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“O-kay... You guys were so weird.”
“Yeah. We were.” I smile and pat my pocket again. “You think your mom’s gonna like the ring?”
“I think she’s gonna love it.” She kisses my cheek, then holds Myrtle up so she can do the same.
Ashlyn’s gonna fucking kill me.
* * *
I’m stretched out on the couch withSports Centerplaying on TV while Lindy sits on the floor with the puppy snoring on her lap when Ashlyn comes through the door after work.
“Honey... I’m home,” she calls out, then drops her bag on the chair and curls up next to me before her body goes rigid. “What isthat?”
Lindy turns slowly and holds up the puppy. “Mom, meet Myrtle.”
“Myrtle?” Ashlyn asks skeptically. “Are we puppy-sitting?”
“Yes, Myrtle. Like Moaning Myrtle fromHarry Potter. And no. She’s ours. Brandon and I got her today from Lenny and Bash. Every girl needs a dog, Mom.” Just then, Myrtle opens her eyes and yawns, her ridiculously long tongue curling out in front of her.
Ashlyn shakes her head, then whispers in my ear, “Every girl needs a man with a tongue that long. How did my daughter con you into a dog?”
“Lucky you, everything about me is long, baby,” I whisper back, and Ashlyn giggles, then Lindy groans.
“You guys are gross. I can’t even hear what you’re saying, but she’s blushing. Eww. You’re too old to blush, Mom.”
“I better not have to do one single thing for little Miss Myrtle, Madeline, or so help me, my face will be red with anger. Got it?”
Lindy stands carefully with the puppy. “I got it. But we can keep her, right?”
Ashlyn rests her head on my shoulder and sighs. “Yes, we can keep her. But remind me to call your sister and tell her she owes me.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mom.” Lindy rushes the two of us and kisses her mom, then me as Myrtle nips at my nose. “I promise. I’ll do it all.” She takes a few steps back and heads for the stairs. “I’m going to go FaceTime the girls.”
I wait until she’s out of sight before running my knuckle down Ashlyn’s cheek. “Think we should break it to her that Myrtle’ll want to go out in the middle of the night?”
“Nope.” She presses her lips to mine. “Let her find that one out herself.”
I slide my hands down to her hips and lift her onto my lap, and my girl comes willingly. Her fingers dig into my hair as she opens for me, and I devour her mouth. “We’ve got two hours, baby.”
She cocks her head to the side, smiling hesitantly. “For what? Not another dog, right?”
“No. Not another dog.” I drag my tongue along her lip, then bite down. “I’m taking you on a date.”
“Ohh.” She runs her teeth over her bottom lip. “Like you’re going to wine and dine me? Should I tell you now that I’m a sure thing or let you find that out after?”
This woman.
She’s class and elegance.
Kind and soft and warm and caring.
And funny. She’s so fucking funny.
I cup her face in my hands and press my forehead against hers. “I love you, Ashlyn.” The words slip out as naturally as my next breath. “Every beat of my heart belongs to you. It always will.”
“Oh my God,” she whispers as tears pool in her dark green eyes. “I love you too, Brandon. I think a piece of me fell in love with you a lifetime ago, and I never let go of that piece. I hid it for safekeeping because I think I hoped we’d find our way back to each other one day.”
I shift and pull the box from my pocket, then crack it open. “I wasn’t going to do this now. I had a plan. We have a reservation. I was going to do this at dinner.”
