“Hey, after our nap, let’s head to one of those pet stores that have adoptions on Sundays. Let’s get a puppy.”
Snorting, Jo stopped halfway up the stairs. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.” He cradled her gorgeous face and kissed her. “I’m serious about us, a puppy and a future together.”
“All right. Sex first, puppy later.” She swatted his butt. “Get moving. I have plans for you, Mr. Hotshot Lawyer.”
His stomach flipped. His blood heated and surged to his groin. Oh, yeah. Jo in charge was a thing of wonder to behold. He could live with this for the rest of his life. “I love you, Jo.”
EPILOGUE
Jo waved at their security guard as she drove her truck through the gate of their townhouse complex. She noticed another for sale sign planted in the available lots had a “sold” banner attached. Only two unsold lots remained, giving her and Will something else to celebrate.
She turned down the curving drive leading to their home. Did Will realize today was the one-year anniversary of the day they met? Her insides did that squiggly thing, and she thought about how much her life had changed over the past year. She loved Will more everyday, loved living with him, and she especially appreciated coming home after a long day knowing they’d have each other to talk to.
Life was good. Wyatt and Kayla’s daughter would be born next month. Sam Junior would be a year old in a few months. She and Will hung out with her siblings and their spouses all the time. Sometimes at their homes rather than going out, which made it easier for the parents. Sometimes she and Will even babysat, so her siblings could have date nights. Brady adored Will. She smiled, recalling how awkward and funny Will had been with baby Sam at first. Now he was a pro.
She pulled into the driveway, hit the garage door opener on the visor and pulled her truck in next to Will’s Prius. Knowing he was already home sent a thrill arcing along her nerves. Grabbing her thermal lunch bag and her purse, she climbed out of her truck and hurried to the door.
The minute she stepped inside, Buddy, their goofy mutt whined, jumped and cavorted around her in a joyful frenzy. “Hey, Buddy.” She leaned down to scratch him behind the ears, laughing when his tail whipped against her legs.
“Is that you, Jo?” Will called from the second floor.
Thump-thump went her heart. “Why? Are you expecting someone else?” she called back.
“How was your day?” He appeared on the second floor landing.
Her breath caught in her throat. Even after months of living together, she still lost her breath at the sight of him. “Stinky. We had a crew out today to replace a collapsed sewer line for a homeowner. How was your day?” She smiled up at him. “Aren’t you coming down to give me a hug?”
“My day was great. We took on a major case today, on referral from Sondra.” He eyed her uniform and all the dark, mostly mud stains. Mostly. He arched a brow. “No thanks on the hug. I’ll wait. Come on up.”
A long hot shower and a change of clothes sounded like heaven. Jo took off her work shoes and set them just inside the door to the garage. “Yuck, Buddy. Leave it,” she commanded as their silly dog sniffed at her work shoes. She picked the shoes up and set them inside the garage. She’d clean them later. Then she headed for the stairs, Buddy racing up before her. Will had disappeared.
She entered their bedroom and blinked. The shades had been drawn shut. A wonderful smell wafted over her from a number of lit scented candles on the dresser and both nightstands. A trail of rose petals led to the bathroom. “Will?”
“Come in, Jo.”
His voice came to her from inside the bathroom. Grinning, she unbuttoned her work shirt on the way. She found him in the tub full of bubbles. Two filled champagne flutes sat on the tiled edge. Will flashed her a look that could melt even the most practical granny panties.
“Do you know what today is?” he asked in his very best I want you voice.
“I do.” Jo let her work shirt slide down her arms and drop to the floor. Keeping her eyes on the man she loved to distraction, she slowly undid the button and zipper of her twill uniform pants. Ever so slowly, she worked them down over her hips and kicked them aside, taking off her socks before she straightened again. “Happy anniversary to the clog in your sink.” She bit her lip and reached around to her back to undo her lacy blue bra, which matched her lacy blue panties.
Will’s gaze roamed all over her, coming to a stop at her breasts as the bra fell to the floor tiles.
“I am such a lucky man,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Oh, yeah,” Will groaned as she hooked her thumbs into the elastic of her panties and wiggled out of them.
Grinning like a fool, she approached. “This is so sweet, Will. I wondered if you remembered.”
“How could I forget the day we met?” He held out his hand to help her climb into the tub. The faucet was on the side, so two people could relax at either end. She started to settle facing him, and suddenly found herself being hauled against his chest. Water and bubbles sloshed, a little bit spilling over the top. The spill could wait. Sighing, she leaned back against him and snuggled between his thighs.
Will kept one arm around her and handed her a glass of champagne. “Happy anniversary to my favorite plumber.” His kissed her neck. “Not to mention the sexiest plumber in the world. I love you, Jo.”
“Happy anniversary to the sexiest, most amazing lawyer in the entire world.” She held up her flute to clink with his. I love you.” She took a sip. “Mmm.”
“Tonight, you shall be bathed and pampered from head to toe.” He kissed her neck.
Jo leaned her head back on his shoulder and closed her eyes. “If you insist.” She shifted her bottom against his erection, her pulse racing at the sound of his breath catching.
Will set his champagne glass down. He took up a washcloth and a bottle of body wash. “Lean forward, sweetheart.”
She did, and he washed her back and neck. Then his clever hands came around to her breasts. Slick with soap, his teasing pinches, strokes and tweaks sent electrical currents straight to her core.
“After your bath, I am taking you to bed where I plan to make mad, passionate love to you. Then I will give you your present.”
Jo twisted around to frown at him. “You got me a present?”
“I did.”
“Now I feel awful. I didn’t get you anything. We never talked about whether or not we were going to celebrate.”
