Page 40 of Easy On Me

Fighting off a cringe, I opened a tea bag and dropped it into my cup. A package of shortbread cookies from the downtown bakery sat on the counter next to the electric kettle. He didn’t have much of a sweet tooth, but I’d mentioned loving those. So here they were, waiting for me. And in a small glass container, I discovered the raw brown sugar I used in my tea.

He paid attention to everything I said.

He saw me.

Maybe it didn’t really matter what anybody else thought. Maybe all that mattered was him and me and our baby.

The storm door creaked when I carried out drinks outside. He straightened from vacuuming my car, long form flexing with his easy economy of movement.

“Thank you.” He punctuated the gratitude with a swift kiss.

I laid my hand at his waist, the damp cotton of his t-shirt cool against my palm. “You’re going to be cold.”

He made an amused noise deep in his throat before taking a cautious sip. “I work all day outside and get wet in colder weather than this.”

“Still.” I folded my hands around my warm cup and watched him take another swallow, the muscles in his throat flexing. “I want to marry you, Jase.”

He sputtered, then coughed, his eyes watering but lit with joy and excitement – the same way he’d looked when I told him about the pregnancy. “Yeah?”

I nodded.

He stepped forward, paused, and reached for my cup. Setting both on the concrete, he engulfed me in a tight hug.

“You might’ve let me finish my coffee before springing it on me like that,” he muttered near my ear. His laugh vibrated through me.

I pressed my nose to his collar, inhaling the clean smell of soap mingled with the unique warmth of his skin. A hint of acidic carwash detergent tickled my next inhale. “Have to keep you on your toes.”

That gorgeous laugh rumbled through me again, and I caught a glimpse of affection in his blue eyes before he kissed me, hard. “Finish your tea. I have something for you.”

“That’s why we’re in this situation.”

“Not that.” With an indulgent chuckle, he popped my ass. “And I’d want this even if you weren’t pregnant.”

I called bullshit on that, but kept it to myself. He’d just want to argue and then make up, not that I minded making up with him.

“You want a big wedding?” He wrapped the shopvac cord in a neat coil atop the appliance.

“No.” Orange spice burst on my tongue with a sip. Even cooling, the tea was amazing. “That was Marilyn’s thing.”

“What do you want?” He stowed the vacuum in the small storage closet at the rear of the carport. Over his shoulder, he shot a quick glance at me, one brow lifted.

“Something small, but nice.” I shrugged. Mama Nancy would have ideas, but I didn’t need all the frills. Small, easy frills would be nice. Something simple and pretty.

“Come on.” He hustled me up the steps and through the side door. In the laundry room, he stripped off his shirt, giving me a glimpse of the lean muscles in his back. I watched his belly flex, too, as he grabbed a clean, dry t-shirt and shrugged it on. Little licks of desire unfurled low in my stomach. Maybe I’d let him give me something after all.

Hair ruffled, he tugged the shirt down over his abs, a hint of amusement glinting in his eyes when he caught me eying him.

“Be right back.” Brushing his lips over my cheek, he disappeared through the family room, whistling. Finishing my last bit of tea, I curled onto one of the kitchen chairs, a foot tucked under me. He returned moments later, a blue velvet ring box in hand. He hunkered down before me and flipped it open. “What do you think? If you don’t like it, we’ll go to Hodges and you can pick something else. I want you to be satisfied.”

A pretty, old-fashioned solitaire on a hefty gold band, the ring glittered in the afternoon sunlight. I gave it a suspicious scowl, trying to remember his ex’s ring from her social media posts.

“Quit looking like that. It’s not her ring.” His voice hardened. “She picked that one out. I broke the engagement, so she kept it. This is my great-grandma’s on the Hatcher side. I called her Noonie.”

I smiled, relief crashing through me. I didn’t want anything of hers. Well, him, but he wasn’t hers any longer.

He was mine.

I lifted my gaze to his. “It’s pretty.”