by Shayla Black
“Please. I want to hear that.”
“You would be the center of it, of course. The only part of our past we’d ever think about would be meeting and falling in love. You’d be wearing my ring. We’d be planning a wedding and finding a place to live together for the rest of our insanely happy lives. Soon, we’d start catching up with your siblings on the baby thing. I want a few of our own, and it would be great if all the kids were roughly the same age so they could play together. I’m glad you’re starting your own financial services business, because I’d like to be working beside you eventually. I’m already registered to take the online classes to become a certified financial planner. Once I’ve completed those, I’d want to learn from you, grow our business together, while I finish my college degree. I would be your full partner—in business and in life. Most of all, I want to show you how madly I love you every day. And I want you to love me back. That world, to me, would be perfect.”
I blink, utterly stunned at how far he’s already gone to mesh his life with mine. More hope makes my chest swell until it’s tight—but in a good way. The very best way, in fact.
“How do I know you mean it?” That’s the last question I have, the one I haven’t been able to get past on my own.
“Stay right here.”
Before I can reply, he darts across the room and up the stairs. I hear him rummaging around up there. A curse follows, then he jets back into the living room winded, but looking surprisingly upbeat—and clutching something in his fist.
That hope expands even more until it fills up my whole body.
“You don’t have any proof about me. Just like I never had any proof about you when we were in Maui. The truth is, I tried to apply ‘logic.’ I questioned everything and took each word you said with a grain of salt. It’s what a cautious, rational person does, right?” He shrugs. “How much better would it have been if I had simply gone with my gut and believed you were exactly the woman you seemed? That you were the only one I could ever want or need, despite the apparent ‘proof’ otherwise, for the rest of my life?”
He makes an excellent point. Relationships don’t come with guarantees. It’s not a savings account or a municipal bond. There’s no assurance this romance will pay the dividends I want. Cupid isn’t the FDIC, who will insure a substantial chunk of my investment in his heart.
I’m willing to trust him—and us—or I’m not. It’s as simple as that.
Granted, in the past, I was blindly loyal to my father. But I put my faith in the wrong someone. Clint took such good care of me in Maui—far better than my father did, even at his best. I can’t shade Clint with Barclay’s wrongdoings just because they’re both men who told lies. I can’t fall into the guilt-by-association trap. I have to believe that Clint is exactly the man I fell for.
Slowly, I nod. “What’s in your hand?”
He smiles, looking both sheepish and a bit shy. “You never saw it, did you?”
“What?” But I’m pretty sure I know.
Suddenly, he’s down on one knee. “Bethany Alannah Banks, will you—”
“You dug up my middle name?”
Clint laughs. “I knew everything about you before I orchestrated our first meeting in Hawaii. The only thing I didn’t know was the actual you. So, yes. Bethany Alannah Banks, I love everything about you—the kind, the shy, the ballsy, the witty, the unsure—even your middle name. Please do me the extreme honor of being my wife and making me the happiest man on earth.”
When he flips open the ring box, I gasp. It’s everything I ever imagined an engagement ring should be. It’s not big or gaudy. In fact, it’s simple. It’s elegant. It’s…me. The marquise-cut diamond sits on a simple white-gold band, flanked by two smaller marquise-cut diamonds nestled on either side. No other embellishments. Nothing that jumps up and screams “look at me!” Just a pure, exquisite expression of the love he’s been trying to give me for the last three months.
“Can I try it on?”
He doesn’t hesitate. “If it gets you any closer to saying yes, then absolutely. All day long.”
After yanking the ring from the box, he insists on sliding it onto my finger.
The moment he does, my equilibrium fixes itself. Everything feels right. My world is perfect.
Well, almost.
I blink up at him. “Want to hear my version of an ideal life?”
“Yes. Please tell me we can meet somewhere in the middle, Beth. I don’t want to live without you.”
Finally, I reach out and touch him. “You’re the center of it. The only part of our past we ever think about is falling in love and learning from our mistakes so we can have an amazing future. I’m wearing this ring, and we’re planning a wedding. And buying a place on Maui, where I can be near my family, and we can live an insanely happy life together. Yes, we definitely have to catch up to my siblings in the baby department. I want our kiddos to play with their cousins. Professionally, you and I would have this great home-and-work relationship, and we’d make an amazing investment team to help the financial dreams of others come true. And most of all, I want to show you that I love you, too. And that I never stopped. That’s my perfect world.”
“Seriously? For real?” Clint gapes, looking sucker-punched. “You’re saying yes?”
I glance at the ring, then into the face of the man I never expected to love…and now can’t imagine living my life without. “I’m saying an enthusiastic hell yes.”
Instantly, my reply fills the chasm between us and builds a bridge across the divide. He pulls me close, crushing me against his chest, then swoops down to claim me with a kiss that feels like a tender, passionate start on our forever.
When we finally lift our heads long moments later, we’re both panting. “No joke, right?”
“I love you. I have for a long time. And I think Bethany Holmes has a wonderful ring to it.”
“My dad thought the same thing. In my last conversation with him, he tried to convince me that you and I would be perfect together.”
