Page 4

Duncan

I let out a silent curse as I step into the store, seeing not only Dane inside it, but also Dylan with a girl that looks surprisingly familiar. I know I’ve never met her before, but yet, I know I’ve seen her before. I just don’t know where.

It’s been two full days and three amazing fucking nights since I found Serenia, and my entire world is different. I can’t explain it. Meeting her has been incredible. Being with her…that’s something else entirely. I can’t begin to let her go now. Two entire days of her week are gone, and I know there’s not a chance in hell that I’ll let her go when the week’s up. I won’t survive without her, which is why I’m here, looking to get a ring for her to show her how serious I am when I ask her to stay, to marry me, be mine for always.

I just didn’t expect to run into my two best friends inside the jewelry store. Not when neither of them has said a word about seeing someone, let alone that they were seeing someone seriously enough to warrant a trip to the jeweler.

Dylan’s head dips down, saying something to the girl with him, and her giggle reminds me of Serenia’s from yesterday when I finally got around to showing her the greenhouse at home. I teasingly was comparing the colors from the orchid to her hair, telling her I just might have to scatter their petals all over our bed to see if they could become even half as gorgeous as she was, and it made her giggle in ways that touched every last bit of me.

I knew at that moment I was going to get her to marry me, so she’d be with me, as mine, forever. Which is why I’m here now, running into my best friends.

“Duncan, fancy running into you here,” Dylan says, turning further towards me with her.

“Yeah, I…” I stop talking as my gaze slips to the girl in his hold. “Do I know you?”

“I’m Melodia. Celestia and I were with Serenia when you kind of left with her,” the girl says, and a little look crosses Dane’s face at the other girl’s name, telling me precisely who he’s here to buy something for, and I don’t hate it at all. If he and Dylan are serious about Serenia’s friends, that’s another reason she might say yes, or at least agree to stay if she doesn’t immediately say yes, although I hope she will. “They’re like my sisters, so if you’re here looking for something for them…” she adds looking between us.

“I…uh…yeah…well…” Dane and I mumble, making Dylan chuckle as he drops a kiss onto Melodia’s head.

“If you’re worried I’ll ruin the surprise don’t be. I can keep a secret and well, since they are my best friends I would know what they like and don’t like. You know, if you needed help with something. Say a ring?” Melodia says and more hope hits hard that Serenia will say yes if her friend’s this eager to help us pick out rings. It means it’s something they do. Sure, engagement rings and marriage are sort of universal, but this thankfully confirms it.

“I mean, I wouldn’t turn down the help,” Dane says, and I nod glancing from them to Hank and back again as he looks amongst all of us in silent shock.

“Well then, why don’t you point out what your friends might like, and I’ll let Hank know what I was thinking about for the necklace?” Dylan suggests to her, giving her a soft kiss when she grins.

Melodia moves Dane and me away from the diamond rings despite our arguing that diamonds are traditional. She shakes her head, pointing Dane towards a unique oval design set with black and blue sapphires. Then points at an emerald ring with a look up at me, and my brow lifts, a hint of a smile on my lips seeing it. The design has little chips of white glittering stones surrounding it, making it feel like a rose opening to reveal an emerald center.

It’s perfect for my girl. I don’t know why I ever thought traditional would be the right fit for Serenia. She’s not traditional. Neither is Melodia, nor Celestia from what I recall, and their names have me thinking more and more that they’re from some crazy religious sect.

“Is there anything you’d like to look at?” Hank asks, joining our group at the counter, and both Dane and I point out the rings Melodia suggested. “What size would you need them? These are both sized six and a half now. They can be taken up two sizes easily.”

“Uh…I don’t know,” Dane admits first, keeping me from having to admit I don’t know either, and Melodia giggles softly, looking to Hank.

“We all wear the same size,” she says taking the one from Dane and Dylan lets out a low growl stopping her from slipping it on, glad she didn’t try to take the one for Serenia because it should only be on her hand.

“The only ring you’re going to wear on that finger will be from me,” Dylan states, nearly echoing my exact thoughts, passing the ring back to Dane. “Close your eyes,” he tells her, before motioning to a pink ring lifting a brow towards Hank who nods.

“It’s six and a half as well,” he says, handing it over, and Dylan slips it onto Melodia’s finger, fitting perfectly.

“We’ll take them,” Dane and I state and Dylan nods as well, slipping the ring off Melodia’s finger for now so Hank can box them up.

