Page 55 of Side Hustle
“I’d be a dumbass not to. You’re amazing, Hazel.”
She smiled and the tears seemed happy this time. Bending down, I kissed her, our lips soothing the decade-long ache that had existed because of stupid, childish misunderstandings. I nipped at her bottom lip, the surge of love I felt for her almost overwhelming.
“I love you, Hazel Redding,” I whispered against her lips.
Her eyes popped wide open. “You what?”
“I love you. I think I always have, since that night at the marina. You stole my heart then and you still have it now.”
“Oh, Rip.” She pulled on my neck and slammed her mouth onto mine, the kiss igniting and burning away the sweetness from earlier. Her tongue invaded my mouth and I lost all train of thought other than wanting this woman with every fiber of my being.
She gasped and then shoved me away in typical Hazel style. I could live a lifetime with her and only hope to catch up with her.
Her hands fluttered in the air, saying something I couldn’t decipher. Then she clapped them together and brought them to her chest.
“I love you too!”
I grinned at her enthusiasm. A weightlessness settled within me, as if I’d never be weighed down again by horrible fathers or doubts about my personality. If someone as bright and happy and colorful as Hazel could find something in me to love, then so could others. So could I.
I scooped her up like a princess and marched her down the hallway to my bedroom. Dessert could wait.
“You’ve done it now, woman,” I teased her. “Now I’m going to put a ring on you and force you to live with this weirdo for the rest of your life.”
She giggled. “You forget. I’ve been living with weirdos my whole life.”
Her ready acceptance hit a nerve that spurred me on. I stopped before the doorway to my bedroom. “Marry me, Hazel.”
Her eyes went wide. “Aren’t I supposed to be the spontaneous one?”
I shook my head. I wasn’t teasing. I was dead serious. “I’m going to ask you again with a ring very soon and I expect an answer. Just fair warning.”
She smiled primly. “I shall give you an answer after a proper proposal.”
I grinned back at her and tossed her onto the bed. Hell yes, my woman deserved a proper proposal.
“Can I assume this means you want me to keep living here?” Hazel looked up at me through her lashes.
I crawled over her body, thinking a house would never be a home again unless Hazel was living in it with me. “Damn right I do.” I picked up her left hand and held it to my lips, giving each finger a kiss. What I wouldn’t give to see my ring there on her hand.
“I happen to know a guy who has access to some gold if you’re looking to get a ring made real quick.” Hazel lifted an impish eyebrow.
I dropped her hand and kissed her smile, promising silently to give her a million more reasons to smile with me. As usual, the air around us turned heated the second our bodies touched. I had one more thing on my to-do list to create the perfect life for Hazel and me, but it could wait until tomorrow.
Promises had been made and I intended to keep them.
I’d be getting Hazel’s mom out of town. Immediately.
22
Hazel
The morning air was touched with cold, fall in full swing in Auburn Hill. The leaves had changed colors and all I could think about was a Christmas tree lit up in Rip’s house—wait,ourhouse—and a roaring fire in the evenings to snuggle up to. I couldn’t contain the amount of happiness coursing through my veins at that thought. I squealed out loud in my empty car and bounced on the worn-out seat.
Things couldn’t be better between Rip and me. I never could have imagined I’d be living with him and planning a future together. I spent so many years avoiding him for what I thought he’d done to me in high school and it was all just some big misunderstanding. Even if it was as cliché as a made-for-TV movie, I wasn’t going to question the universe’s timing. If we’d gotten together in high school like I wanted, maybe Rip wouldn’t have had the motivation to change his life like he had now.
When I left him this morning, he was adorably bent over his computer, writing out his speech to officially run for mayor. He had a press conference scheduled for this afternoon and I had the fliers printed to hand out around town. I told him I was meeting up with the girls for a bit and then I’d be back to stand by his side. The white lie about where I was actually going was to protect myself. If what I did this morning didn’t go well, I didn’t want to have to discuss it ever again. You see, Rip’s complete turnaround this year gave me the courage to do the hard things in my own life.
I was on my way to talk to my mother.
