I hope he’s feeling okay.
Half an hour later Drake returns. “Have you picked something out?”
He looks fine, so I decide not to point out his long absence. “I found a few I like, but I don’t know how much you want to spend.”
“Let me see what you chose.” The salesman and I show him the ones I liked the best, and he carefully looks them over. “I like these,” he says. “I think they’d match the bracelet perfectly.”
“You’re right.” But they’re so expensive. I’m about to tell him that when he tells the salesman that we want them. The salesman nods and carries the earrings away. “They’re way too expensive,” I whisper.
Drake laughs. “That’s for me to decide.”
“I don’t feel right about accepting such an expensive gift.” Now I wish I’d never selected them in the first place—although all the earrings in this place are pricey.
Drake takes one of my hands in both of his. “I want to buy them for you, Ashley. Don’t deny me the pleasure of giving you a gift.”
My lips purse. “But you already bought the bikini and this dress and these shoes. That’s plenty.” My eyebrows rise. “Plus the Camelback.”
He laughs. “Tell you what. I’ll buy the earrings, and if you decide you don’t want them, I’ll bring them back.”
With a soft sigh, I agree.
“Good.”
A few minutes later, with the bag in his hand, we walk out of the shop.
“You’re too good to me,” I say.
“You’re good to me too, Ashley.”
I don’t know if I agree with that. Especially after I let my feelings of jealousy get in the way of our relationship.
“Shall we go back to my room for a bit, or do you want me to take you back to your parents’ house?”
I’m not ready for this day to end. “Let’s go back to your room.”
When we arrive, I settle on the couch in the sitting area and gaze at the gorgeous view from his window. “I think I’m starting to like the views as much as you do,” I say with a laugh.
Drake sits beside me. “I’m glad to hear that.”
“Why?”
He gazes at me, then he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a box.
He wants me to wear the earrings. “I haven’t decided if I should accept those yet,” I say.
A sudden wide smile forms on his mouth. “Is that right?”
“Yes. Like I said at the jewelry store, they’re too expensive.”
“What would you say if I told you I bought you something else?”
Something about the light in his eyes makes my heart catch, and my voice comes out just above whisper. “I don’t understand.”
He sets the box on the couch, takes both of my hands in his, and gazes deep into my eyes. “Ashley, today I came to the realization of just how important it is to me to have you in my life. Without you my life lacks color. Before I met you I didn’t realize I’d been missing that color, that vibrancy.” He laughs. “How could I miss something I never had?” He lowers his chin as his eyes bore into mine. “Now that I know what you bring to my life, I don’t want to be without it. Ever.”
My heart is pounding so hard I think it might come right out of my chest.
He releases my hands, then lifts the box from the couch and opens the lid.
My gaze goes to the box, but it’s facing him and I can’t see what’s in it. I raise my eyes to his.
He takes my hand in his while he holds the box in his other hand. “Ashley, I love you, and I want you to be my wife.”
My lips part and a tiny gasp slips out of my mouth.
“Ashley, will you marry me?” He turns the box around and a gorgeous diamond ring nestled in a bed of blue velvet sparkles brightly.
After a glimpse of the diamond, I focus back on Drake. I’m overwhelmed—with love for him, with his proposal, with everything. Even so, I have no doubt that he’s the man for me—the Honey to my Bee. I ignore the spectacular ring as I throw my arms around his neck. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
His arms slide around my waist and he pulls me against him as he laughs softly. “Good.”
I pull back, and with my face glowing with happiness, I ask, “Did you have any doubt?”
The joy in my face is reflected in his. “Of course.”
I laugh. “Well, I’m glad you took the chance.”
He lifts the ring from the box. “May I?”
I hold up my left hand. “Please.”
He slips the ring onto my ring finger, and it’s a perfect fit.
DRAKE
“I love it,” Ashley says.
Pleased that I chose a ring to her liking, I smile, grateful for the covert help of the salesman at the jewelry store earlier. “I’m glad. But if you want to choose a different one, that’s fine.”
She shakes her head. “No, I really love what you chose.” She smiles at me, her face lit from within. “Besides, I love that you picked it out for me.”
I draw her against me, elated that this day has reached such a stunning conclusion—a conclusion I hadn’t foreseen, but that I know is right.
ASHLEY
I relish the strength and security of being in Drake’s arms, and I’m ecstatic that he will soon be my husband.
My husband.
I love the way that sounds, and I snuggle closer to him. His arms tighten around me and I smile as I remember sliding off the snowy road on my journey north. When he offered to bring me to his home, he never hesitated, and even when we were stranded together in the snow storm, he made me feel at home.
Yes, we’ve had a few bumps in our relationship—and I’m sure we’ll have more. But there is no doubt that we’re committed to each other and that we’ll work through the challenges we’re sure to face.