“That’s all right. You can make it up to me … in bed.” He rinsed off her back and brought her against his chest again. “Relax, Jo. Sip your champagne.”
“Do I get to wash you next?”
“Of course. I’m not entirely selfless. It’s my anniversary too, you know.”
She laughed, until one of his hands found its way between her thighs, and then things got serious in a big hurry. She moaned as he performed his magic as only he could. Soon she was falling apart in his arms as throbbing pulses of pleasure overcame her. She shifted around to kiss him, stroking his wonderful chest.
“I think that’s a record for shortest time ever it took you to climax,” Will whispered into her ear, chuckling from deep in his chest. “Have I mentioned what a turn on it is that you respond to me the way you do?”
“A few times.” She took up the washcloth and took her turn to wash him. She let go of the washcloth to cup him with one hand, while stroking his erection with the other. His balls tightened in her grasp. “Can we move to the bed sooner rather than later?”
“All right.” He opened the drain and rose in all his glorious nakedness. Bubbles clung to the hair on his chest and legs, and his erection jutted out in a proud and friendly manner.
He helped her up and reached for their towels as she played with his nipples and nipped at his chin, gratified and aroused by his sudden intake of breath.
“You know what? I think I’d like to give you your present now. I’d like to see you wearing what I picked out for you while we make love. Is that all right with you?”<
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“Not having to wait for my gift? Absolutely.” So, he’d bought her something sexy to wear. A teddy? Maybe a bustier with garters, or a negligée. Jo wrapped her towel around her and stepped out of the tub. She watched hungrily as he dried himself, rubbing the towel over the hardness of his thigh muscles, his trim waist and broad chest and back. All mine.
Will draped his towel over the rack, took her by the hand and led her to their bed. “Have a seat.”
Her brow rose. He sounded so serious, and his jaw had set in that way it always did when he was determined. Excited, curiosity coursing through her, she perched on the edge of the bed as Will crossed the room to his dresser. He opened the top drawer with his back to her and took something out.
Naked Will, returning to her … wow. She fell in love with him all over again, day after day. “Only you could pull off looking so damned serious while completely naked and turned on.”
“I am serious.” He went down on one knee in front of her and held out a small, white leather box. His eyes bored into hers. “Jo, you are my one and only, and I can’t imagine my life without you. You’re at the heart of everything I do and everything I am. Let’s get married and make babies. What do you say?”
All the air left her. Little golden stars danced before her eyes, and her ears rang from the pounding of her heart. He opened the box to reveal a breathtaking diamond engagement ring, emerald cut, with smaller baguettes on either side. “I think I’m going to faint,” she whispered. Her hand shook as she placed it on his shoulder to keep from keeling over. “Yep. I’m … ohhh …”
Will shot up from the floor to sit beside her. He pushed her head down just as the golden stars turned to black for an instant.
“Breathe,” he commanded, rubbing her back.
She nodded. Only she could ruin such a romantic, momentous occasion. She’d never fainted before in her entire life, and her body chose this particular moment to give passing out a try? Several gulps of air later, the clamminess receding, she straightened. “I’m so sorry, Will.”
His expression clouded. “What do you mean you’re sorry? Are you about to turn me down?” He leaned over and put his head between his knees. “Shit. Now I might faint.”
She giggled, unable to stop herself. “Of course I’ll marry you. I meant I’m sorry for ruining the most romantic moment of my life.”
“Of our lives,” he mumbled to his knees, the open box holding her ring still grasped in one hand. “Don’t ever scare me like that again. Now that you’ve said yes, nothing is ruined.”
Buddy jumped up on their bed then, and began licking Will’s neck as if he sensed his favorite human needed his support. Jo snorted and shook her head. “Off, Buddy,” she said, pushing the dog off the bed. “Can we start over?”
Will sat up and flashed her grin. “No need. Give me your hand.”
She placed her hand in his.
“Your left hand, Josey.”
“Oh … oh, right.”
He chuckled again. “No. Left.”
“Are you sure we don’t want to start this over?” She stifled the nervous laughter rising up her throat.
“I’m sure.” Will reached for her left hand and slid the ring on her finger.
“It’s beautiful.” She smiled at him through her tears. Then she stared at her newly bejeweled hand resting in his.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, bringing her hand to his lips for a tender kiss.
She sniffed. “I love you so much, Will.”
“I love you, too.”
“Let’s take a picture of my hand and text it to everyone.”
“Right now? We’re naked, Jo. We have better things to do.” He tugged off her towel, put his arms around her and drew her down, rolling over so she was on top. “I believe it’s my turn to be in charge.”
“Is it? I’ve lost track.” Jo had plans. She was about to drive her fiancé out of his ever-loving mind. She kissed him, her tongue tangling with his and her hands busy everywhere until he moaned and his hips thrust against her. Jo went up on her knees beside him, feathering kisses and love bites on her path downward to her destination. She proceeded to drive him wild, and of course he returned the favor. They were partners in every way that mattered most, now and for the rest of their lives.
Photo © 2013 A Dannette
Barbara Longley is an award-winning, Amazon bestselling author of contemporary, Celtic fantasy and historical romance. She moved frequently throughout her childhood and learned how to entertain herself with stories. As an adult, she has lived on an Appalachian commune, taught on an Indian reservation and traveled the country from coast to coast. After having children of her own, Barbara made Minnesota her home.
Barbara holds a master’s degree in special education and taught for many years. She enjoys exploring all things mythical, paranormal and otherwise newsworthy, channeling what she learns into her stories.
She loves to connect with readers via Twitter @barbaralongley, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Barbara-Longley, or through her website, www.barbaralongley.com, where readers can learn all about her new releases through her newsletter.
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