Now, I’m standing at the base of the steps that lead to our massive wraparound porch. I haven’t seen the inside since Nancy got in there to decorate. I trust her, but I have plans today that leave me more than a little nervous. Our friends and family will be here in about an hour.
“Ready?” she asks, cutting into my thoughts. I nod but she tugs on my hand. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head and look down at her. God, she’s so damned beautiful. And she’s mine. Has been for two years, and I hope forever.
“Nothing. Just…it’s a big step.”
She smiles at me and my heart does that little thing that makes it feel like it’s turning over in my chest. No matter how many times she smiles at me, it happens.
“Come on. I can’t wait to show you.”
We step up on the porch and I notice all of her little touches. I made sure not to cut down many of the trees and we added to the landscaping, while making sure not to install a lot of plants that would need tons of water. But here, Nancy added a few things, including pots of all her favorite flowers. There are rocking chairs and tables scattered on each side of the door, looking west to watch the sun set. I can’t wait to do just that with her.
And I need an answer. I had thought to wait until after everyone leaves, but, I just can’t. I need to ask her now or I will blurt it out at some point. She moves to unlock the door, then turns around smiling. Her smile slowly fades, and a frown replaces it.
“What’s up? You look like you’re going to throw up.”
Great. “It’s…I was going to wait, but I can’t.”
“Wait?” She pulls her hand from mine. “If you’re going to break up with me, I swear to god I will use a nail gun on your balls.”
And she would. It’s one of the reasons I love her.
“No. The opposite.”
Now she just looks confused. Of course, she does. Way to wow her, Fillmore. God, I can’t do anything right today. I sound like a complete idiot.
I shove a hand through my hair. “Just say you’ll marry me and then we can get on with it.”
She blinks. “Did you just demand I marry you?”
I did. Fuck.
“Okay, that was bad. But, I…I want to have babies with you. I want to sit here and watch the sun set. I want my ring on your finger and yours on mine.”
She studies me, her gaze searching mine. The moment stretches out and my heart about stops working. I feel as if the entire world has come to a stop. Then, slowly, her mouth curves, her eyes sparkle.
“Yes, I’ll marry you.”
For a second, I say nothing. It’s like the entire world comes to a stop at that moment, then starts back up again. I let out a whoop and grab her, swinging her up into my arms.
“Travis.”
“What? Shouldn’t I carry you over the threshold?”
She laughs as I do just that. I kick the door shut as I head toward our bedroom, ignoring the decorated space.
“Where are you going?” she asks, laughter filling her voice.
“We’re going to celebrate, and we have less than an hour before everyone shows up. I need a little taste before tonight.”
With the woman I love in my arms, I make my way through our new sanctuary, a smile on my face, and happiness in my soul.
I hope you loved Travis and Nancy’s story!
If you loved the folks of Juniper Springs, they are getting their own series. First one will be this fall.
I never thought to settle down, but Quinn Hawthorne has me second guessing everything!
Check out EVERLY EVER AFTER.
Grady and Sydney have their own story in HATE TO LOVE YOU!
He is absolutely, completely, and undoubtedly the one man I shouldn't fantasize about.
One-click —> HATE TO LOVE YOU.
I loved everything about this book!! It was my first book by Melissa Schroeder but based off her writing style it won't be my last!
-The 1000 Lives of Sherlock Hughes, Amazon Review
If you want to see how this all started, check out the first Camos and Cupcakes book: DELICIOUS!
I’ve loved him for years, but never told him. One drunken kiss changed everything.
Absolutely smashing! Donna, IMHO Blog
Hate to Love You
Syd
The moment my alarm sounds on my phone Monday morning, I reach for it and promptly fall off my bed face first. Said face hits the carpet hard, my nose taking the brunt of the hit. The only consolation is that I’m alone. Wait, that’s not a good thing, right? Before I can answer myself—and I’m still lying with my face planted in the carpet—my phone rings. The sun is still rising, I’m lying on the carpet with nothing but a t-shirt and panties on, and I know without a doubt, it’s my boss Grady Hawthorne.
I take a moment to pull my head up, resting my weight on my elbows in a sphinx pose. Only I know I don’t look as cool as Jasmine my yoga instructor does when she performs this pose. I probably look more like a cranky calico cat with bad morning breath. My nose stings from the hit it took, and my head is pounding slightly. I really hate freaking Mondays.
My phone stops ringing but I don’t worry. Grady Fucking Hawthorne will call back. He always does because he is convinced the only reason I wouldn’t answer the phone is that I am dead. And it’s not because he cares. He probably just wants to know if he needs to hire a new executive assistant. So, I know he’ll call me back. I’m proven right a minute later when my phone starts ringing again.
I answer it this time.
“What?”
There’s a pause. Since Grady took over the position of CEO eighteen months ago, I’ve been irritated. His father Pete would have never called me at the asscrack of dawn on a Monday morning. I work fifty to sixty hours a week as it is. Pete was a sweetie and had hired me “for his son” since Pete had already announced his retirement. I thought his son would be like him. I was wrong. Oh…so…wrong.
“Good morning to you, Ms. Fillmore,” he says, his tenor slipping over my name. He’s a Texas boy born and raised, and he has that sexy, slow-talking tone. And this is where I get to admit that I have a big old lady-crush on Grady. Or at least my lady parts do. I don’t particularly like him. He’s the type of guy I avoid. He’s kind of bossy—mainly because he is my boss—and considered a bit of a manwhore, or he was until he was named CEO. Before then, he lived in New York and the tabloids loved him. You know the ones who tend to treat women like they are part of a smorgasbord. It’s embarrassing for my gender how many of us have slept with him. But he has one of those faces the camera loves and women like to sit on. So, there’s that. Worse, all I have to do is hear his voice and I’m gushing like Niagara Falls.
“It’s not even dawn yet, Grady. What’s so important?”
Another pause. He never calls me by my first name, but I always call him by his. It’s weird, but then, so am I, and all my interactions with him are awkward. But, when Pete introduced me to Grady, he used his first name.