by Schiller, MK
“Now.”
They each flip over a sign. Well, most of them, anyway.
The black letters spell out: arry e Emma.
I laugh and jump into his arms. But Aiden is shaking his head. “C’mon, Chips and Peanut. You guys know how important this is to me.”
The two dogs flip over their signs so it reads Marry me, Emma.
“There we go,” Aiden says. He rewards each one with a treat.
“Yes,” I say.
He kisses me hard.
“Wait, there is more,” he says in his infomercial voice.
Faith runs over to me. I bend to pet her. She has a tiny pouch clipped to her collar. “What you got, girl?”
“I actually need that, Cooper. Can you hand it to me, please?”
I unclip it and hand it to him. Instead of getting down on one knee as I expect he clasps my hand and leads me to his car with Faith and Theo in tow.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” He takes a bandana from his back pocket and ties it over my eyes.
“Can you see anything?”
“Are you serious?”
“Just don’t want you to see the next surprise until I’m ready.” He helps me into the car. “Now answer my question, angel.”
“I can’t see a thing, Aiden.” Except how much I want you right now.
I feel the seat belt cross me before he buckles it. He plants a soft kiss on the corner of my mouth. The dogs jump into the backseat.
The car starts up. We drive for a few minutes. I’m squirming the whole way. Aiden laces his fingers through mine. I know we’re still driving on gravel, so he’s still on the property, but on the far side.
“How ’bout some music?” Sam Cooke’s beautiful voice fills up the car as he croons about what a wonderful world it is. I have to agree, Sam.
Aiden helps me from the car. With his firm hands on my hips, he leads me a few paces. “Right here, angel.”
“Can I take this off now?”
“No,” he says, kissing my neck. “Know what today is?”
“The day you drive me crazy?”
“Funny, smart-ass. Today is the one year anniversary of the day you walked into my life and changed my world.”
“I knew that.”
He unties the bandana. I blink, staring at the ranch house in front of me with its bright, shiny siding and dark green shutters.
I clap my hands over my mouth. “This is my house.”
“Not exactly, but it is the same footprint. The main house is huge, but I wanted us to have something of our own.”
“Can we go inside?”
“Yeah.”
He leads me up the walk, the dogs following behind us. He swings open the door and picks me up, carrying me inside.
“You’re supposed to do this after we’re married. Speaking of which, the dogs asked me on your behalf, but you still haven’t asked me.”
“I’m getting there. Patience. You know how long this took to plan?”
He sets me down and gives me a minute to take it all in. The inside is a blank canvas. I gasp taking in the floor-to-ceiling built-in bookshelves that flank a huge stone fireplace. There are hardwood floors and an open kitchen with stone countertops. The dogs instantly go lie down by the rug next to the fireplace, making it clear they are very familiar with the house.
“How did you keep this from me?”
“Wasn’t easy. The builder worked quick, though. I did the shelves myself. Do you like them?”
I notice one shelf is filled with records and dog-eared paperbacks. Acting as a bookend, is a small globe. My globe. The one I broke.
“Where did this come from?”
“I saved it. I’m sentimental like that.”
“You fixed it.”
He leans against the wall. “Turns out all the world needed was a little bit of glue.”
I spin it for old time’s sake. He leans over me and stops it.
“Where did we land?” I ask, tilting my head toward him.
“Where we always land—together.” He kisses my forehead.
“It’s a damn fine place to be.”
“That it is.” He steps back. “So, you like it? I left most of it empty figuring we could make it ours.”
He looks at me as if he’s unsure. Like I could somehow have any other reaction except joy to what he’s done. “I love it. We’re going to make a lot of happy memories here, Sheffield.”
His smile is full of relief. “Then let’s get started.” He backs away and bends on one knee. “Emma Grace Cooper, will you marry me? Will you be part of my pack? Will you be my lover, my best friend, my angel, and my wife?”
“Yes, you crazy boy. I’m yours. I love you so much.”
He slips the ring on my finger. “I love you too, sweetheart.”
He turns on the stereo system. “Iris” by the Goo Goo dolls comes on. How well did this man know me?
“They’re playing our song, angel. Dance with me.”
Ever have someone sway with you? Just hold you close and let you step on their feet without even complaining, staring at you the whole time with nothing but complete adoration on their face?
Well, it’s fucking incredible. Everyone should have a moment like this.
This is my moment.
I will always cherish it.
Epilogue
“Sam,” I yell before she gets too ahead of me. This girl looks just like her mama, but she has my personality.
“Daddy, c’mon, we have to get to the top.”
“Stop right there, Samantha.” She pouts as she always does when I use her full name. I can’t help but grin. She’s such a tomboy. “Wait up. Grandpa’s coming.”
“I’m here,” Mac says stepping beside me. The dogs walk beside him. “I think they need to go.” He gestures Sam over. “Let’s take them in toward the trees, mija.”
“Okay,” she says. “Then we’ll start climbing again?”
I shake my head. “No, baby girl. I bend so I’m at her level. I point toward the grassy area overlooking the lake where Emma is already setting up our lunch. “We’re going to have a nice picnic there and watch the world for a while.”
She puts her hands on either side of my cheeks. This is what she does when she wants my full attention. “But daddy, we might not make it all the way up.”
I tilt her chin. “We may not, but this an important spot for our family.”
She puts a hand on her hip and gives me a suspicious look. “It is?”
“Oh yeah, this is where your mama taught your daddy all about appreciating the in-between moments.”
“What is that?”
“We’re having one right now, baby girl. Now go with grandpa before the dogs go on the trail.”
Mac takes Sam’s little hand.
I put my hand on Mac’s shoulder. “Thanks, Dad.”
Mac gives me a look of gratitude as he always does when I call him that. Emma helped me with that, too. I stand and breathe in the fresh air, grateful for the life I have.
“But Grandpa, how am I ever going to get to the top of K2, if Dad won’t even let me climb McLoughlin?”
Shit.
I pray Emma is too far away to hear her. I have to say, it scares the shit out of me, too. I’m already thinking of a million ways to talk Sam out of it. I’ll think of something.
I make my way to Emma, who’s looking down at the lake below.
She relaxes against my chest. We’re quiet, taking in the view and each other.
“What are we having for lunch, Mommy?” Sam asks, making so much noise the birds squawk in protest.
“Peanut butter and jelly,” Emma answers. She turns around and winks at me. “The grocery store didn’t have any jellyfish this time.”
I laugh and pick up my daughter. Sam shakes her head, looking between her mom and me.
“You guys are so weird.”
She has no idea.
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Acknowledgments
This book would not be possible without the following folks. I am grateful for their guidance and the lessons they have taught me.
To my dad, who took me on my first road trip and showed me just what a beautiful country this is.
To my editor, Candace Havens, who helped me steer this crazy train back on the rails when I needed it the most. To my agent, Amanda Leuck, who listened with patience when I explained I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do when I grew up. To Nicole and Justin, who amaze and energize me every single day.
To the reader for picking up this book when there are a million choices to be made.
About the Author
Not knowing a word of English, MK Schiller came to America at the age of four from India. Since then, all she’s done is collect words. After receiving the best gift ever from her parents—her very own library card—she began reading everything she could get her greedy hands on. At sixteen, a friend asked her to make up a story featuring the popular bad boy at school. This wasn’t fan fiction…it was friend fiction. From that day on, she’s known she wanted to be a writer. With the goal of making her readers both laugh and cry, MK Schiller has penned more than a dozen books, each one filled with misfit characters overcoming obstacles and finding true love.
www.mkschillerauthor.com
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