Page 2 of Kiss Me Forever

“Deadline schmeadline,” I teased. “Do I look okay? Even with all these freckles?”

“Stop talking about your freckles. They’re gorgeous. And I’m glad you’re not covering them up.”

“I’m just glad that I can find a decent coverage foundation that has sunscreen in it that’s not actually full coverage.” I shrugged. “I may lament my freckles, but they’re me. And it did remind me that Duke loves them.”

“Go meet your perfect fiancé, then tomorrow we start wedding planning. I know the moms are going to have fun with it.”

“Duke’s parents will probably want a say, outside of the Montgomery purview,” I teased.

“Maybe, but we still win. We outnumber them,” Riley added.

“You outnumber most small towns,” Mercy said dryly.

I rolled my eyes and finished getting ready, adding a coat of lip gloss, as well as mascara, and grabbed my bag from Mercy’s side table.

We had all piled into her room earlier that day, and I knew one day soon she would move next door, and this house would go up for rent. It was just one more change in the way that our family was growing.

I was ecstatic for Lexington and Mercy. As well as Riley and Patrick. And now I had the man of my dreams.

Before Duke, I’d been the person who dated the wrong guy. All through middle school and high school I dated the guy who wouldn’t stand up for me—or even himself. I didn’t mind being the strong one. The most vocal in the relationship. I didn’t mind being the one to always voice my opinions and stand up for us. But just once it would have been nice if they’d stood up for me.

Duke did that.

I made my way downtown, parking behind my mom’s bookshop, grateful for the space since there was no other parking around, and then I walked the two blocks to the restaurant. There were tons of other places closer to us, but Duke’s favorite place happened to be a steakhouse by his work.

When I got there, the hostess quickly took me to where Duke was seated, and the love of my life stood up and wrapped his arm around my waist.

“There you are. I’ve been waiting for you.” He brushed his lips against mine, and I sank into him.

I loved everything about this man. His kind eyes, the way they crinkled at the edges when he smiled because he laughed so much. I loved his blond hair, a running joke in our family since most of the men in my life were all dark headed, and apparently the favorite hot celebrities weren’t usually blond.

However, mine always had been. I blamed Legolas from Lord of the Rings when I had been a kid. It just was what it was.

When Duke lifted my hand and brushed his lips along my ring finger, right underneath my engagement ring, I blushed.

“I’m really enjoying my new jewelry. Though my hand’s quite heavy now.”

Duke threw his head back and laughed. “That’s what I like to hear. Come on, take a seat. I ordered us your favorite sparkling wine. But we can change it if you want.”

“That sounds perfect.” He knew what I liked and ordered ahead, but never in an overbearing way. I liked being able to just relax after a long day in the gardens.

“I did not order any appetizers, because I have no idea what you want when it comes to food. Wine? I’m your man. Not so much with the apps.”

I fluttered my eyelashes. “Considering I change my mind every single time we come here, that makes sense.”

“And they have specials. So who knows.”

I settled into the booth next to him, leaning against his shoulder.

Things just felt good.

We had new bids at the worksite, and while my hands were covered in minor cuts, and no matter what I did, it felt like I always had dirt under my fingernails thanks to my job, I loved it though.

Everything was finally coming to fruition, all of our hard work, and all of my hopeful plans.

Life truly couldn’t get better than this.

“Well there’s a familiar face.”