by AJ Matthews
“It’s always been you. It will always be you. You’re perfect for me, and you’ve ruined me for anyone else. So, Anna Danielle Powers, would you please do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Anna Martino?” He pulled a small, egg-shaped object from his pocket and popped it open with his thumb, pulling out a shiny silver and red ring.
His eyes pleaded, but she couldn’t help looking back at the ring.
“Well, are you gonna leave this guy hanging or what?”
“Oh God, sorry. Yes, you goon! Of course. Now give me this!” She snatched the ring from his fingers and he pulled himself to his feet.
She held out the ring in front of one of the candles, squinting at it. “Is this what I think it is?”
“Unfortunately, yes. I didn’t exactly plan this. I didn’t plan this at all. It’s midnight on an island in the middle of February. I was lucky to find a convenience store with flowers in a bucket and candles on the shelf. Then I saw the bubble gum machines at the front of the store, and one was filled with rings.”
“You asked me to marry you with a twenty-five cent ring?”
He threw his hand to his chest. “Twenty-five cents? I’ll have you know I paid twice that!”
She laughed. “It’s not the price. It’s so you, Tony Martino, you big dork. I love it. I love you.”
“I love you, too. I’m sorry it took almost losing you to realize how much I needed you, too. I couldn’t let you be the one who got away. You had to be the one who stayed, always.”
“And I will.” She pointed at the too-small plastic ring pinching her finger. “As long as you replace this with something else. Soon.”
“Oh, I already have something picked out.”
“What? You picked out a ring? I don’t believe it.”
“Not really. It picked me. When my grandmother gave it to me years ago and said she didn’t want anyone but you to have it. She’ll be happy I finally made good on that.”
Anna choked on the sentiment. She was going to be a part of his family too. She wasn’t alone. And never would be again.
She threw her arms around his neck, jumping up and wrapping her legs around his hips. He held onto her as she pressed a kiss to his forehead, his cheeks, his lips. “I love you, Tony. I love you. I love you!”
“I love you too, crazy person. Now, let’s finish what you started in the alley.”
“Ah ah ah.” She pointed at the candles, so he set her down on her feet before running around furiously blowing out the flames.
When he finished, he slid behind her, his hands skimming her arms, rubbing her neck, playing with her hair. “Where were we?”
She turned around to face him. “We have to start planning the wedding. Here. In the summer. I hope they’re not already booked. And we need to get out invites, and—”
“Anna. Please.” He pressed his lips to hers, and the heat of his kiss melted her bones. “No more talking.”
He nuzzled her neck, and she tilted her head back as a deep sigh pushed all the day’s tension out of her body. “But we—”
“Can talk about this tomorrow. Now, shut up and kiss me.”
She nodded. “Tonight, and every other night, for the rest of our lives. Which if you don’t do something stupid and make me kill you, will be for a very long time.”
“I’ll try not to do anything stupid. You know me though. I’ll have to work at it.”
He swept her up in his arms and carried her inside, dropping her on the bed. Her laughter rattled the walls. “And I’ll work on not plotting to kill you when you leave the toilet seat up.”
He plopped on the bed beside her. “Good, now, let’s get nekkid. It is Valentine’s weekend, after all, so we’re obligated.”
He pulled his shirt over his head and started tearing at her clothes.
She reached for him, pulling his hard body down on hers.
This was one obligation she looked forward to fulfilling.
Forever.
Also by AJ Matthews
THE KELLYS OF KEY WEST
Goodbye to You
Come Back to Me (a Kellys of Key West Novella)
Come Undone
I Will Follow (Coming early 2017)
RIBBONS OF LOVE NOVELLAS
A Season of Hope
The One Who Got Away
A Picture of Perfection (Coming 2017)
Dirt on the Diamond
A Baseball Duology with Heather Young-Nichols
Stealing Home, a World War II Romance
About AJ
I wrote my first book at six. A retelling of The Three Little Pigs, illustrated by my grandmother, the book was never picked up and was self-published instead, glued to cardboard with a cover fashioned from wallpaper scraps. Today, I write stories featuring nice guys (or nice guys in-the-making) in between my other jobs writing research reports for a commercial real estate company, refereeing two young daughters, navigating the teen waters with a too-cute-for-his-own-good son, spoiling a neurotic cat, and making my darling, patient husband shake his head. I'm also an autism mom, chocolate enthusiast, sports-watcher, nacho-eater, and beer-drinker. A Maryland native, I live in North Carolina now, but dreams of the beach fuel my fantasies, and my characters can often be found strolling in the sand or sailing along a coast.
I love being social, so drop me an e-mail at [email protected], or come play on my website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest:
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