by Jen Talty
“Are you saying mine sucks?”
“Yes. Unless it’s steaks on the grill.”
He laughed, holding up his glass. “Cheers to us.”
“I can clink my glass to that.”
He took a long sip before setting his beverage down on the table. He cleared his throat. “Are you happy?”
She cocked her head. “What kind of question is that?”
“Just answer it.”
“Of course, I am.”
“Do you love me?”
“You’re being weird,” she said. “Yes. I love you. Do you love me back?”
He chuckled. “I love you so much it hurts.” He stood and dug into his pocket. It was now or never. “I never want to know what life looks like without you in it.”
“Oh, shit. You’re not going to do this now, are you?”
“Do what?”
“Propose,” she whispered. “Oh. God. I’m going to ruin it. I suck at life.”
He laughed. “No. You make life worth living.” He pulled out the ring box and set it on the table. He decided not to get down on one knee. Eliza Jane was a lot of things, but traditional wasn’t one of them. He flipped open the lid, showing off his mother’s engagement ring. Weezer had wanted him to have it sooner rather than later. “I love you. I don’t want to wait to get married. I want to do it now. As in as soon as possible.”
“Like next weekend?” She lifted the ring out of the box and held it up in the air. “Holy shit. This is your mom’s.”
“She wants you to have it.”
Eliza Jane pressed one hand against her heart. “I don’t know if I can accept this.”
“You will insult her if you agree to marry me and don’t take that ring.”
“Talk about fucking pressure.” She inhaled sharply and sighed. “Wow,” she whispered. “I love you. And, yes, I want to marry you. With all my heart, I want to be with you forever.”
He helped her slip the ring onto her finger.
It was a perfect fit.
A loud, thunderous clapping roared in the background.
She turned and let out a gasp as his entire family emerged. “Are you kidding me right now?”
“Did you think I could get engaged and not have them present?” He stood and held out his hand.
She took it, and he lifted her into his arms. “I hope someone got that on video.”
“Oh, yeah,” one of his siblings said.
She rested her head on Malbec’s shoulder.
Finally, she’d come home.
Ready for another trip to Candlewood Falls?
For more Alpachino the Alpaca antics and to find out who went to prison for killing Sam’s Father’s read TAKING ROOT by Stacey Wilk.
If you want to spend some time with Sam Wilde and his quest for an apple to make you happy and horny you’ll want to read WILDE TEMPTATION by K.M. FAWCETT.
Some truths weren’t meant to be uncovered. THE BURIED SECRET by USA Today Bestselling Author Jen Talty
What will Brad Wilde the man who has it all do when an orphan is dropped on his doorstep? RAISING WINTER by Stacey Wilk.
Spend the holidays with Lacey Wilde, her dog Remi, and a sexy marine who claims Remi belongs to him in WILDE CHRISTMAS by K.M. Fawcett.
Thank you for visiting Candlewood Falls!
Be sure to leave a review to help readers like you find and enjoy our small town.
Join our exciting community of authors and readers at the Candlewood Falls Facebook Readers Group for cover reveals, sneak peaks, deleted scenes, and excerpts from upcoming releases. Plus games and fun!
Acknowledgments
A big thank you to Stacey Wilk and K.M. Fawcett for inviting me into Candlewood Falls.
About the Author
Jen Talty is the USA Today Bestselling Author of Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Paranormal Romance. In the fall of 2020, her short story was selected and featured in a 1001 Dark Nights Anthology. She is currently contracted to write in the With Me in Seattle series by Kristen Proby with Lady Boss Press, as well as Susan Stoker’s Special Forces: Operation Alpha and Elle James’s Brotherhood Protectors.
Regardless of the genre, her goal is to take you on a ride that will leave you floating under the sun with warmth in your heart. She writes stories about broken heroes and heroines who aren’t necessarily looking for romance, but in the end, they find the kind of love books are written about :).
She first started writing while carting her kids to one hockey rink after the other, averaging 170 games per year between 3 kids in 2 countries and 5 states. Her first book, IN TWO WEEKS was originally published in 2007. In 2010 she helped form a publishing company (Cool Gus Publishing) with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer where she ran the technical side of the business through 2016.
Jen is currently enjoying the next phase of her life…the empty nester! She and her husband reside in Jupiter, Florida.
Grab a glass of vino, kick back, relax, and let the romance roll in…
Sign up for my Newsletter (https://dl.bookfunnel.com/82gm8b9k4y) where I often give away free books before publication.
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Also by Jen Talty
Candlewood Falls
RIVERS EDGE
Legacy Series
Dark Legacy
Legacy of Lies
Secret Legacy
With Me In Seattle
INVESTIGATE WITH ME
SAIL WITH ME
FLY WITH ME
Club Temptation
SWEET TEMPTATION
The Monroes
COLOR ME YOURS
COLOR ME SMART
COLOR ME FREE
COLOR ME LUCKY
COLOR ME ICE
It’s all in the Whiskey
JOHNNIE WALKER
GEORGIA MOON
JACK DANIELS
JIM BEAM
WHISKEY SOUR
WHISKEY COBBLER
WHISKEY SMASH
Search and Rescue
PROTECTING AINSLEY
PROTECTING CLOVER
PROTECTING OLYMPIA
PROTECTING FREEDOM
PROTECTING PRINCESS
NY STATE TROOPER SERIES
In Two Weeks
Dark Water
Deadly Secrets
Murder in paradise Bay
To Protect His own
Deadly Seduction
When A Stranger Calls
His Deadly Past
The Corkscrew Killer
Brand New Novella for the First Responders series
A spin off from the NY State Troopers series
PLAYING WITH FIRE
PRIVATE CONVERSATION
THE RIGHT GROOM
AFTER THE FIRE
CAUGHT IN THE FLAMES
The Men of Thief Lake
REKINDLED
DESTINY’S DREAM
Federal Investigators
JANE DOE’S RETURN
THE BUTTERFLY MURDERS
The Aegis Network
THE LIGHTHOUSE
HER LAST HOPE
THE LAST FLIGHT
THE RETURN HOME
THE MATRIARCH
The Collective Order
THE LOST SISTER
THE LOST SOLDIER
THE LOST SOUL
THE LOST CONNECTION
A Spin-Off Series: Witches Academy Series
THE NEW ORDER
Special Forces Operation Alpha
BURNING DESIRE
BURNING KISS
BURNING SKIES
BURNING LIES
BURNING HEART
BURNING BED
REMEMBER ME ALWAYS
The Brotherhood Protectors
Out of the Wild
ROUGH JUSTICE
ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES
ROUGH RIDE
ROUGH EDGE
ROUGH BEAUTY
The Brotherhood Protectors
The Saving Series
SAVING LOVE
SAVING MAGNOLIA
SAVING LEATHER
Hot Hunks
Cove's Blind Date Blows Up
My Everyday Hero – Ledger
Tempting Tavor
Holiday Romances
A CHRISTMAS GETAWAY
ALASKAN CHRISTMAS
WHISPERS
CHRISTMAS IN THE SAND
CHRISTMAS IN JULY
Heroes & Heroines on the Field
TAKING A RISK
TEE TIME
The Twilight Crossing Series
THE BLIND DATE
SPRING FLING
SUMMER’S GONE
WINTER WEDDING
Witches and Werewolves
LADY SASS
ALL THAT SASS
