I think I want our ceremony to be intimate—our special moment.”

I smile and tuck loose strands of hair behind her ear, studying every feature so I can draw this moment later. “And what about the vows?”

“Still written,” she says. “Convince me you’re worth staying with forever.”

“That sounds like a challenge,” I tell her, enjoying the idea of telling her exactly how I feel.

She laughs against my mouth. “I don’t think you’ll have a problem.”

“Honeymoon preference?”

“Surprise me,” she says. “You’re the only person on the planet who can, apparently.”

“Oh, almost forgot.” I dig into my pocket and pull out the black velvet box with the Calloway Diamonds logo.

“Please marry me. You really do make me a better man, and I’d be honored to call you my wife,” I say when I open it.

An audible gasp whispers through the still night air between us. “Easton, I—I didn’t expect this.”

“Myfiancéeneeds a ring,” I mutter close to her, where only she can hear. “I designed every detail specifically for you.”

She gives me her left hand and I kiss every single knuckle before sliding the pink emerald-shaped diamond onto her finger.

She covers her mouth, staring down at it. “This is too much.”

“Not for myfiancée,” I say, moving her hair from her face.

Lexi grabs my cheeks and softly paints her lips against mine. I wrap my arms around her, our tongues twisting together, and my body is on fire.

“You’ll be my wife,” I whisper, and it’s an admission.

“I like the thought of it,” she says.

Movement happens in my peripheral vision as two people come around the barn. The girl pushes the guy against the wall and her hands run through his hair. They’re desperate. Greedy.

“Remi? Cash?” Lexi says on my lap with swollen lips.

They turn to us with eyes wide.

“You didn’t see us,” Remi says, walking away.

Cash shrugs and shakes his head, then follows her.

Lexi turns to me, smiling. “She’s always had a thing for him.”

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