“Eyes,” Dylan tells Melodia, smiling when she instantly opens them, a grin on her lips, and he gives her a kiss pointing her towards the earrings and bracelets on display. “Go on and look around. I still need to put down a deposit for the necklace.”

Dane and I both shake our heads at him as the three of us pay for our rings, but I’m pretty sure they’re feeling the same thing as me. These girls were meant to be ours. They’re best friends. We’re best friends. They can all be close still, safe from whatever life they’re coming from. We’ll figure it out and go on from here. Right now, I have plans to see to for my girl.

I know deep down that she’ll say yes. Last night as we were falling asleep, she had this perfectly content little look on her face, and I wanted to tell her just how much I loved her. I held back the actual words—barely—and instead, just told her that the moment I saw her, I knew she was supposed to be mine. The way her hold on me tightened, I was ready to tell her I loved her, but she fell asleep on my chest before I could get them out.

This morning, I woke her up with a kiss that sent us straight back into the heavens I never imagined were real, and then I asked if she wanted to stay home while I got a couple things done at work that I couldn’t put off. I could see her eagerness to come with me, so I had to add that it was just boring paperwork that had to be done so the others got paid and she agreed to stay home. I want her with me, but I also want to make this special and bringing her to the store with me wouldn’t necessarily accomplish that.

Now, I’m hoping that Dylan will keep Melodia preoccupied so she can’t call and let Serenia know about the ring before I can get it on her finger. Yes, she said she could keep a secret, but as much as I’m bursting to get a ring on her finger, if these girls are feeling even the tiniest bit the same, I can’t imagine containing it for long. From the look in Dylan’s eyes, he was just as ready to get his onto Melodia’s hand, so hopefully, he’ll ensure both her friends get to enjoy the surprise as well.

I head straight for the office to get a few things handled, ensure everything for next week is set and ready to go so I can spend the rest of the weekend with Serenia. My head’s full of different ways to propose, but I don’t know what’s really best. If I should hold off and do something elaborate or just ask her tonight.

My phone buzzes and I let out a chuckle, telling Dylan that I’ll see he has flowers delivered if he arranges for a variety of items from his restaurant be ready for me to pick up in return. He agrees easily, suggesting several things that he’s learnt Melodia’s never had but loved, and I breathe out in relief that I’m not the only one thinking these girls grew up somewhere stifling.

Serenia’s had no problem eating any of the meat that I’ve made the last couple nights, so I don’t think they grew up vegetarian or vegan. But something as basic as fettucine alfredo being new, definitely makes me wonder exactly where they’re from—what they’re trying to get away from and why. It’s important, but not as important as getting her to agree to stay.

I don’t care why she wants out. There’s no way her feelings are a lie. She’s mine now. Just mine and I intend to keep it that way for life.

Well, keep me as the only man she’s ever known for life that is. Something inside me wants to see her carrying my baby in the worst way. Actually, she might already be carrying it. Our little girl.

Don’t know why I keep imaging her with our little girl, but it’s the only thing I see when I watch her unnoticed. It’s like the future playing through my mind. Seeing her body growing with our baby, then seeing her holding our sweet little girl as they look out the window while I get them something to eat.

It’s crazy, especially when you consider I’m not normally the guy that wants to cook. Sure, I make myself food when needed but I’m not like Dylan who loves to cook so much he made a career out of it. I just like the idea of taking care of my wife and our little girl more than I ever imagined to really consider the fact that I more often than not, just grab something from Dylan’s or another restaurant before heading home to chill.

I head through the greenhouse, catching Nina and Joe, asking them to get the order together for Dylan and have Joe deliver it, which just makes the woman’s brow lift curiously at me.

“Wait, why does Dylan who dates as little as you do need flowers, roses especially and decorations, boss?” Nina asks when I don’t say a word. “I mean, if you were setting something up for that pretty girl you brought through here the other day, you’d just take it yourself. Well, really, you probably wouldn’t need anything from here to start with your greenhouse. So, are you seriously saying that both you and Dylan have fallen for girls in the two weeks since our last meeting?”

I can’t quite stop the chuckle that falls because it’s true. All of us simply rolled our eyes at Nina when she asked if we’d brought a date to the dinner, confirming our single status without a word spoken. I can only imagine what the next one will be like when we take our girls with us. If I recall correctly, Celestia had grayish-blue hair that had pops of golden sage within it. Combine that with Melodia’s pink hair and Serenia’s turquoise and red mass, and I’m sure we’ll definitely get some questions. I mean, the three of us are pretty boring all around, whereas our girls are anything but.

