Page 71 of The Last Key
He’s smiling as he leans against the door, shirtless and hair mussed, looking like sex on a stick.
“Can you grab me some water?”
“Sure,” I say, barely able to take my eyes off him for long enough to get some water for him. As I hand him the glass, his fingers brush mine and my core clenches. God, why is he so stupidly hot?
“Okay there?” he asks, grinning. “You look thirstier than me.”
I take a deep breath, trying to calm my raging hormones. “Well, you sure know how to make a girl want tosing.”
He growls in response, and I’m about to climb him like a tree.
“Before we dothat,come outside with me.” I pout a little, but he smiles. “I promise, it’s worth it.” He extends his hand, and I take it without question.
I shut the door behind us as we step onto the back porch. As soon as we do, I see a section of the fence in the backyard set to look like a soccer goal.
“What is this?” I ask. “Is this what you’ve been doing all morning?”
“I mowed the yard first. Then raked the grass clippings so we wouldn’t slip on them while we play. It’s been too long. And since I know how much you love kicking soccer balls at a fence…”
I turn and throw my arms around his neck. “This is amazing.” He leans in to kiss me, but I push away and run down the steps, grab the soccer ball, and dribble down the field toward the goal. A moment later, he’s next to me and we’re fighting for control of the ball. We both make shots at the goal andmiss, but finally I get a good enough lead on him that I can take my time, and I manage to score.
He grins and runs for the ball as it rolls back to us, but when he gets close enough, he kicks too hard and it soars over the fence.
“Nice one,” I tease. “Guess we better go get it.” I stare over the fence, trying to see where it went.
“Actually, I have another,” he says from behind me. The ball lightly hits the fence next to my feet. When I bend down to pick it up, I realize there’s writing on it.
I turn it in my hand until the words are right side up. And, oh my god. It says…
Will you marry me?
I spin around to see Devon kneeling in front of me, ring box in hand.
“Kend, the day you moved in next door to me was the best day of my life. It’s the day I met my partner in crime, my forever best friend, and the love of my life—even if I didn’t know it at that moment. I’m so unbelievably lucky to have spent seventeen years as your best friend. Now I’m ready to spend the rest of my life as your husband. In many ways, nothing at all will change. It’s still the same love, the same trust and respect we’ve always had for each other, but now it will grow in new, stronger ways as we walk through life together. I love you so much, Kennedy. Will you marry me?”
“Yes. Hell yes. All the fucking yeses. I love you.”
He stands and wraps me in his arms, giving me a deep kiss. I lean into him, twisting my tongue with his until I remember…
“The ring!” I yell, leaning back.
He laughs and steps back, pulling the ring from the box and taking my hand. It’s a gorgeous center cut diamond with small diamond clusters on either side set on a twisted platinum band. Classic and breathtaking.
“I love it.”
“I’m glad. You have the most eclectic taste in jewelry. I had to get advice from Frannie and Hallie. And Claire went with me.”
“You did good. It’s perfect.”
He kisses me again, then slowly pulls away before kissing my head and looking at me reverently.
“I can’t wait to marry you.”
“What are you thinking? Next week?” I tease.
“Maybe three weeks. Justin will be in town then. We’ll just need to get the rest of your family from New York.”
“I can’t tell if you’re serious or not.”
