Page 81 of Wreck Me
He pulled back and lowered his forehead to hers. “You know the family is about to descend on us. Let’s untangle ourselves as quick as possible. I’ve missed you in my bed and in my arms. We have some catching up to do.” His hands ran over her ass and pulled her impossibly close.
She ran her tongue over her bottom lip. “Only if you read me my rights.”
He nuzzled her neck. “You have the right to scream my name…”
Epilogue
Five months later
“Aidan,you shouldn’t have. Honestly. It’s too much.”
They’d just arrived home from his mother’s house where they had a birthday party for Megan. He’d surprised her by arranging for Nate to be there to enjoy the festivities. The tears had flowed unchecked from Megan, who had missed her brother.
She’d never made it to Florida to run his bar, but Aidan had talked to Nate the day he professed his love to her in the middle of the road in front of what he thought was the entire population of Madison Ridge. Nate had told him if he could pull off the feat and win the girl, Aidan had his blessing and he’d gladly find a replacement.
Standing at the island in the kitchen, Megan turned the camera in her hands that Aidan had splurged on for her birthday. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, dropping his chin to her shoulder.
“It was worth every penny I spent to see that smile on your face. I know you like the Polaroid, but now you can take the serious pictures you want.”
“I still can’t believe your mom gave me that photography job for the chamber. And then Emma setting me up with some weddings? It’s been a dream come true.” She set the pricey equipment down and turned in his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“I have some ideas of how you can thank me.” He rubbed his lips over hers, causing her to moan softly.
“Remind me to thank my brother for insisting on staying at the inn.”
He chuckled and pulled back. “Agreed. But before we get too far down that road, I have one more thing for you.”
“No. Nothing more. Getting my brother here and the camera? I can’t take much more.” She started to put her hands over her face, but he grabbed one and pulled her with him out the back door.
“Yes. I’m pretty sure you’re going to like this one.”
He hoped to God she did. His sisters and Emma had gushed over the ring he’d picked for Megan, saying it was perfect for her. For his Megan, he didn’t go with a traditional solitaire. Megan had brought color into his world, and when he found a round sapphire solitaire with a diamond halo along the edge, he knew it was hers.
The box sat like a paperweight in his pocket.
“Aidan, where are you taking me?” Megan asked on a laugh as they went down the stairs and into the back yard.
He turned and faced her, her smiling face bathed in moonlight. A bead of sweat ran down his spine while his heart beat double time in his chest. God, she was beautiful. To think he’d almost let her go all because he was so scared to lose something before he ever had a real chance to have it.
“Close your eyes.”
She narrowed her eyes at him and pursed her lips. “It’s already dark out here. I can’t see anything anyway.”
Aidan rolled his eyes. “Please, baby? I really want to give you this present before I give you the one present you like on a daily basis.”
She swatted at his abs with a grin but did as he asked. “Okay. Now what?”
Aidan took her by the shoulders and led her over to the small shed he’d spent the last few weeks working on. He opened the door and took her hand to lead her just inside the entrance. “Okay, stand there. Keep your eyes closed.”
Aidan did a quick glance around, approving of the way the girls had set up the lighting in the shed. Outdoor lights were strung along the wall, giving the space an almost cozy candlelight setting.
He’d set it up with everything Megan would need to have a darkroom. A desk lined one wall with a chair and a new laptop where she could work on photos. Next to it was a storage cabinet that held all the materials she’d need to develop film and all of her equipment she used when taking the wedding photos or other photo shoots. Along the wall was a long rectangular table with trays where she could develop film for those shots she decided not to do digital. Rope with clothespins hung above it stretched from one wall to the other to hang the pictures to dry.
He knew this because he’d just hung four notebook paper-sized photos with one word on each.
Turning back to the woman who’d changed his life, he blew out a breath and patted the ring box in the pocket of his slacks. “Keep your eyes closed.”
“I am.”