When I gaze at Drake, he tenderly kisses me, and I have no doubt that our future is bright, and that he is the man for me, and that this is the beginning of our happily ever after.
Love Me Forever
Drake and Ashley, Book Four
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Love Me Forever (Drake and Ashley, Book Four)
Copyright © 2016 by Christine Kersey
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
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One
ASHLEY
The sparkle of my stunning engagement ring catches my eye as Drake drives me back to my parents’ house, and with a sideways glance at my fiancé—my fiancé!—I let my inner joy burst forth in a brilliant smile. After spending the night at his hotel, then eating a lovely breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant, we are ready to share our news.
It’s been less than a day since we’ve become engaged and we haven’t told anyone. This secret belongs to us alone, but it is a secret I want to shout from the rooftops.
“What do you think your parents are going to say?” Drake asks as he watches the road. Then he takes one of my hands in his and turns to me. When his gaze goes to my smiling face, a matching smile curves his mouth. “By the look on your face, I wonder if you’ll care what your parents say.”
As ecstatic as I am about being engaged to the man I’m crazy in love with, I definitely care what my parents think. Still, I can’t hold back the absolute euphoria that’s taken hold of me—I’m madly in love with this man and he’s in love with me. It’s a dream that I never thought would come true.
&
nbsp; “Yes,” I say. “As a matter of fact I do care what they think.” As I imagine telling them I’m engaged to be married, my smile grows. “What about your father?” I ask. “He’s never met me. What do you think he’ll say?” Suddenly the idea of meeting Drake’s father makes my heart pound with worry. What if he thinks I’m not good enough for his son? Then what? Will Drake dump me? The thought fills me with horror and my smile fades.
Drake gently squeezes my hand. “He’ll love you, Ashley.”
I don’t want to argue with him, but I don’t know how he can possibly know what his father is going to think, and I need reassurance. “Has he met Rachel?” I’m instantly irritated with myself for bringing up his ex at a time that should be filled with happiness, yet I can’t seem to keep from comparing myself to her.
With a frown, Drake gives me a sideways glance. “Yes. He has.”
That information brings me zero comfort. So why did I want to know? Continuing my torture, I ask, “Does he like her?”
“Ashley.” Drake’s tone sounds a warning.
“I’m sorry. Never mind.” Of course he likes her. Drake’s known her for well over a year, and they dated for nearly a year. Feeling more inadequate compared to the sophisticated and beautiful—though haughty and rude—Rachel, I remind myself that Drake is engaged to me. That he chose me over her.
“You don’t have to worry.” He glances at me with a smile. “I don’t care what anyone says. I’m marrying you.”
The confidence in his voice helps to silence my doubts, and pure happiness cascades over me. I decide to let the matter rest.
DRAKE
I’m still a little bit in shock that I actually proposed to Ashley—bought a ring and everything. And now I’m engaged to be married. Sneaking a glance at Ashley as she sits in the passenger seat of my rental Jeep, love for her sweeps over me and I know I made the right decision.
Though I’m confident my father will accept her—and my decision—one hundred percent, I’m admittedly a little nervous to share our happy news with Ashley’s parents.
How are they going to feel about their daughter becoming engaged to me after knowing me for only a couple of months?
“What are you thinking?” Ashley asks.
Pushing aside my concerns, I force a confident smile onto my face as I look in her direction before turning my attention back to the road. “How much I enjoyed our hike yesterday.”
She laughs and squeezes my hand. “Playing Truth or Dare was fun, don’t you think?”
I mentally replay our game and think about how I almost screwed everything up with my answers about my assistant Jasmine. I know Ashley had only been trying to gauge my level of romantic interest in Jasmine—which is zero—but I’m beyond relieved that we’ve gotten past that hurdle. “My favorite part,” I say with a smirk, “was when you got stuck in the mud.”
She laughs. “Now that I’m no longer stuck, yeah, I guess that was kind of funny.”
I look her way. “What was your favorite part?”
A rosy blush brightens her cheeks as she looks away from me, and I know what she’s remembering.
“I kind of liked that kiss.” Her voice is soft as she looks at me from under her lashes.
I remember the way I pressed her against the canyon wall and the eager way she returned my kiss. I look in her direction and grin. “Me too.”
“But my favorite part of the day,” she says as a dazzling smile curves her lips, “was when you asked me to marry you.”
Joy shines from her eyes, and though my decision to propose had been kind of an impulse, I have no doubt that it is exactly what I want. “You weren’t expecting that, were you?”
She laughs. “No.”
A few minutes later we pull up to her parents’ house, and after helping her from the Jeep, I take her hand and lead her towards the front door.
“Mom?” Ashley calls out after we walk inside. “Dad?”
No one answers.
“Huh,” she says as she turns to me. “I guess they’re not here.” With a shrug, she adds, “I thought they were taking more time off after Dad’s heart attack, but maybe they went back to work.”
