“There. Now you can’t try to get away.”
“Who said I was trying?” I asked, unable to mask the mischief in my voice.
He feathered the tip of his nose up and down my neck, laughing. “I see. So, you were just messing around with me?”
“No, but I love it when you think you have to lay on the charm to convince me to do things your way.”
He pulled back a notch, looking me straight in the eyes.
“I’ve got something for you,” he said in a low, raw voice, reaching for the nightstand. He opened the drawer. My heartbeats became lightning-quick when I realized he was taking out a small jewelry box. Sliding off me, he sat at the edge of the bed, holding the box for me, opening the lid. My sapphire engagement ring!
“I’ve had this for a while. I wanted to give it to you on our one-year anniversary, but didn’t want to risk them selling out, so I bought it.... Anyway, I don’t want to wait anymore.”
He took my hand, caressing my ring finger, the diamond engagement ring.
My eyes were misty, my throat completely closed up with emotion.
“I love you, Josie. When I slid this ring on your finger, we both thought it would be just for a while. I don’t know what went through your mind, but I was already doubting that I could avoid falling for you.”
His voice faltered on the last words. I clasped his fingers, letting him know that I was right there with him.
“When I slide this ring on your finger, I want you to have the certainty that I will love you for the rest of our lives.”
I barely had enough patience for him to slide that ring on before wrapping my arms around his neck, practically straddling him. “Thank you. It’s beautiful. But you didn’t have to get me a new ring.”
“I wanted to. And you love it.”
I grinned but didn’t argue. What could I say? He knew me well. I drew him close, peppering his cheeks and neck with kisses. I just couldn’t get enough of him. But he wasn’t touching me with the usual enthusiasm... which could only mean one thing.
“Is there anything else you want to tell me?” I asked.
He blinked, clearly taken aback. It gave me immense pleasure that I knew him just as well.
“As it happens, there is one thing... how would you feel about becoming Ms. Josie Caldwell?”
I threw my head back, laughing, before straightening up, attempting to sound serious as I spoke, pointing to my ring.
“Was this a bribe?”
“No. As I said, I’ve had it for a while. But I thought that asking you right now might increase the chances of you saying yes.”
“Using your devious strengths again?”
“Guilty.” Bringing his mouth to my ear, he whispered, “But if I really wanted to use devious tactics, I’d be doing this....” He drew his mouth down my neck, pushing my thighs further apart with his leg. I gasped, rolling my hips into him before playfully pushing him away.
I debated whether to make him sweat a bit, but even though I loved keeping him on his toes, I loved seeing that big, happy smile even more. When he’d first suggested it months ago, I hadn’t seen the point. Why change it only to revert back to my maiden name further down the road? But things were different now. And I couldn’t wait to be Mrs. Caldwell.
“Fine, you opportunistic man. I’ll change my name.” And there it was, that huge, heartfelt smile. I loved it so much. “I love you, Hunter.”
I held him tight to me again. I’d just decided I wouldn’t let go tonight when a phone started ringing.
“That’s my phone,” I said, attempting to wiggle out of his arms, but he held on tight.
“How about you don’t answer it?”
I grinned. “No can do. That’s Tess’s ringtone. She made me promise to tell her every single detail as soon as the evening was over. If I don’t answer, she might come banging at the front door.”
He flashed a grin. “Wouldn’t put it past her.”
“I will need you to let me go to answer the phone.”
He fondled my right ass cheek. I narrowed my eyes but couldn’t help shimmying a little.
“Or, I’ll tell her I couldn’t make it to the phone because you’ve been fondling me. Pretty sure that won’t earn you any cousin of the year award.”
He pinched my other ass cheek too. “By the looks of it, it might just earn me husband of the year, won’t it?”
That damn shimmy gave me away. But he couldn’t blame me for liking his hands on me, could he?
“Don’t get ahead of yourself.”
“I like my odds.”
To my astonishment, he did take his hands off me, practically freeing me. Letting an opportunity for naked time slide by was very unlike him.
I became even more suspicious when a smirk that was a little too self-indulgent appeared on his handsome face.
“What’s that?”
“What?” He promptly schooled his expression, but he wasn’t fooling me.
“That... smirk.”
“Can’t wait to hear what Tess has to say when you tell her about the name change. She was so convinced you’d never agree.”
“Wait a second. When did you talk about this?”
“When we returned from the Bahamas. She was at my office. One thing led to another....”
I shook my head, at a loss for what to say... but then an idea popped into my mind.
“In that case, I might tell her that I’m still considering it.”
He grinned. “Changed my mind. Won’t let you answer after all.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
I could give just as good as I got. Well, almost as good. Hunter was still a master at this, but I had plenty of time to learn. I attempted to wiggle out from under him. Rookie mistake. The next second, he clasped my wrists in one hand, pinning them above my head.
“See? Not going anywhere. Got you just where I want you,” he teased.
“So, what are you going to do with me?” I giggled as he drew the tip of his nose on my exposed underarm. Not what I was expecting.
“Tickle me at your own risk, husband.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Hunter
One month later
“What do you mean, it’s a surprise? I want to know where you’re taking me,” Josie said.
“Always impatient, Mrs. Caldwell.”
She rolled her eyes, grinning. “Are you ever going to call me by my first name again?”
“Sure, just not anytime soon.”
She’d been Josie Caldwell for one week and two days, since we’d finalized the paperwork. And yes, I might have called her Mrs. Caldwell ever since. It just rolls off the tongue so easily.
“Are we going to celebrate that you’ve received your green card?”
“Maybe.”
Our case worker contacted us as soon as Josie forwarded the request for the name change, demanding an explanation.
Josie told her that since she was setting up her own firm anyway, she could just as well do it as Josie Caldwell. I received the approval for my green card two weeks later.
“Insufferable man.” She sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. Then she squirmed in her seat, sitting up straighter as I stopped the car at a red light.