Page 67 of Dirty Desires
I could see I wasn’t going to get him to change his mind, so I stopped trying. We finished the laundry with him telling me a story that actually did freak me out, making it hard to walk up the stairs to leave the basement. “Now I keep thinking a hand is going to come out from under one of these stairs and grab my ankle, Ashton. Thanks a lot!”
“That’s what I’m here for, to make life interesting for you, baby.” He laughed at his joke as I walked carefully, so as not to fall when something did grab me.
Fortunately, I made it up the stairs, and we went up to our apartment. I put the laundry away as he set about getting this special lunch prepared. He laid out a blanket for us that spread out over the living room floor.
He’d pushed the furniture back to make room for the feast he’d made. I could smell the smoked ham as I put things away in the bedroom. “That smells awesome, babe,” I called out to him.
“I’m putting everything on the blanket now. Are you nearly done in there?” he asked me.
Putting away the towels, I shouted back, “Yep. Are you ready for me?”
“I am,” he called out.
Taking a second to look in the bathroom mirror, I ran my hand through my hair, then over my T-shirt to smooth out a few wrinkles. “Not too shabby.”
Heading to the living room, I found Ashton lying on his side, his upper body resting on his arm as he looked at me. “Hey, you.” He patted the blanket. “Come take a seat.”
I sat down with my legs crossed in front of him. “Okay. So, what do we have here?”
Stretching his hand out, he gestured to the food. “We have smoked ham, potato salad, and green beans. And some white wine to go with that.” He sat up, getting on both of his knees as he dug into the pocket of his shorts. “But first, I’ve got something to ask you.”
I thought he must have tickets to something in that pocket and had planned on surprising me with a show of some kind for our fun day. I clapped. “Oh, goody!”
He moved around a bit, getting on one knee as he held out a little white box. Flipping the lid open, he grinned as my eyes focused on the gorgeous diamond ring inside.
My hands flew to my mouth. “Nina Velma Kramer, would you do me the great honor of becoming my lawfully wedded wife?”
Tears clouded my vision as I nodded, but there was a massive knot in my throat that prevented me from saying a single word. But my nod was enough for him, and he took my left hand, sliding the ring onto my finger.
Wiping my eyes with the back of my free hand, I finally choked out, “Yes.”
“Good to hear you say the word, Nina.” Ashton laughed, then crawled over to me. His lips touched mine, and I threw my arms around him.
“I can’t believe you did this today, Ashton!” I was crying like a baby. “This is the best day of my life!”
“I hope to be responsible for many more of your best days, baby. Many, many more.” He got up, picking me up with him and we danced around the room to no music at all.
I was soaring as we swayed, and I looked at the ring he’d given me. “It’s so beautiful. I’ll never take it off. I swear I won’t.”
He laughed again, and then we kissed. For the longest time ever, we kissed and held each other like we never had before. He’d made the perfect Sunday fun day. I would never forget it.
After settling down, we ate the lunch he’d made, and I had to run one little errand. “I’ve got to get down to the corner store. I’ve been feeling little cramps, so I’m thinking I’d better get some tampons in this place before Mother Nature hits me.”
“I’ll go with you,” he said, as he hauled the dishes to the kitchen.
“You don’t have to.” I waved him off. “It’ll only take me a few minutes and then I’ll be right back. I think I’d like to meet you in the bed when I get back. Naked and waiting, as a good fiancé should.”
Jerking his head at the blanket picnic that still had to be cleaned up, he said, “After I get this taken care of, I will dutifully undress and wait for my fiancée, as requested.”
“Cool. I’ll be right back.” I grabbed my wallet and house key, then left to go to the market.
The sidewalk was crowded as usual when I stepped outside. The air was on the brisk side, and that always made people walk a bit faster. I stepped in with everyone, making my way to the market at the end of the block.
Some man was yelling at someone over his cell as he walked past me. At first I jumped, thinking he was yelling at me. “Hey, you listen to me, bitch.”
Whoever he was talking to was an idiot, as far as I was concerned. Anyone who would call me a name like that would’ve been hung up on before he could say one more word.
The jackass’s voice faded as he moved ahead of me. Somewhere in the distance, I could hear the sound of a car honking continuously. It wouldn’t let up, and it was coming closer.