“Don’t be shocked if you see Dane in here at some point either,” I state with a shrug as Nina’s eyes bulge.

“Hold up, what do you mean don’t be shocked if Dane shows up too?” Nina demands. “What the hell did you three do…get some mail-order brides or some craziness?”

“Not mail-order. More like met three best friends that came to town to get away from home and celebrate their birthdays, which happen to all have been on Monday,” I add, still shocked about that news that Serenia gave me Wednesday. “I met Serenia that morning, then Dane met Celestia that afternoon, and Melodia met Dylan that night. We all knew what we’d found was special, so why would we let that go?”

“Wait, their names are Serenia, Celestia and Melodia?” Nina asks, her eyes even wider still. “Were their moms from some hippie community or something?”

“I’d say it was something similar yeah,” I admit. “Serenia doesn’t like to talk about it much but none of them liked where they’re from, and since they didn’t leave until after their birthday, I’m thinking they were raised in some religious cult or something similar. They only had cash on them, didn’t know what a debit card was, so definitely some backwoods crazy shit.”

“I mean, I guess it’s possible, but be careful, okay?” Nina states and I lift a brow her way silently asking why. “It’s no secret that you, Dylan and Dane all have money. These girls could just be looking for a meal ticket to get away or they may be trying to get pregnant to then get child support to take back to their…whatever they are.”

“I think you’ve been reading too many books, Nina, but even if they did come to town just to try and not go back, that’s definitely not what this is now. Serenia can’t hide her feelings and if it’s of any comfort, I know for a fact she hasn’t been with anyone before me, so just be nice to them until you’ve all met, okay?” I hold Nina’s gaze, and she nods, letting me finish up before I head by the restaurant to grab the food.

It smells amazing and I move into the house, giving Serenia a soft kiss of hello when she comes into the kitchen quickly. The smile on her face, the relief in her eyes when she sees me, makes me feel a million times bigger, but it’s the hunger that has nothing to do with her stomach that reaches inside me entirely, filling me with reassurance that what’s happening here is fully reciprocated by her.

“I hope you’re hungry,” I muse setting the bag with the food onto the table, the ring I bought in my pocket, and all I want is to see it on her finger—now.

“It smells so good,” she sighs, her head resting on my chest as I pull her into my arms entirely.

“You smell good,” I tease dipping my face down to kiss the top of her head. “I might have to be a little jealous that you took a bath without me.”

“I couldn’t resist your tub,” she returns, lifting her eyes to mine, and I cup her face gently, kissing her soft and sweet until I know I have to stop, or we won’t eat a thing today. We skipped breakfast and I’m sure that she didn’t eat lunch with me not here. I want to take care of her just as much as I want her, and I pull back loving the look on her face.

“I can’t resist you, honey. I knew you were special when we met. I just didn’t know how special you really were. How much I’d be unable to think of life without you now, Serenia,” I add, watching her eyes widen in shock and hope. “My life was boring until you walked into it and now, I don’t ever want to give that up. Give you up. I can’t. I know this may be fast, but I can’t begin to claim this is just an attraction. I know it’s not just that. That it’s so much more than that.”

“Dunc…” she breathes out, the shortening of my name making my body wake entirely, her body trembling a bit against me, and I hold her even closer, letting her feel how fast my heart’s racing too.

“I fell in love with you the moment we met…maybe even before that. I know I was brought here for this, for you, to find you, hold you, love you this much, honey. I know you said you only had a week here but I’m asking you, begging you, Serenia. Don’t go,” I say softly, her eyes still wide orbs of golden moss sparkling in the sunlight, moisture clinging to it, and it’s something that I know is unique to her and I love it too. “Stay here, with me. Marry me. Be my wife, the mother of our kids—a little girl that’s as beautiful and bright as you.”

“Duncan,” she gasps, her body pressing fully against me, a tremble rushing through her, but I know it’s not fear. I can practically feel it, her need, her utter joy of the idea, and I want it even more now.

“Serenia, will you be mine forever?” I ask, pulling out the ring box, unable to wait. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes, yes, a million times yes. I love you too, so much,” she cries, her jaw dropping when she sees the ring I slip onto her finger. It’s a truly perfect fit. Just like she is with me, and I’ll make certain she always feels like this. Always.