My mom insisted that we all stay at the house. They have the space. Kacen and I will be in my old room, Stacy will be in the spare, and the rest of the guys will sleep downstairs. We have a bedroom down there and two pull-out couches. She wouldn’t have it any other way. I told them they could refuse, but they all seemed to like the idea of the press not knowing they were in town. No airports and no hotels equals a quiet stay in the birthplace of aviation.
We get to my parents’ and Stacy suggests we unpack later and visit first. The guys readily agree after the five-hour drive. Mom meets us at the door and hugs us all. She tells us she’s going to just order pizza tonight and Kacen volunteers to go pick it up.
Mom disappears into the kitchen after getting everyone’s topping preference and Jase strikes up a conversation about football. I sit snuggled into Kacen, listening to the banter. I survey the room and realize Stacy didn’t fall all over my brother like she normally does. I make a mental note to question her.
“You want to ride with me to get the pizza, babe?” Kacen asks me.
“Sure, that would make it easier for you to find it,” I agree.
Mom tries to give Kacen money, and he waves her off, telling her that’s the least he can do for her letting everyone crash at the house.
She protests, but he doesn’t give in.
Chapter 49
Kacen
They’re all in on it. Every one of them has helped me orchestrate this. I couldn’t have done it without them. Her parents found the realtor and went to a dozen different showings. I trusted their judgment. I gave them my requirements and I let them choose. This would be a home we live in just when visiting them, but I still needed to make sure it’s in a safe neighborhood and I wanted a big backyard for the kids to play in. The prospect of being a grandma made her mom very happy. She went as far as to ask how long. I just laughed and told her to let me get her to agree to marry me first. She assured me I had it in the bag.
Logan and I head out to pick up the pizza when really I’m taking her to our new house. I pull out my phone and tap on the GPS app where the address is already saved.
“You don’t need that. I know where we’re going. I did grow up here,” she teases.
“I know, but I have something I want to show you first.”
“What?”
I expected this. “Just some property I found online.”
“Real estate is a good investment,” she agrees.
I fight like hell to keep the smile from gracing my lips. The drive is only ten minutes, another requirement. I wanted the house to be close to her parents. I pull into the drive and the pictures her dad sent don’t do it justice.
“Wow,” she breathes. “This place is gorgeous.”
“You think so?” I act as if I’m not really sure.
“Yes! Let’s sneak a peek through the windows,” she says, bouncing in her seat.
I grin. “We don’t have to. The realtor sent me the keys.” I hold them up for her. It’s not a lie. The realtor did mail them to me, once she received my check.
“Look at you, Mr. Rock Star, getting special privileges,” she jokes.
“Perks of the job.” I smile back at her. “Let’s look around.”
We climb out of the car and my nerves start to get the better of me. During this entire process, buying the house, arranging for everyone to be here, buying furniture, I never once let the thought cross my mind that she might say no, not until this instant, just moments before I drop to one knee and ask her for forever.
I lace her fingers with mine and lead her up the front steps. I stop just outside the front door. “After you,” I say as I twist the key and push open the door.
She steps in and I’m right behind her. The living room furniture is all set up and a huge bouquet of fresh red roses, three dozen to be exact, sit in the middle of the coffee table.
“Wow,” she says, taking it all in. “I think someone might be living here,” she says.
I reach for the rose that is sitting on the table next to the door and pull the ring box out of my pocket. I drop to one knee just in time as she turns around. Confusion crosses her face until she realizes what’s happening.
Her hand flies over her mouth as tears well up in her eyes.
This is it.
“I had this big speech planned, and now I can’t remember a word of it,” I confess.
She smiles as tears stream down her face.
“You are an unexpected treasure. You love me for who I am in here.” I place my hand over my heart. “You don’t care about the fame or the money, you’re content with just me, Kacen. I never thought I would find that. Someone who could look past my career and see me, but then I spotted you that day on the beach, and suddenly, my world was turned upside down. I love you, Logan. I want to share my life with you, make memories that we will someday tell our grandchildren about. I want to make babies with you. I want to give you my last name.”
She drops to her knees before me, tears running unchecked down her face, her smile lighting up the room.
“Will you do me the incredible honor of becoming my wife?” I choke up on the last words.
“Yes!” She launches herself into my arms.
I exhale for the first time in what feels like days and kiss the hell out of her.
Chapter 50
Logan
Kacen pulls away from our kiss and takes my hand. I watch as he slides the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen before in my life onto my left hand. It’s a princess cut surrounded by diamonds on both sides of the band. I’m sure that I’m missing intricate details, but my tears are blurring my vision.
“Why are we here?” I finally remember to ask.
He chuckles. “This is our home, our Ohio home. I wanted to have a place of our own when we come to visit the family. I had your dad help me pick it out. Do you like it?”
Is he crazy? “Yes, if the rest of it looks like this, hell yes!” I say with excitement.
“It does. The furniture was delivered yesterday and your parents made sure everything was set up,” he explains.
“Seriously? You, sir, are sneaky.”
“Yeah and Stacy and the guys are going to be staying here with us. I thought we could start making memories in our new place. I even invited Jase to stay. My parents are here and staying with yours.”
“Seriously?” I ask again, dumbfounded.
He goes on to explain that he wanted to drive to prevent having to clean out his pockets at the airport, and he refused to let the ring out of his sight. He also informed me that our families and friends would be here any minute with the pizza that we failed to pick up.
“I can’t believe you did all this.”
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you,” he says, kissing me softly.
“I love you, Kacen Warren.”
“I love you, future Mrs. Warren.”
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine being here in this moment with him. What started out as a one-time vacation fling, led to my forever. We’re us. I can’t wait to take his last name.
Epilogue Kacen