Page 76 of The Good Guy Challenge

“I hope you have fond memories of this one too,” he says, sounding a touch vulnerable.

“I do,” I say, feeling warm and bubbly with him. “And I also think we happened at just the right time.”

With a sexy rumble, he says, “Me too, sweetheart.”

Then he kisses me under the mistletoe. My knees go weak. My belly flips. This man does it for me.

* * *

When we return to my place, he unlocks the door, but he seems a little distracted. That’s not like him. He’s usually relaxed, cool, in charge. He’s borderline antsy now. Maybe because of the playoffs?

After I let Gigi out, I ask if he wants a glass of champagne.

“Yeah, that’d be perfect,” he says quickly. I head into the kitchen, pop open a bottle and pour two flutes. When I return to the living room, he’s sitting on the couch next to my pup who’s wearing a red and white bow tie.

It’s the most darling thing I’ve ever seen. But my brow knits. “Did you get Gigi a Christmas bow tie?”

“She looks good, doesn’t she?” he asks. He still sounds the slightest bit nervous.

“She wears most things well.” I sit down on the couch with the two of them, and hand him a glass.

He takes a drink. I do too. In tandem, we set down our glasses.

He exhales sharply.

I’ve never seen him like this.

“Gabe, is everything okay?” I ask, right as he scoops up Gigi and sets her in my lap.

In no time, he drops down to one knee. I gasp.

“The bow tie’s for both of you.” He doesn’t sound nervous anymore. He sounds intensely serious.

My heart climbs into my throat. “Oh my god,” I whisper.

“I love you, Ellie Snow. I can’t imagine a life without you. And all I want is to make you mine for the rest of my life. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, and I want to ask if you’ll have me for the rest of your life. Will you marry me?”

As tears stream down my cheeks, I nod more times than I can count. “I can’t wait to marry you.”

He tugs on the dog’s bow tie and a gorgeous diamond spills into his hand. There was a ring tucked into the bow tie. That’s so Gabe, proposing with my dog’s help.

“It’s beautiful,” I say reverently.

He slides it onto my finger and I am overwhelmed. By this life, this love, this man. I kiss him fiercely, declaring my yes.

* * *

We marry that summer, then honeymoon in Italy and Greece, where we indulge in delicious meals and fantastic scenarios—like when we pretend I booked the wrong place and he’s the traveler who discovers me in his bed.

Then punishes me in delicious ways.

We return to Los Angeles after the most indulgent two weeks.

Soon though, it’s time for training camp, so I wish him well as he heads to San Diego. He’s going as a coach. He’s working with the new receivers on the Mercenaries, and it’s a perfect job for him.

I miss him the whole time, but I’m busy with my show.

When he comes home a few weeks later, we don’t have to pretend we’re the husband and wife who missed each other terribly. Because we are that couple. He scoops me up, carries me to the bedroom and then fucks the hell out of me.

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