“I didn’t say I love him.” I totally do.
She snorts. “I’m not going to dignify that comment with a response.”
“Oh god.” I let my head fall to the table. “I do love him. And I totally messed up. I’ve been using him like a stud horse. Sneaking into his room when I’m horny and sneaking back out when he’s asleep. I’m such a bitch.”
“Not going to hear an argument from me.” I lift my head to glare at Shelby. She shrugs. “Only saying it like I sees it.”
“What am I going to do?”
Frankie stands and pulls me to my feet. “You’re going to go home and tell the man you love him. Then, you’re going to have lots and lots of amazing, sweaty, heart-pounding, break the bed sex.”
“But—”
“Shush. I’ll supervise the cleanup.” She points to Shelby. “Someone’s gotta make sure little Miss Tipsy gets home anyway.”
Well, if she insists. I grab my coat and shout my goodbyes as I hustle out of there. I have places to be, people to tell I love you.
Chapter 35
I can be sneaky. Right after I take my nap. ~ Violet’s Secret Thoughts
“Violet!” Luke shouts when he comes home that evening. “Where are you?”
I don’t answer. He needs to come up here and figure it out for himself because have I got a surprise for him. Not only am I bound and determined – despite the fear coursing through my veins – to say those three little words, but I’ve also moved into his room. I took one look at his walk-in closet and called myself a complete idiot for not moving in sooner.
And now, I’m lying on his bed waiting to spring my surprise on him. I thought about putting on some sexy lingerie, but nothing fits. I considered going for my birthday suit. That idea lasted for like a second. Luke may say he finds my baby bump sexy, but it hasn’t escaped my notice he only says that when we’re getting ready to get down and dirty. Which totally doesn’t count.
I gave up and laid down in my outfit from Bailey’s party and promptly fell asleep. And now my hair is a mess and I’ve got drool caked to the side of my mouth. Super sexy.
“What are you doing in here?” Luke asks when he finds me on his bed.
I pat the bed next to me. “Come here.”
He waggles his eyebrows. “Should I get naked?”
“In a minute, I want to talk first.”
“Not the dreaded ‘we need to talk’ talk.”
“Sort of, but no.” I wait until he settles himself next to me before I continue. “I was talking to the girls today.”
“Oh shit, I’m sorry. I forgot to ask how the party went.”
“It went fine. That’s not what I want to talk about.” He nods for me to continue. I take a deep breath and chicken out. “I want to tell you something.”
He pulls me close and positions us so we’re laying side by side. “I’m listening.”
I close my eyes. “Iloveyou.” When my big reveal is met with silence, I open my eyes to find him staring at me with hope in his eyes.
“Say it again.”
“I love you,” I whisper.
“Bout damn time you admitted it.”
I narrow my eyes. “Admitted it?”
His hand grasps the back of my neck and he pulls me close. “Yeah, admitted it. You think I don’t know you love me? It’s in everything you do, everything you say. The way you care for Baby Bud.”
I roll my eyes. “Are we going to get this party started or what?”
He smirks before his lips descend on mine. With his hand on my neck, he tilts my head and dives deep into my mouth. I scooch closer and throw my leg over his to pull him closer. Just when things are getting interesting, he yanks his mouth away and places his forehead against mine.
“I’m not done with those lips,” I complain when he rolls off the bed. “Where are you going?” It’s not like we need condoms or something.
“Gotta get something,” he mumbles as he opens the top drawer of his dresser. He pauses when he notices my jewelry box placed on top of the dresser. He glances over his shoulder at me before he opens and closes all his drawers. When he’s done with those, he moves to his closet.
“Someone’s been busy today,” he says when he comes out of the closet.
“I wanted to show you I mean it when I say I love you.”
“Message received. Sit up,” he orders.
“Why? I’m comfortable. Aren’t we going to do the horizontal dance with no pants?” After that kiss, my body is revved and ready to go. Oh, who am I kidding? All it takes is one look from Luke and I’m ready to go.
“You’ve been hanging around Shelby too long.”
“She’s your friend, too,” I mumble as he helps me into a sitting position. He drops to one knee, and I wag my finger. “No way, nuh-uh. You are not going to propose.”
“Oh, yes I am.” He pulls the ring out of the box. I gasp. It’s gorgeous. The round, center diamond is set in a frame of smaller diamonds and flanked by two larger stones. “The stones are from Grams’ wedding ring. I had them set in a new ring for you.”
He stares at the ring for a few moments before clearing his throat and smiling at me. “Violet Scott, will you make me the happiest man in the world by agreeing to be my wife?” Before I can answer, he continues, “And, in case there is any confusion in the matter, I am not proposing because I knocked you up. I’m asking you to be my wife because I’ve loved you since I was an idiot teenager and I can’t live without you. I tried it. It didn’t take. What do you say?”
I can’t resist ribbing him. “What did my dad say?”
“He said it was about damn time. Your brothers said they’d beat the shit out of me if I ever made you cry again. Guessing by the amount of crying you’ve done since you got pregnant, I’m scheduled for a beat down every day until the end of the year.”
I giggle. “Well, in that case, I can hardly let you get beat up without giving you some type of reward.”
His smile stretches from ear to ear. “Is that a yes?” I nod. He whoops and picks me up to twirl me around the room. “Shit. Sorry. Forgot about baby on board.”
“I’m fine.” I grab the ring from him. “But there’s no way the ring is going on these piggy fingers.” Swollen hands! Another lovely feature of pregnancy.
“Already way ahead of you.” Luke pulls his dog tags out of his back pocket. He unclips the smaller chain and puts the ring on it before clicking it back in place. I dip my head and he places the dog tags around my neck. I immediately clasp the ring.
“Luke …” I don’t know what to say.
“I know.” He taps the dog tags. “This is my promise that what happened when I came home from Iraq will never happen again. I know I’ll continue to mess up, but I will never walk away from you or Baby Bud again and any of his brothers or sisters. No matter what.”
Moisture builds in my eyes until the tears fall down my cheeks. I cup his face. “I know. I wouldn’t have moved into your room or said yes to marrying you unless I believed you would stick by us.”