Most ladies wouldn’t put up with shit like that from anyone.”
“You put up with a lot when you love someone.” She didn’t sound real convinced.
“I want to be more than just your best guy friend or your lover.” Fuck, he was screwing this up. He gulped and then continued. “Emma, you make my wounded soul strong. You get me when everyone else counts me out.” He drew in a long breath and let it out slowly, hoping his heartbeat would slow to a normal range. Just come right out and say it, man. “Will you marry me?”
“Sam?” Her eyes widened and she pulled her hand away. Great. Not at all the response he expected.
Sam swatted the floor for his bag. He picked up the tiny jewelry box and opened it for her. He’d poured more than two months salary into the rock knowing full well she’d say she didn’t need anything that big. “I love you and want you in my life forever.”
“What about Quint?”
Shit. No, he wasn’t going to shy away from this. He’d meet the issue head on. “What about him? He’s my partner and my friend. You’re in my heart. If you don’t want me, tell me.” Please, don’t let her say she didn’t want him.
“Who said I didn’t want you?” She sat up and faced him, then offered her left hand. “Sam, I’ll marry you. I’ve dreamed of this moment and even if I sound like a dip, I’m very happy.” He slipped the diamond onto her finger. The way the light glittered off the stone mirrored the sparkle in her eyes. She admired the ring. Tears shimmered in her eyes. “Better than my dreams.”
“You’re sure?” Where the fuck had his confidence gone? “Emma, I want you to be sure I’m enough for you.” He snapped his mouth shut. Screw it. He sounded like a God damned wuss . At least he gave her an out.
“I’ll marry you, but know that I’m still okay with you needing a man.” She climbed onto his lap and rested her forehead on his. “Don’t lie to me or make me look stupid for standing beside you. I’m in your corner no matter what and I love you too much to hold you back.” The sincerity in her eyes and voice shot straight to his heart.
“You’re not holding me back,” he whispered. “I can’t see my life without you.”
“You really love me?” Tears slipped down her cheeks.
“God we are fucked up.” He gave into the laughter bubbling in his chest. “Sounds like we don’t trust each other.”
“I trust you with my entire being and I love you so much.” She threw her arms around his neck. “Love you, Sam.”
“I love you, too, baby girl.” Things were the way he pictured. She was simply the best he’d ever had and more than he could want. Life wouldn’t be easy, but he didn’t expect it to. He wanted a future with her and all the curveballs life could throw at them.
Epilogue
Emma cracked her neck as she stood in line. Her stomach growled. Damn cravings. She sighed. Three years ago, she’d have never believed she’d find the man of her dreams and get married. She scratched her still flat belly. Finding out she’d be a mother turned her world upside down in so many great ways. She grinned at the memory of Sam’s reaction when she told him. He whooped, hollered and jumped up and down with her in his arms. She loved her gentle giant.
The line finally moved. She put the container of ice cream on the counter and counted out the bills. Her stomach rumbled again. Working eight hours with only an apple and a bottle of water for lunch weren’t her smartest ideas. She needed something sweet, something with mint chocolate chips. Ice cream fit the bill. Apparently the baby agreed.
“That’s four seventeen.” The cashier, a younger man with curly blond hair, grinned at her. “This was my favorite kind until I found a kind with cotton candy in it.”
She smiled, but the thought of cotton candy made her queasy. Being two months along, lots of things made her stick to her stomach. She didn’t want to add her favorite flavor of ice
“You put up with a lot when you love someone.” She didn’t sound real convinced.
“I want to be more than just your best guy friend or your lover.” Fuck, he was screwing this up. He gulped and then continued. “Emma, you make my wounded soul strong. You get me when everyone else counts me out.” He drew in a long breath and let it out slowly, hoping his heartbeat would slow to a normal range. Just come right out and say it, man. “Will you marry me?”
“Sam?” Her eyes widened and she pulled her hand away. Great. Not at all the response he expected.
Sam swatted the floor for his bag. He picked up the tiny jewelry box and opened it for her. He’d poured more than two months salary into the rock knowing full well she’d say she didn’t need anything that big. “I love you and want you in my life forever.”
“What about Quint?”
Shit. No, he wasn’t going to shy away from this. He’d meet the issue head on. “What about him? He’s my partner and my friend. You’re in my heart. If you don’t want me, tell me.” Please, don’t let her say she didn’t want him.
“Who said I didn’t want you?” She sat up and faced him, then offered her left hand. “Sam, I’ll marry you. I’ve dreamed of this moment and even if I sound like a dip, I’m very happy.” He slipped the diamond onto her finger. The way the light glittered off the stone mirrored the sparkle in her eyes. She admired the ring. Tears shimmered in her eyes. “Better than my dreams.”
“You’re sure?” Where the fuck had his confidence gone? “Emma, I want you to be sure I’m enough for you.” He snapped his mouth shut. Screw it. He sounded like a God damned wuss . At least he gave her an out.
“I’ll marry you, but know that I’m still okay with you needing a man.” She climbed onto his lap and rested her forehead on his. “Don’t lie to me or make me look stupid for standing beside you. I’m in your corner no matter what and I love you too much to hold you back.” The sincerity in her eyes and voice shot straight to his heart.
“You’re not holding me back,” he whispered. “I can’t see my life without you.”
“You really love me?” Tears slipped down her cheeks.
“God we are fucked up.” He gave into the laughter bubbling in his chest. “Sounds like we don’t trust each other.”
“I trust you with my entire being and I love you so much.” She threw her arms around his neck. “Love you, Sam.”
“I love you, too, baby girl.” Things were the way he pictured. She was simply the best he’d ever had and more than he could want. Life wouldn’t be easy, but he didn’t expect it to. He wanted a future with her and all the curveballs life could throw at them.
Epilogue
Emma cracked her neck as she stood in line. Her stomach growled. Damn cravings. She sighed. Three years ago, she’d have never believed she’d find the man of her dreams and get married. She scratched her still flat belly. Finding out she’d be a mother turned her world upside down in so many great ways. She grinned at the memory of Sam’s reaction when she told him. He whooped, hollered and jumped up and down with her in his arms. She loved her gentle giant.
The line finally moved. She put the container of ice cream on the counter and counted out the bills. Her stomach rumbled again. Working eight hours with only an apple and a bottle of water for lunch weren’t her smartest ideas. She needed something sweet, something with mint chocolate chips. Ice cream fit the bill. Apparently the baby agreed.
“That’s four seventeen.” The cashier, a younger man with curly blond hair, grinned at her. “This was my favorite kind until I found a kind with cotton candy in it.”
She smiled, but the thought of cotton candy made her queasy. Being two months along, lots of things made her stick to her stomach. She didn’t want to add her favorite flavor of ice
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