I smile. “Your dad was a wonderful, wise man.”
Clint kisses me again. This embrace takes even longer to tear ourselves away from. We’d both rather find the bedroom, but there are still things to settle…
“How do you feel about moving to Maui?” I finally ask between long bouts of lip locks.
“Actually, I was thinking of heading there anyway. Bret and Bry will be okay if I go. They’re men now. They’re both doing great. None of us want to sell the house here since it’s full of our childhood memories. Thankfully, my aunt Sandra has decided to leave Kansas after a miserable winter. So she’ll be moving here in a few weeks. We’re going to rent her the house. She’ll take good care of it. Problem solved.” He gives me a big grin. “When I was on the island, I fell in love with it and the people, just like I fell in love with you. So all we have to do is choose a date to get married and a house in which we’ll live happily ever after.”
I’m beyond elated. When I first stepped foot on Maui, I never imagined the journey would change my life—and me—for the better. My heart feels like it might burst from my chest—in the best way possible.
Tossing my arms around Clint, I kiss my way across his jaw before brushing my lips over his and tugging up on the hem of his very inconvenient shirt. “We’ll look at a calendar and real estate listings later. Right now, I can’t wait to be with you.”
He cups my face in his hands. “Oh, sweetheart. You have no idea how desperate I’ve been to get my hands on you, how much I want to show you in every way possible that I love you. I’m thinking we should get started on the rest of our lives now. We can call the family and give them the good news later. Don’t you think?”
Smiling, I flash him my engagement ring. “I do.”
The End
Read on for more from Shayla Black!
The More Than Words series continues later this year with…
MORE THAN PLEASURE YOU
by Shayla Black
(a
1001 Dark Nights novella)
Coming November 12, 2019!
Can I convince her our hot but temporary engagement should last forever?
I’m Stephen Lund, confirmed bachelor…and son of a successful billionaire whose sins I can’t forget—or forgive. After he delivered an ultimatum to either get over his transgressions or get out of the family business, I put space between us with a temporary getaway to Maui. My rental’s sexy caretaker, Skye Ingram, is a beautiful distraction. Yeah, it’s a terrible time to start a fling, but I can’t help wanting to give her every bit of pleasure she’s willing to take.
When Skye needs a date to her ex-boyfriend’s wedding, I’m game to play her pretend fiancé. The jerk should see what he passed up…and that I’m holding her now. But our pretend engagement begins to feel real. Our passion certainly is. So are the consequences. When I’m confronted with the reality that our lives are now irrevocably entwined, I have to choose between leaving Skye to return to the life—and wealth—I’ve always known or abandoning everything familiar to start over with the woman who awakened my heart.
MORE THAN WORDS SERIES
By Shayla Black
Sexy contemporary romances that prove sometimes words alone can’t express the true depths of love.
Each book can be read as a standalone. You may enjoy them more in order, but it’s not necessary for your reading pleasure.
More Than Want You
More Than Need You
More Than Love You
More Than Crave You
More Than Tempt You
Coming Soon:
More Than Pleasure You (novella) (November 12, 2019)
LET’S GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER!
ABOUT ME:
Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than seventy novels. For twenty years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold millions of copies and been published in a dozen languages.
Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past eight years.
Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her daughter, and two spoiled tabbies. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.
LET ME LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU.
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SERIES BY SHAYLA BLACK
For more info about Shayla’s books, visit ShaylaBlack.com!
MORE THAN WORDS
Contemporary romances that depict a love so complete, it can’t be expressed with mere words.
DEVOTED LOVERS
Steamy, character-driven romantic suspenses about heroes who will do anything to love and protect the women bold enough to be theirs. Begins where Wicked Lovers ended.
WICKED LOVERS
Dark, dangerous, beyond-sexy romantic suspenses about high-octane men and the daring women they risk all for, even their hearts.
PERFECT GENTLEMEN
Suspenseful contemporary romances about the “Perfect Gentlemen” of Creighton Academy. Privileged, wealthy, and powerful friends—with a wild side.
MASTERS OF MÉNAGE
Very sexy romances about men of power and danger who share a kink—and a special woman. Though she’s inexperienced, she isn’t afraid to embrace all she desires.
SEXY CAPERS
Sassy, sinful contemporary romances with a pinch of suspense that show both the fun and angst of falling in love while snaring bad guys.
DOMS OF HER LIFE: RAINE FALLING
Super-sexy serialized contemporary romances about one tempestuous woman thoroughly in love with two friends and their battle to see who will ultimately win her heart.
DOMS OF HER LIFE: HEAVENLY RISING
Super-sexy serialized contemporary romances about one innocent and the two frenemies desperate to her touch, protect, and claim her as their own.
MISADVENTURES
Sexy, rompy standalone contemporary romances with a fun premise, fast pace, and high heat.
STANDALONES
Romances published independent of a series, some sexy, some sweet, all with a happy ending that’s finished and complete.
HISTORICALS
Sexy stories about the bold rakes and audacious beauties of lush eras gone by.
PARANORMAL
Set in contemporary London, magic, myth, and emotions blend in the passionate, good-versus-evil Doomsday Brethren series.
