Page 45 of Shockproof

“How about when Idopropose, I also promise to let you handle all the attire for our big day?” He lifts the long gray box upward in a peace offering nature. “I’ll even find a way to work that into the proposal itself if you want.”

Dropping my shoulders mindlessly occurs. “Do you…Do you really think about that?”

“Marryin’ you?”

“Yeah.”

“Since the day you gave me blue balls, Angel Cake.”

More laughs leave us both luring me to absentmindedly confess, “I think about it too.A lot.”

Instead of pushing me to receive the present, he cautiously pries, “And?”

“And…” my mouth bobs around in desperation for the perfect retort rather than the one I know I’m going to give. “And I honestly can’t wait to say yes.”

Slater sheepishly smiles once more yet this time it’s trailed by the encouragement to open the object. “Then think of this as a…pre-engagementgift. A uh…a placeholder ‘til the mission is complete.” His eyes lock onto mine so that they as well as his bright blue winding words can hold me hostage. “And the minute it is? The minute we’ve signed those papers?I’m askin’, Angel Cake.”

“And I’m sayingyes,Cowboy.” I flash him a sweet beam, exchange the dresses for the unopened jewelry, and flick the lid open to reveal its contents. The charm bracelet inside bears only a single heart engraved with the letter W. “I assume it stands for Wahl.”

“Which I know you never call me-”

“I don’t know about never…”

“Fine. Seldom.”

“Sporadic.”

“Let’s split the difference and call italmostnever,” he halfheartedly chuckles and kicks his chin back to it, “butMrs. Wahlis the one thing I can’t wait to call you, baby.”

Not smiling is unthinkable.

“Soooo…’til I can…have you wearin’thatW – which will then beourW – this will tide me over.”

Between the overwhelming warmth of his gaze and the glowing blue of his words, I’m once more left speechless.

“Just promise me you won’t take it off.”

Confusion has my head tilting to the side. “Like ever?”

“Like if I’m not around, I want that on, so it’slikeI’m around.”

“You’re going for cute, but I’m getting creepy.”

An impish grin immediately finds its way to his expression. “Says the woman who ordered me all newdatejeansthe mornin’ after our little run-in with aone date stand.”

“Just…just…” Guiltily swaying my head around ceases on an exasperated huff. “Just put it on me already, please.”

“How about webothgo get dressed andthenI’ll put it on you?”

I smile and deliver a sweet, chaste kiss to his lips. “Deal.”

Heading back to the ensuite bathroom, Slater hands me the chosen dress and returns the rest of the items back to the bag we’ll bring to Hilda to return to all the places she went.

Assuming she does return them versus finds a way to convince me to keep them.

She’s suspiciously good at that.

It explains why T’s watch collection has grown tremendously in such a short amount of time.

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