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Her lips and tongue move urgently with mine, kissing me hard and deep to make up for the week apart. My fingers slide up her back until I reach her head and tangle them in her hair. She tears away from my mouth and places open-mouth kisses along my jawline to my earlobe.

“Surprise,” she whispers so seductively my body hums alive.

“How did you know where to find me?”

“Before you get angry, I swear I didn’t beg Maren to locate your government issued top secret phone. Nor did I place a GPS tracker on your truck. Even though I wanted to so, so, so bad.”

“The thought didn’t cross my mind, but now that you mention it.”

She dislodges her arms from my shoulders and braces her hands on either side of my head. “Bryant called me. He told me where you were and hinted that it would be okay for me to visit tonight. My bag was packed and I was in the car before we even hung up. I’ve been climbing the walls for you to get here.”

“Kelly organized this?”

“Yes, he had a key waiting for me, and we have the next ten hours before you have to leave.”

I already respected the man, but my appreciation for him doubles. Who knew he was such a romantic?

“God, you’re a sight for sore eyes.” I scan her face, realizing how much just the vision of her can affect me.

&nbs

p; “He said you’d been a little edgy.”

“He’s mentioned that a time or two.”

“We owe him for setting this up.”

Done with talking about Kelly, I twist us, so she’s pinned under me. “I’ve never had a better surprise in all my life.”

Her eyes transform into a liquid amber glow, and she beams her smile so bright it rocks me to the core. There’s no wavering, no second guessing. This is the moment I want to memorize for the rest of my life. “Marry me.”

Her mouth drops open, and I take advantage by grazing my tongue along her lips which start to quiver. Her chest trembles against mine as tears pool in her eyes. “Just to be clear, is this the interlude to one of your famous knock-my-socks-off, make-me-choke-up, send-my-emotions-spiraling, Walker Scott declarations of love? Or is this actually the point where I say yes to a question?”

“This is where you say yes to a non-question, but for formality’s sake. I’ve already told you I’m going to marry you, but right now, I want it to be official.”

The tears spill down the sides of her temple as she starts to nod. “Yes.”

I clutch her head firmer and kiss her, pouring everything I have into it. My own emotions threaten to explode as my heart thunders and swells in my chest. Peace and possessiveness wash through me knowing it’s finally official.

She breaks away, choking back a sob, and buries her face in my throat. “You have to stop this. Crying is not my thing, but with you, it happens involuntarily.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Mom, I need to go.”

“One more question,” she presses.

“And you wonder why I call Dad most of the time. What’s with all the questions this morning?”

“Don’t be snarky. This is the first time I’ve spoken with you in weeks. Text messages don’t count.”

“Because I’m busy. Right now, I’m pulling up to work. Can we make this quick?”

“Fine, I was wondering about inviting Emi’s parents for Easter. We should probably meet them before you propose.”

Shit. I’d hoped to avoid this conversation with her. The plan was to tell my dad and let him break the news so, by the time I saw Mom, her anger at being left out would have simmered. No such luck.

“Too late.”