“Yay! I’m going to have to buy a bigger chalkboard for the shop at this rate. What is it?”
“I’m making it for you. I’ll show you when I bring it out.”
She could hardly believe how wholly he was embracing fatherhood, but he’d changed in other ways, too. He was more open, talking about the future like he never would have before. Their lovemaking had changed, too. Sometimes Scott was even more loving and tender, and other times he was animalistic, a little rough and exploratory—and she loved both. She knew those changes had to do with how much trust he’d gained in himself and how much closer they’d become since he’d started therapy the week after she’d moved in.
He’d gone to his first session alone and had asked her to join him from then on. It wasn’t easy for either of them, even though Quincy and Roni, who had both gone through therapy, had warned them about the ways in which it could dredge up repressed feelings and memories. Penny hadn’t been prepared for how much it hurt to see Scott reliving those awful times. But she was glad he allowed her to be by his side as they learned to navigate his past to clear a way to their future. It had given her more insight and understanding about why he’d worn that armor he’d described the day of the wedding and why it had been so difficult to strip it away.
She’d always known Scott was brave, but therapy had taken another type of courage and strength, proving once again that there was nothing Scott Beckley couldn’t accomplish.
“Is that another cravings smile?” Scott asked.
She hadn’t realized she was staring. “Yes, but not for food.” Feeling extra frisky, she said, “Actually, you should bring the whipped cream with you.”
His eyes heated, sending images of him lying naked on the couch with whipped cream on his…
Stopstopstop!
She couldn’t get enough of him lately. When she’d told Finlay that her hormones had gone wild, her sister had said, Just wait until you hit your fourth and fifth month. You’ll want to tie him to the bed twenty-four hours a day.
Penny was already there.
He came out of the kitchen carrying a massive bowl piled high with ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, blueberries, chocolate chips, cherries, and rainbow sprinkles.
“Holy cow, Scotty!” She sat up to get a better look as he placed the bowl on the coffee table. “Did you use the whole half gallon?”
“Every drop.”
“I hope we’re sharing it,” she said, looking over the enormous sundae. “This looks delicious. What do you call it?”
“I call it the Will You Marry Me sundae.” He dropped to one knee and turned the sundae around, revealing an ice cream altar with a plastic bride and groom holding hands beside a tiny baby carriage.
Penny’s jaw dropped in disbelief, her eyes filling with tears. “Ohmygod.”
He took her hand, the brightest smile she’d ever seen curving his lips as he said, “I’ve practiced this a hundred times over the last month, and I knew exactly what I was going to say. But now my heart is racing, and you’re so beautiful, and you’re here in our house, on our couch, building a life with me that I never imagined having, and I can barely think straight.” Tears glistened in his eyes, drawing more from her, as he said, “I want more, Penny. I want the world to know you’re mine and I’m yours. I want our babies to grow up with parents they can count on to stick it out through thick and thin, and after what we’ve gone through these last couple of months, I know there’s nothing we can’t handle. I want to make love on our boat, take our kids to all the places we’ve explored together, and I want to find your hair clips in our couch when we’re old and gray.”
Nervous laughter bubbled out.
“You gave me the courage to let myself love wholly and freely and to be the man I’m supposed to be. You stuck by my side, and I want to stick by yours forever. Penelope Anne Wilson, will you marry me?”
“Yes!” She threw her arms around his neck, kissing him hard, her salty tears slipping between their lips. “I love you so much, Scotty. I can’t wait to be your wife.”
“And I can’t wait to be your husband.”
He reached behind the sundae and held up a small black box with a pink bow on it, which he must have hidden there when he set it down. “I know your father used to celebrate your milestones with gifts with pink bows on them. I hope this is okay.”
“It’s more than okay,” she said shakily.
He opened the box and held up a ring. She’d never seen anything so beautiful and elegant. A halo of white diamonds circled a halo of chocolate diamonds, and in the center was a stunning canary diamond, all shimmering under the lights.
“Scotty,” she said shakily. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“It’s one of a kind, like you.” As he put it on her finger, he said, “A woman who makes sundaes that bring sunshine into everyone else’s life deserves something just as magical in her own.”
“I have something magical in my life. I have you.”
“And Moana,” he said, making them both laugh.
“You’ve given me everything I could ever want—a reason to smile every morning when I wake up in your loving arms, a home to call our own, and our happy little family in the making.”
“And we’re going to have a hell of a lot of fun making it.” He lowered his lips to hers, sealing their promises, and their futures, with their best kisses yet—kisses of a husband and wife to be.
Ready for More Whiskeys?
If you’re an avid reader of the Whiskeys, grab Diesel and Tracey’s book, RUNNING ON DIESEL, below. If this is your first Whiskey book, the series began with TRU BLUE, Truman and Gemma’s love story. Continue reading for a link to the entire Whiskeys series as well as information about SEARCHING FOR LOVE, the book in which the Colorado Whiskeys are introduced, and A LITTLE BIT WICKED, the first book in The Wickeds: Dark Knights at Bayside series.
Fall in love with Tracey and Diesel!
Desmond “Diesel” Black is a Nomad with the Dark Knights motorcycle club. He protects others with his life and always rides alone. Tracey Kline left the only family she had for a man who broke more than her spirit, leaving her untrusting and on her own. When a twist of fate reveals pieces of the other no one else sees, will they be able to help each other mend their past hurts and learn to trust the chemistry and connection that’s too strong to deny?
Buy RUNNING ON DIESEL
You can find all of the Whiskey books here:
The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Peaceful Harbor
Meet the Colorado Whiskeys at Redemption Ranch
and fall in love with the Bradens in SEARCHING FOR LOVE
Zev Braden and Carly Dylan were childhood best friends, co-explorers, and first loves. Their close-knit families were sure they were destined to marry—until a devastating tragedy broke the two lovers apart. Over the next decade Zev, a nomadic treasure hunter, rarely returned to his hometown, and Carly became a chocolatier, building a whole new life across the country. When a chance encounter brings them back into each other’s lives, can they find the true love that once existed, or will shattered dreams and broken hearts prevail? Find out in Searching for Love, a deliciously sexy, funny, and emotional second-chance romance.