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She winced, yet with a smile.
“It’s not as…” She shrugged. “I’m sorry. I got carried away. I didn’t mean to give you another hickey like that.”
“I don’t even care. Not as long as I have you.”
When she smiled at him like that, with her heart in her eyes and the love shining bright, he honestly didn’t care. He’d take all the ribbing with a good nature.
“I also have something for you. To show off.”
“Oh, really.” Her eyes lit up with delight. “I’m so glad you don’t mind showing off another hickey. It wasn’t intentional.”
“This is completely intentional and something I should’ve given you a long time ago.”
He dug inside his pocket and pulled out the box. Her eyes widened.
Because he should’ve done this the first time, he got down on one knee and opened it.
“Mia Carter, I have loved you for a very long time. No matter how hard life might get, I will always stick by your side. Will you marry me?”
Her eyes started to glisten as she stared at the simple, yet elegant pearl ring. It had a gleaming white-gold band circled with tiny diamonds all around it.
“This is…” her voice cracked. “Perfect. Yes, of course, I’ll marry you.”
He stood up, placed the ring on her finger, and sealed her words with a kiss.
She bit her bottom lip again as she held out her hand admiring the ring.
“Please don’t do that.”
She looked at him. “Do what?”
“Bite your lip so enticingly. We have a party to set up, not another round of crazy lovemaking in the back storage room of a bar.”
Her giggles filled the room, which filled his heart with joy.
“You’re absolutely right. Let’s get this party started.”
If he managed to keep his mind on track and not in the gutter, it would be the best damn party on the planet.
Life was good again.
He couldn’t wait to see Gabby and Dane’s face when they arrived.
20
Oh, she didn’t look happy. Sure, she had a smile on her face, but Mia knew Gabby’s smile like the back of her hand, and this smile said she was putting on a show for the room of people while the anger simmered below the surface.
Dane looked wide-eyed, his smile a bit strained, but Mia didn’t sense brewing anger like Gabby’s.
People stopped clapping and shouting surprise and happy birthday and approached the birthday couple. Brick had cut the ribbon to let them enter. Mia stood back near the refreshment table next to Jaxson, deciding it was best everyone else talked to them before they had their chance.
“She looks pissed,” Jaxson whispered as he bent his head closer to hers, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek before straightening back up.
Since the moment they loved each other so unabashedly in the storage room—she still couldn’t believe she did that—they’d been inseparable. Working close together to get everything set up for the party. Constantly touching each other in small, sweet ways. Jaxson placing a hand on her back. Her brushing a hand through his hair. A kiss here. A kiss there. A little slap on the ass, which almost enticed another round in the storage room.
She loved every second of it.
It was amazing how one week of purging her soul of her demons could open her heart to new feelings. Because a week ago, she would’ve shied away from his touch in a crowded room. Now, she wanted to inch closer and never let go.
