by S. M. West
My divorce to Brock is complete. I am no longer tied to that man. I even put his money to good use and donated it to a local women’s shelter, where I also volunteer once a week.
“Oh my god, finally!” I scream, jumping up and down and letting the papers fall to the floor as Drew’s fingers grasp at my waist and hoist me in the air. I squeal and cling to him while he twirls us around in a circle, both of us laughing.
My head spins and heart soars as he kisses me stupid and then sets me firmly on the floor.
“Congratulations, baby.” He rests his forehead against mine and his eyes bore into me longingly. “You know what this means, right?”
“I’m free. Single. And we need to celebrate.” I rush to say it all at once, my heart beating a mile a minute.
“Yeah, we’re celebrating, but you aren’t single.” His eyes heat and his grip tightens on my waist as I laugh at his possessiveness.
With one quick kiss, he releases me, walking purposefully to the other side of the bed, bending to pick up the mysterious thing that held his attention when I arrived. Standing, he holds a ball of ginger fur with the cutest brown eyes staring right at me and stealing my heart.
“Oh.” My voice quivers. “She’s adorable. Is it a she? Or a he?” I ask, meeting him halfway with my hand out to pet the small, ruby Cavalier King Charles snuggled in his arms.
The dog’s hot wet tongue licks at my fingers and I’m half crying, half laughing at what I think this means. Drew got me a dog. I’ve always wanted this breed and he got me a dog.
“Congrats, Pip. Meet Jellybean. He’s been dying to meet you.”
“He’s adorable.” I take the puppy from his hands and a small, happy tear escapes my eye. “Oh, yes, you are. You’re so beautiful, Jellybean,” I coo, bringing the hot, tiny furball to rest under my chin.
Jellybean licks at the underside of my jaw and I laugh at the hot ticklish sensation. Drew flashes me a lopsided grin, his eyes glittering with love, and my heart stutters a beat at how unbelievably happy I am and how complete my life is.
“Thank you. This little guy is the best gift I could ever ask for.” I lean in to kiss him softly. “Well, next to you, that is.”
He chuckles, his arms sliding around my waist to pull me close with the dog cradled between our chests. The little guy doesn’t know which face to lick and alternates between the two of us.
“You’re welcome, but I’m not done.” The raspy rumble of his voice sends a tingle through me.
“What? There’s more?”
Nodding, he tilts Jellybean’s head up to reveal blue frilly fabric around his neck. I catch a glint of something sparkly tangled in what looks like a kind of collar or—a lady’s garter? It can’t be. He gently removes the blue band from the dog’s neck, and yes, it is a garter. Nothing fancy or expensive, more like the kind a woman would wear at her wedding, and it reminds me of the garter Drew caught at Finn’s wedding. Dangling from the blue cloth, tied with a knot, is a diamond ring.
For what feels like the hundredth time in minutes, I gasp, eyes widening as does my mouth and I stare, awestruck at the thin rose gold band and flower-like diamond setting. A round diamond is nestled in the center, surrounded by more in different shapes that resemble petals. It’s stunning.
He removes the garter from the puppy and places him carefully on the floor beside us while getting down on bended knee. With the ring dangling from the lingerie, he looks at me with utter devotion.
“Remember when you saw the garter and said it proved I was the next to be married and I told you I was waiting for the right one?” He smiles and I nod, recalling that moment months ago. “I have the right woman again and I have no intention of ever losing her again. Will you marry me?”
A sob of laughter and glee sputters from my mouth and I fall to my knees in front of him, pressing myself against him and clasping his beautiful face in my trembling hands. I’m crying, tears flowing like a fountain, and I couldn’t care less.
“Yes.” I kiss him on the lips. “Yes.” I kiss his barely closed eyelid, “Yes,” and then the other. “Yes.” And the tip of his nose, before landing back on his lips again. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He slants his head and captures my mouth in a kiss that promises a lifetime.
Note to Readers
Drew and Pippa’s story doesn’t have to be over!
Check out this bonus epilogue and see what married life is like for these two!
Click here
Other Books by S.M. West
Love in Color Series
Red
Blue
Green
Love Lock Duet:
Love Block
Standalones:
Made to Love
Clutch
Prophet
About the Author
S.M. West writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and whatever her heart desires. She's a self-professed junkie of many things and is always planning her next adventure!
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