Page 95 of Summer Kisses

She lifted the check to find the deed to the house.

"Dalton and I owned the house together. I bought him out so he could purchase his new place. But I didn't want to own it by myself. All you have to do is sign here, and it's ours." I pointed to the dotted line above her printed name.

Her gaze lifted to meet mine. "But I didn't pay anything for it."

"You can pay a dollar to satisfy the contract requirements, but you're a rich woman now. You can pay me for half the house, but since we're engaged, I'd rather you save it for something else." I wasn't sure what yet, but maybe we'd travel or invest in our future.

"This is too much," Hazel said, her eyes brimming with tears again.

"Is it though? You earned that money, and I want you to live here with me." I dropped my forehead to hers. "I can't believe I was afraid to ask for what I wanted for so many years."

She turned in my arms. "No more regrets. It worked out exactly how it was supposed to."

"Now you sound like Mabel," I said, gazing down at the woman who'd be mine forever.

She grinned. "She is wise."

"I'm a little scared of her and her friend group. If she wants us to have grandkids, will she meddle with that too?"

Hazel laughed. "I'd bet on it."

"Maybe they'll set their sights on a different couple," I wondered.

Hazel played with the hair on the back of my neck. "Yeah, maybe. But I don't want to think about anyone else tonight."

"You want that bath?" I asked her, wanting to show her how I felt.

"Yes, please."

I lifted her so that her legs wrapped around my waist, and she kissed me. I maneuvered us through the house until I set her down in front of the bathtub. This house and everything in it was now ours.

I carefully removed her clothes and helped her into the tub. She eased back and closed her eyes.

"Don't get too comfortable. I'm joining you." I quickly shucked off my clothes.

She smiled without opening her eyes. "I can't believe I got so lucky to have this amazing beach house, the library, Max?—"

I waited with my foot poised to go into the tub. "And?"

She opened her eyes. "And you of course. I have everything I've ever wanted."

I slid into the water and eased behind her so that she could rest on my chest, her legs between mine. "I was worried there for a minute."

"If I've learned anything these last few weeks, it's that I shouldn't make any assumptions."

I nibbled on her ear, caressed her breasts, and tweaked her nipples. "I love you, now and forever."

Her head fell back on my shoulder. "I love the sound of that."

"I want to make you come with my hands, and then on my cock."

"Never stop talking dirty to me."

"They're just promises I intend to keep." I'd love her forever and always, always remember to cherish her. Like my father said, I'd never stop dating my fiancé, and then my wife.

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