Her mention of work makes me think of all the work I’m not doing, and stress tenses my upper back.
“Let me grab my phone so I can text my mom,” she says, then she smiles. “Make yourself at home.”
ASHLEY
When I reach my room, I pick up my phone from the bedside table and see that I have nearly a dozen text messages, and they’re all from Emily. I sit on the bed, then begin scrolling through them. I can see she’s becoming anxious at my silence, although she knew Drake and I weren’t going to take our phones on our date the day before. I dash off a quick reply.
Ashley: I’m alive and well. Just getting back to my parents’ place and my cell phone.
She answers almost immediately.
Emily: You were with him all night? Do tell!
I laugh.
Ashley: I’ll give you all the details when I see you tonight.
Emily: I can’t wait!
Then I text my mom and ask her where she is.
“So this is your room, huh?” Drake says from the doorway as his gaze sweeps the space.
Glad I kept things tidy, I smile at him and nod. “Yep.” Then I pat the bed beside me.
He sits next to me, and when I set my phone on the bedside table with my left hand, my engagement ring catches my eye and I stare at it for a moment, still in a minor state of shock that Drake and I are engaged to be married.
“I’m glad you like it,” he says, obviously noticing me admiring the ring.
I turn to him and ask, “Is this real?”
His eyebrows rise. “It had damn well better be. I paid enough for it.”
Smiling at his misunderstanding of my question, I place my hand on the side of his face. “Not the ring. Us.”
His forehead creases, then he places his hand over mine and takes it from his face before kissing my palm.
The touch of his lips on my skin sends energy sizzling through me and I nearly lose my train of thought.
Enfolding my hand in his, he asks, “Are you having doubts, Ashley?”
I shake my head.
“Then what?” he asks. “What are you asking?”
With a small shrug, I say, “I guess I’m just kind of overwhelmed by all that’s happened, and I…it just hasn’t really sunk in yet.”
A smile lights his face. “What? That I’m in love with you and want to marry you?”
Hearing him say those words sends a thrill of euphoria right through me, and I laugh. “Yes. That.”
Cupping my face in his hands, he says, “Honestly, I love you so much that I kind of surprise myself.”
Not sure what to make of that, I hardly have time to analyze his words before his lips are pressing against mine. I kiss him back eagerly and slide my arms around his neck.
A moment later my phone chimes a message.
Drake eases me back onto the bed and I let him, but then I say, “Wait.”
He stops. “What’s wrong?”
“That might be my mom responding to my text.”
He helps me sit up and I grab my phone and glance at the screen, then say, “It’s her.” I swipe the screen and read the message, then turn to Drake. “They were running errands but they’re on their way back.”
He laughs and kisses me on the nose. “Then I guess that will have to wait.”
Nodding, I smile. “I should probably pack my stuff anyway so I’ll be ready to catch our flight.”
“Good idea.”
I grimace. “I also need to call my boss and let him know I’m not working today.”
A look of concern comes over Drake. “I hope he’s understanding.”
“Me too.” Then I dial my office and speak to my boss, apologizing for not calling him sooner and letting him know I’ll be in the office the next day. He doesn’t sound happy, but he says he’ll see me tomorrow. I disconne
ct and turn to Drake with a frown. “I hope he doesn’t fire me.”
“He would be an idiot if he did.”
I laugh. “I think you’re biased.”
“That’s true, but I know you’re a hard worker, so I’m not just saying that because I love you.”
His words warm me, but I’m worried about facing my boss the next day.
A moment later I hear the sound of the front door opening, then, “Ashley?”
“They’re back,” I say as I grab Drake by the hand and pull him to his feet.
Two
DRAKE
As excited as Ashley is to share our news with her parents, I find I’m having an equal, yet opposite, reaction.
These people are going to become my family. But what if they see through me? See me for the selfish person I can be? What if they counsel Ashley to dump me? And she agrees?
At the thought, it feels like a wide band has wrapped around my chest and has begun squeezing. Panic engulfs me.
“Hold on,” I say to Ashley as she begins tugging me down the hallway. There’s tension in my voice and I’m certain she hears it.
She stops and looks at me with a furrowed brow. “What’s wrong?”
My throat feels like it’s narrowed to the size of a straw, and I force a swallow. “Maybe,” I begin, then swallow again. “Maybe I should, you know, talk to your father before we spring this on them.”
“You mean, like, get his permission?” A look of delight fills her face. “Drake. I didn’t know you were so traditional.” She nods. “I think that’s a great idea.” With that, she removes the engagement ring and places it in her pocket.
Seeing her bare left ring finger emphasizes to me how important it is that I make her mine. As long as that finger is unadorned, any man—okay, I’m thinking of her co-worker Evan—will think she’s fair game. I want the world to know she belongs to me.
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