Page 87 of Gin & Jewels
“Princess, you’re going to love every inch of this house before I’m done with you.”
The doorbell rang,and I raced down the stairs to answer it. We were having people over for a barbecue, and I was planning on telling everyone that if they’d bet on me to be next, they were right. I didn’t know when it would happen because I wasn’t proposing, even though in my heart, I knew Cassie was going to be my wife.
When I opened the door, Gabe, Autumn, and their son, Liam, were waiting. “Hey.” I stuck out my hand to shake Gabe’s, and then I hugged Autumn hello and patted Liam on the head. “Come in. Cassie’s in the kitchen.”
Before I could close the door, Seth, Cat, and Joss pulled up. Paul was still in Virginia and unable to attend my little party. I hugged and greeted Cat and then Joss before shaking Seth’s hand. “Cassie’s in the kitchen,” I told them and closed the door.
Seth stayed behind as the ladies went to find Cassie. “I checked with the detective before coming over here.”
“Oh?”
“DA isn’t going to charge Cassie with anything as long as she testifies about what happened, and points the finger at her brother and his two friends.”
“She will.”
“Good. She’ll be getting a call next week about the trial and stuff.”
“I’ll let her know, and thank you.”
He nodded, and the doorbell rang again. I opened it to see Vinny, Tessa, and their two kids, Colton and Riley, in tow.
“Welcome,” I greeted. “Cassie is in the kitchen.”
They walked in, and Vinny pointed his finger at me. “I knew you were next.”
I rolled my eyes and didn’t respond. I might have gotten out of the escorting business and had a serious girlfriend, but I wasn’t proposing. I wasn’t officially a part ofThe Fallenyet.
Nick and Galen arrived a few minutes later, and everyone made themselves at home by sitting outside next to the pool with me or in the kitchen chatting with Cassie. I didn’t know what they were talking about and didn’t care because the smile on her face was enough for me. She finally had friends, and slowly we were checking everything off of hernever have I everlist.
“Doing okay?” I whispered into Cassie’s ear as she sat with the women.
She looked up at me and smiled. “Yep.”
“Good.” I kissed her briefly. “Can I have everyone’s attention?”
Autumn gasped as though she knew what I was doing.
Everyone came into the kitchen area and waited for me to begin. “Thank you all for coming to Cassie’s housewarming party. She’s officially agreed to move in with me.” No one seemed surprised, so I continued. “The night the guys and I met Cass, she bet against me to be next, and I was happy because I never thought that Iwouldbe next, but here we are. I’m out of the game and …” I paused. I hadn’t planned on making the speech to propose to her, but something inside of me was screaming for me to do it. To make it official.
I held up a finger. “One sec.”
Turning, I sprinted up the stairs and dug into my sock drawer for the velvet box my mother gave me before we left Tennessee. It was my grandmother’s engagement ring—gold with a pearl in the center of a halo of diamonds. It had been in my family for decades, and when my mother gave it to me because she swore Cassie was the one for me, I knew she was right. A pearl signified purity and innocence, and that was exactly what Cassie was. Well, before I got my hands on her.
I made it back down the stairs a few moments later. Everyone hushed as I came back into the kitchen area. “Sorry, I didn’t plan for this, but”—I got down on one knee in front of Cassie—“something is telling me that this is right. That this is the time. I was going to announce that whoever bet I’d be the next to joinThe Fallenwon the bet because one day soon, I was going to ask you to be my wife. I was going to tell them that you’re a part of the Saddles & Racks family, even though most of us no longer work there. I was going to tell you that you have a family again, but then I swear I heard my mother yelling at me that Ishouldmake it official. That this is the perfect time.” I opened the black box. “So, Cassandra Davidson, will you marry me?”
Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she nodded with a smile. “Yes, of course. I’m not going anywhere.”
We kissed in front of everyone as they cheered for us. When we broke apart, my gaze met Nick’s, and I pointed at him.
“You’re next.”
The End.