Cowboy Desires: The Complete Collection
Page 12
When we were both just about done eating, I decided it was time to call him out. I took a deep breath and started to question him.
“So, Erin said she saw you at the store yesterday.”
“Oh, really? I didn’t see her. I just stopped to get some gas.”
“Just you, huh? That’s not what I heard.”
I could see him start to fidget in his seat and sweat form at his brow.
“What exactly did you hear?”
“I heard that your fiancée came in to pay for gas. I heard she had a big diamond rock on her finger. I also heard that when she came back out, you grabbed her and kissed her like no one was watching. Like you were madly in love. You’re found out, Austin. Stop lying to me now. I know you’ve been engaged to her this whole time. I’m so fucking pissed that you used me!”
“No, you don’t understand. I didn’t mean to! I was just going to help you that one day, but I couldn’t get you out of my head. I love Andrea, but I am falling for you, too. I can’t help it. I’m sorry you found out this way, but I do still care about you. I just can’t leave Andrea yet.”
“Well, I’m not an option for you anymore. You should go back to Andrea and be a family. Stop being a cheater and an asshole. Give that little boy the life he deserves. Be the man that you claim to be. I’m going back to Mason. He may have messed up royally, but I believe in second chances, for him. He is it for me. I want to start my family with him.”
“I think you have it all wrong. I’m not the guy you think I am.”
“Save it, Austin. Take my advice. And please don’t try to contact me again. We’re done. Have a good life.”
He started to say something else, but I left some money on the table and walked straight to my car without looking back. That was a chapter in my life I never wanted to open again.
Mason stayed in the hospital for another week, and I was there with him every step of the way. I gathered all of his stuff up from his parents’ house and had Erin, Dave, and Laney helped me move it all into my place. Everyone knew my secret at this point, and my sisters both had time to make their peace with him. They knew that once I decided he was it for me, I wasn’t going back.
His road to recovery was another six weeks long, but then he was as good as new. He got a job as the manager of a local restaurant and bar. He also helped me come up with plenty of new material for my stories while we made up for our year and a half apart. He made me feel special every day by leaving me notes, bringing me flowers, and just supporting me in every way.
One night, he took me to the Italian restaurant where we had our first date. It had been a favorite of ours in the past, but I hadn’t been able to stand the sight of it while he was gone. It felt good to be sitting there having a glass of wine while he sipped his beer. We both had their famous lasagna, and held hands and smiled. It was so easy now, and I was so grateful.
As we were sharing a piece of cheesecake for dessert, he got a serious look on his face.
“Jamie, I need to talk to you about something.”
My heart clenched, and I immediately felt worried. Was something wrong? Was he ready to run again?
“What is it, babe?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking. See, I have this beautiful girl in my life who took me back into her heart after I broke it. She’s the mother of my little girl. She’s my world. She heals me when I’m sick and beaten down by the world. She believes in me when no one else does. She makes me laugh and smile. And forget about what she does to me in the bedroom. I’ve decided that I can’t risk losing her, and I need to make her mine for good.”
I went to say something, but he stopped me.
“See, that girl is you, Jamie. You are everything and more to me. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”
I started crying as he pulled a ring out of his pocket and got down on one knee. Who knew Mason Phillips was such a romantic?
The ring was a single, princess cut diamond on a platinum band, and it took my breath away. I must have been nodding yes because he slipped it on my finger.
“Yes, baby. Absolutely yes. Make me your wife and then we can start trying all of this again. I won’t be happy till we have someone to call us Mommy and Daddy.”
He stood up and kissed me, and I knew, right then, that I was finally home.
The End
*****
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