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"Possessive much?"

The things we said to each other when we were so base and so real. “I said yes then, and you should say yes now."

"Are you implying I proposed that day and you said yes? Because I definitely missed that part."

I lowered my body onto hers, trapping her against the slippery plastic. Then I kissed her, speaking with our lips touching and my head shaking from side to side. "No, you didn't. You loved it and you've been ridiculously happy about it, but you've also been waiting for me to make it official."

She squirmed but didn't deny it. I could admit that she was the one brave enough to say it first and it was time for me to make it reality.

And if she kept wiggling we were going to be celebrating immediately. "So here it is, babe. I love you and you love me and we've basically been married for a while now. Some people don't care about the paperwork, but I do. I know that sounds a little out of character for someone who lived out of a truck until now, but I want the paper. I want it official. I wantyou.And I'd like to build you your dream writing cottage and if you want a ring, I'll get you that too." I'd get her the damn moon if that was what she needed. "I love you. Always."

She melted into me. "That's the most romantic thing that's ever happened to anyone, anywhere."

"I wasn't aiming for romance, Lee. I'm waiting for ayes." I squeezed her hip for emphasis.

"Yes, Jackson. Yes."

We both needed the paperwork. It was the security blanket we both craved. The one that said we were each other's person and everyone, everywhere knew it because it was written in black and white.

I kissed her again and then climbed out of the tub, reaching back for her. "Come on now, wife. It's time to start making plans."

She took my hand with a laugh. "Oh Jackson, what am I going to do with you?"

I swept her up in my arms because she was moving too slowly. "You're going to say yes, Lee.Yes Jackson, please fuck me. Yes Jackson, please marry me. Yes Jackson, call me wife."

She nibbled on my ear. "Well, we can certainly start with the first one. Take me to bed, husband. Take me now."

Forty-Four

Jackson

Huk. With an H, my dude. Huk.

God damnI was proud of myself. The look in Marley's eyes when I told her about the cottage was more than I could have hoped for but then I proposed with it and she damn near melted in my arms.

So yeah, I was fucking proud and riding a high when I pulled up at Karis's for a playdate with my favorite little man.

He stood in the open door with his hands in the air. "Huk!"

I scooped him right up and landed a dozen kisses and raspberries on his little body as I moved into the kitchen. My little sister was looking better these days. Summer school was over and she had a couple of weeks of freedom before the school year kicked off and she was back in the thick of things.

Marley scurried in and closed the front door. "Are you getting a new neighbor?"

Karis groaned. "Apparently."

"What? Where?" There was only the abandoned house next door and the Smyths down the road. The Smyths weren't going anywhere so that only left...

"The reno-on-life-support has found a last second organ donor." She flipped a hand in the direction of the dilapidated gardens. "There's a camper parked on the other side of the house. At least it gives us both our privacy. Until they start hammering and nailing at eight in the morning. I should really go introduce myself and make it clear I'm a single mother raising a toddler and I'll murder them if they fuck with his sleep schedule."

Gus giggled before yelling, "Fuck!"

"Shit." Karis covered her mouth.

Marley burst into giggles which was the exact wrong thing to do.

So I tried to steer my poor little nephew in a new direction. "Huk. With an H, my dude. Huk."

He seemed to consider this for a moment and then wiggled out of my arms. "Build blocks!"