Page 113 of Caught Looking

“And ever. Just you and me, babe.”

“With mashed up names?”

“Butler-Ryan Ryan-Butler, Rutler, Bryan, whatever makes you happy.”

She let out the most beautiful laugh. All I wanted was to spend the rest of my life making her do that…or moan my name. She wiggled her fingers. “Yes.”

I grinned, sliding the simple silver band with diamond accents onto her finger. Annalise was an athlete. She liked her jewelry flashy or simple. Nothing in between. So I decided the ring I wanted to see on her hand everyday had better fall closer to simple.

“I don’t think you could have picked out a more perfect ring, Seth.” She smiled at it as I stood up.

“You like it?”

“I love it. I loveyou.”

I hauled her into my arms for a kiss. Roscoe huffed and retreated to his room because we had an understanding. No cock-blocking. “I love you, Annalise.” I carefully laid her out on our new bed. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous with my ring on your finger.”

“And you’re sexy staring down at me like you want me.”

“Oh, I more than want you, babe.”

“Then show me.” She hiked up her skirt. “I may have lost my panties somewhere at the party.”

Fuuuuuccckk.My cock saluted my excellent choice in a life partner. In a wife. So I unbuckled my belt and fisted the beast my woman wanted. “Your pretty pussy looks awfully needy. How hard tonight, Annalise?”

“So hard we need to replace the brand-new headboard.”

“That’s my girl.” I moved between her legs and didn’t stop until the wood cracked and Annalise had screamed my name enough that we were imprinted on every inch of our new hideaway.

EPILOGUE

ANNALISE

Fourteen months later…

Seth placed a sausage on my plate and took a piece of my bacon. The pancakes were stacked between us on our usual table at Dottie’s Diner. Roscoe huffed at my feet as he finished off his bacon and whipped cream treat. Our new addition, Reaper, was still learning his manners. Seth had his foot in front of him, keeping him from stealing crumbs that Roscoe might leave behind.

“You nervous?” He grinned at me.

I scoffed. “Not in the least. Are you?”

His soft brown eyes twinkled. “Babe, I’ve been waiting for this day for almost two years.”

“You asked me to marry you just over a year ago.”

He kept grinning, not explaining himself.

“Seth Butler, you exasperate me. Are you seriously implying you’ve been wanting to marry me since before we even started dating?” There was one thing I knew would never change about my future husband, and that was his mischievous streak. It was a mile wide and widening.

“You ran me down in that outfield and I fell so hard I’ve never gotten up. Best day of my life.” He winked, picking up his fork to finish off his eggs.

I rolled my eyes.

Dottie came back to the table with the check. “You two have come in with some strange ensembles but this one takes the cake.” She slipped the check to Seth. “But you do look good. Congratulations. Have fun.”

“Oh we plan to, Dottie.” He slid two-hundred-dollar bills into the folder. “Keep the change.”

I popped my last bite of bacon in my mouth and finished off my orange juice. Then I pulled off the napkins Seth insisted I cover myself with and shook them out. Not that there were crumbs. I ate like a lady.