Page 75 of Mess With Me
“You asking?”
“I will.” He looked around at the noisy crowd and back to her. “Not here. I want to do it right. Would you like that one day with me? Something permanent?”
She nodded happily. “I would.”
He entwined his fingers with hers, lifted her hand, and kissed her fingers. “I would too. I could not love you any more than I do in this moment.”
“Aww,” Ally exclaimed, her heart bursting with happiness. “Me too!”
“More lovey-dovey stuff, Eth? Give it a rest.” Ben appeared at Ethan’s side and elbowed him. Ethan just grinned.
Missy crossed to Ally. “Hey, leave them alone,” she told Ben. “If they want to be lovey bears, more power to them.” She fist-bumped Ally.
Ben stared at Missy. “Do I know you?”
Missy rolled her eyes. “We played pool together, like, four months ago.” At Ben’s confused look, she added, “At Marcus’s bar? That mixer Hailey planned. Ring any bells?”
Ben’s brows scrunched together in confusion. “We played pool together?”
“Yeah, on the same team.” At his continued confusion, she added, “I couldnotbe less flattered right now.”
Ben barked out a laugh. “I’m sorry.” He studied her for a moment. “Wait, did you used to have red hair?”
“Yeah, it’s naturally red, but I dyed it dark brown. My face is the same.”
“I never remember a face,” he joked, his blue eyes glinting mischievously. He glanced down at her body and then met her eyes, giving her his usual charming dimpled smile. “I do remember you! Missy Higgins.” He offered his hand. “Ben Wright.”
“I rememberyou, Mr.Wrong.” She laughed dryly and walked away. Ben’s gaze followed her.
Ally bit back a smile. Mr. Wright had sure been wrong tonight.
“Mr. Wrong.” Ethan chuckled. “She got that right.”
“Oh, shut up, lovey bear.” Ben stalked off to the other guys.
Ally smiled, shaking her head.
Ethan framed her face with both hands, tipping her head up, his eyes so full of warmth and love gazing into hers. “Being single’s not so bad, but being with your forever love is so much better.”
She instantly choked up. Actually hearing “forever love” coming from this tough, formerly hard-to-read man zinged a direct hit to her heart. “Eth, you’re going to make me cry.”
He scooped her up in a hug that lifted her off the ground. “I’ll spend the rest of my life making you happy.”
“I make me happy. And you do too. Double the happiness. We are lovey-dovey, aren’t we?”
“I love it.”
“Me too.”
He set her down, his hands resting lightly on her waist before leaning down to her ear, his voice a sexy rumble. “I really want to get you alone. Could we cut out early?”
She slid her hand to the back of his neck and brought him close for a kiss. “Yes. Absolutely. Like right now.”
He smirked.
She smirked back.
They turned as one to their friends all gathered by the bar. “Have fun, guys!” Ally called.
