Page 43 of Older Cowboy

“He wouldn’t.”

“Also, there’s the fact that it’s sold.” She emphasized the word “sold” in a two-syllable singsong voice.

“Again true.”

“Then, why are you leading me up the sidewalk toward its front door?”

He shook his head at her, nearly snorting again at the look she shot him. It was half derision and half confusion. He paused for dramatic effect at the door, long enough that the suspense had Erika scowling at him more fiercely than ever. Then, he broke the tension by removing the key from his pocket and sticking it into the deadbolt.

“Cody?” His name left her lips at a gasp.

“Come on.”

“What did you do?” Any lingering anger at him had melted like ice cream on a hot summer’s day. He shrugged.

“I put in an offer and got it.”

“But…” She twirled around, staring at the black and white marbled entryway, the sweep of the stairway, the stained glass glowing over the transom and from a window in the kitchen. “But you already have a house.”

“Yes. One that I’m selling. I’ve got a buyer already lined up. The sale is pending.”

“And you bought this place?”

“I did.”

Erika’s mouth dropped open as she studied their surroundings again. It was when she pivoted back toward him that Cody lowered himself to one knee. Her expression became worried, as if she thought he’d tripped, when realization finally dawned.

It might’ve helped that he’d taken the opportunity to retrieve the little square ring box from his pocket and open it on his palm. She gasped again, this time holding both hands over her mouth.

“I know our road hasn’t always been an easy one, but I was in love with you from the moment I saw you in that swishy dress at Callie and Zeke’s wedding. I didn’t admit it to myself then. I just discovered that I couldn’t stay away from you. I couldn’t then, and I can’t now. So, I decided to do this. To make a little gesture to prove my love for you. So, what do you say, Erika? Wanna spend the rest of your life with me?”

She continued standing before him, her eyes blinking rapidly as if to hide the droplets of tears gathering along her lashes. He’d thought of her as beautiful beyond all measure all along, but he had to admit that if she didn’t answer soon, he might have some horrible coronary event.

Good thing she could treat him for it.

Erika began to cry in earnest, and he sighed. His nerves had ratcheted up to uncomfortable levels, and those nerves were only increasing minute by minute. So, he fell back onto one of the strongest aspects of his personality. His smart aleck nature.

“Come on, Erika. I need an answer. I’m not as young as I used to me, and my knee is killing me.”

She gave him another much longer and more drawn-out blink, then she laughed right through her tears. It was the most gorgeous and welcome sound he’d ever heard. She bustled forward into his chest, essentially tackling him into the floor. It was too bad Boone couldn’t see this, as a defenseman, he would’ve been proud.

Despite all her hemming and hawing, it appeared that the woman he loved was no longer tentative about reciprocating his feelings.

“My answer, you old man, is yes.”

“Old man?” he squawked in mock indignation.

“Yes,” she said, repeating the word over and over again. At least until she kissed him, and with that, any doubts he might’ve had about this grandiose plan, about her reaction, about their future floated away.

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

When Cody proposed to her,Erika had been flabbergasted. But after that, she wanted to get married as soon as possible. It wasn’t to push down rising doubts or because she was flying into some rash decision. No. It was simply because she no longer wanted to waste any time. She felt like she’d done way too much of that already.

Also, if there was to be any baby making happening, they’d need to jump on that post haste.

They had a handful of qualifications they wanted for their wedding. For it to take place quickly so they could start their life together. For it to be simple yet lovely. And most importantly, for Cody’s son to be able to attend. That meant it needed to occur when Gabe had a long enough break from taking classes to fly out to Montana and celebrate with them.

The soonest opening for that came in June, which left her and Cody with a mere two and a half months to plan. Considering they were also in the process of selling their old homes and moving their combined belongings into their new one—not to mention continuing to work their jobs—it proved a challenging task to pull off.

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