Page 88 of Moonlit Kisses

“Red roses would be the go then. I have these stunning black velvet roses.” She holds up a finger and disappears through a side door and returns a few moments later with a stunning, deep red rose. The petals look like velvet.

My eyes snap up to her. “This is beautiful.”

“I know, right?” She smiles at me and raises her brows. “Would you like the traditional dozen?”

“Yes, please.” She disappears out the back again, returning with an arm full of the roses.

“Because these roses are so stunning, I would recommend a simple arrangement containing only the roses. I’ll remove all the thorns and excess leaves, wrapping some of this gorgeous gold ribbon around the stems.” She holds up the ribbon. “How does that sound?”

I have no idea. I guess she knows what’s best. “Sure. That sounds great.”

She smiles at me and gets to work. “What’s your fiancée’s name?”

I smile. “Molly. We haven’t been together very long, but it feels right. I don’t want to let her go and I can’t see a future without her in it.”

“I don’t think the time frame matters all that much. It’s more about the connection you feel with that person. I get people in here who have been together for all different lengths of time before they get engaged.” She shrugs and keeps working, tidying up the stems. Carefully, she bundles them together and wraps the gold ribbon around the stems several times, leaving the bottom open. She holds them up for my approval. “What do you think?”

“It looks stunning.” I move my eyes back up to hers. “Thank you for opening up for me. I appreciate it.”

“No problem. I’m always happy to help with matters of the heart.”

I pay for the roses and I’m on my way. I can’t wait for Molly to get home.

* * *

Smooth fingers glide down the side of my face and my lips tip up in a smile as I slowly slide into consciousness.

Shit. I must have fallen asleep.

The softest lips press against my forehead and the glide of a finger dances across my forehead, brushing my hair away. I reach up and grip the back of her neck and guide her mouth to mine. We open, our tongues dancing with each other in welcome. Using my other hand, I pull her down on top of me and she giggles as we kiss.

“Hey, handsome,” she whispers against my lips.

“Hey. How were the ladies atShelter?” I open my eyes, locking onto her silvery ones.

She pulls back slightly, her breath coating my cheek as she releases a heavy sigh. “I nearly offered my car to one of the semi-regular ladies tonight. She came in with bruises up her arms.” She shakes her head. “Mom always kept us safe from that sort of stuff because we had our car. She would park in neighborhoods that were a little nicer. Not the fancy neighborhoods, because it would be hard to go unnoticed, but the sort of middle-class ones. You know? If Ronnie had a car, she wouldn’t have to be on the streets.”

That’s my girl. She doesn’t have much, but she would willingly give a stranger her car. “If you think that would help her, you should do it. We can manage with one car. I mean, we work and live together. I can drop you off and pick you up on the nights you go toShelter,and you’ve been coming to my soccer games every week. Or, if you want to, you could offer her the apartment.” I shrug.

Her eyes widen. “Really? You’d do that?” She grasps my face in both hands and kisses me with gratitude and heat. “You’re truly a good man, Max.” Her eyes slip away from mine and then return. “She doesn’t strike me as someone who would accept a handout. She barely comes into the shelter because she doesn’t want to take up precious space from other women who may need it more.”

I press up and kiss the tip of Molly’s nose. “Sounds like someone I know.”

“I’ll think about it. If I can work out a way to offer it to her without impinging on her pride, I’ll do it. I’m not sure when I’ll see her next, but I’ll be ready with a plan.”

“Good. Now speaking of plans. I have a plan of my own.” I smirk at her as I sit up. Grabbing Molly’s ass, I encourage her to wrap her legs around me and I stand. She wraps her arms around my neck with a chuckle, and I kiss her soft lips.

“Oh yeah?” She’s got that sexy, seductive quality to her voice that drives me wild. It always comes out when she’s horny.

“Yep.” We move through the house, locking the doors and turning off the lights. I place her on her feet outside our bedroom door. “I’m gonna need you to wait out here for a second.”

I kiss the tip of her nose and slip inside the bedroom before she gets the chance to respond. Quickly, I turn on the fairy lights I strung up around the room and turn the overhead light off. I check the ring is in place and grab the roses I bought. Holding them behind my back, I swing open the door with a flourish and then bring the roses out to present to Molly.

Her mouth forms an O shape as her eyes widen. Her eyes flit between me and the roses and then around our bedroom. “Oh, Max. This is gorgeous.” She takes the bouquet from me, bringing them up to her nose and then stroking a petal. “These are the most beautiful roses I’ve ever seen.” Her eyes have become glassy as they make their way back up to mine. She reaches her hand around my neck and drags me in for a kiss. “Thank you so much. I love them.”

My hands slide to her hips, and I use my hold on her to pull her further into the room, exactly where I want her positioned. Then I deepen our kiss. She holds on tighter with one arm banded around my neck and both of my arms band around her middle, holding her tight to me. The heat between our bodies matches the fire building inside of me and I remember I actually want to get down on one knee, so I pull away slowly and drop down in front of the woman who has stolen my heart. Her gaze follows me as her lust switches to surprise. She brings her hand up to cover her mouth, and a tear falls from her bottom lash to land on her cheek.

“Molly, I know I’ve already asked you to marry me, but I wanted to do it properly.” I draw in a deep breath. “The morning I arrived at work to find you asleep in your car has led to this moment.” She giggles and I raise my brows and tip up one side of my mouth. “I had no idea that day that I would fall irrevocably in love with you. You were completely unexpected and such a beautiful surprise.” I take her hand in mine. “And while you are one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on, it’s what’s inside your beautiful heart and your character that brought me to my knees. Your kindness to others blows me away and your warmth and genuine desire to help anyone in need are like nothing I’ve come across before. The icing on the cake is the way you deal with whatever life throws at you with quiet strength, grace, and a steely determination to come out the other side stronger than you were before.” I kiss her hand gently, smoothing my finger along her bare ring finger. I glance down at that finger, then flick my eyes back up to hers. “I can’t imagine anyone else I would want to spend the rest of my life with. Raise a family with. Grow old with. Molly, will you do the honor of becoming my wife?”

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