Page 56

“No, and for the record . . .” Tealey loves using my words against me. She has the courtesy of kissing me, at least. “You think it’s your hands, but I know it’s your heart that’s pure gold. That’s why I love you, Rad.”

Who’s charming whom? She might just be winning. “I love you, too.”

I’m still fairly new to this coupling thing, but I feel like I caught on quickly. It’s never been about time for us. If that were the case, I would have given up eight years ago. But with the mileage of our friendship and the journey of dating, I don’t want to waste any more time.

Lowering her head to her shoulder, she cradles my head, and whispers, “Did you always know we were meant to be?”

Inhaling her scent that’s become like air to me, I savor these times when I can just be me. With her, that’s who I am. The better man. “I always knew you were the one. I just hoped that one day you’d see me as more than just friends .”

“I always saw you as more, my love. I just thought we were an impossibility. You proved me wrong.” A sweet kiss lands on my cheek.

“But now?” I ask timidly.

“I don’t bet the odds anymore, gambling man. When it comes to you, I’m not leaving anything to chance. Why would I? You’re more than I could have ever asked for.”

That’s all I ever need to be—hers. “If you want me naked, all you have to do is ask.”

“I want you naked, Counselor.”

Lifting her into my arms, I walk toward the door. “Your wish is my command.”

Call me a genie because I made all her wishes come true last night. Sexually speaking. I’m hoping she grants my wish this morning.

I have her coffee down to a science. One-third half and half, two sugar-in-the-raw cubes, and a heavy splash of coffee.

“What are you doing up so early on a Saturday?” Tealey’s arms wrap around me from behind. I like when she hugs me like I’m her lifeline.

Spinning in her arms, I embrace her. “I had some stuff on my mind, so I went for a run to clear my head.”

Stroking my hair back from my forehead, she kisses my lips, closing her eyes and lingering. “Did it help?”

“No, only you can help me.”

“At your service.” Her eyes flick to the mug, her expression lighter. “Is that a new mug?”

“It is.”

“You bought me a gift?” Picking it up with care, she reads the front.

“I love you a latte. Awww. That is so sweet, Rad. Thank you. I absolutely love it.” She kisses me again and then takes a sip.

“Sorry, I was distracted by the cuteness of this mug.” Waving her arm, she says, “Okay, back to you. What’s going on that you needed to clear your head? ”

“It’s actually related to the mugs.” For effect and added drama to this buildup, I open the cabinet door.

“How so?” She glances at the collection and then gives me puppy eyes.

“I used to be content with plain white mugs.” Pointing to the mostly barren left side of the cabinet, I say, “How did I live a life so?—”

“Boring.”

I laugh. “I was going to say orderly.”

“Orderly. Boring .” She shrugs and then takes another sip. “Same thing. I mean, look at the adorable drawing of the face on this illustration on the front of my mug.”

“Yeah, it’s very meta.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Like Fight Club . . . Okay, never mind. It’s not important. What is important is that I love you a latte. I mean, a lot. I like your mugs in my cabinet, and I’m not even bothered by the way you squeeze the toothpaste in the middle of the tube like a serial killer.”

Slow blinking, she twists her mouth. “Serial killer might be taking it a little too far, don’t you think?”

I shrug. “Is it?”

“A wee bit, but I get the intention behind it. Carry on.”

We’ve gotten off track, so to steer this baby back into the right lane, I tap the mug. “Bottoms up.”

“That’s what he said. Last night, in fact.” Her giggle-snort causes her body to vibrate with laughter. “I’ll be here all week, folks.” She’s my regular comedian, but she’s not making this easy.

“So yeah, um. What I’m trying to say?—”

“I’ve never known you to struggle with words.”

I’ve never done this before.

Is it hot in here?

I casually bump the mug closer to her mouth. “Drink the coffee!” I shout, and then whisper, “please.”

“Good gracious, Rad.” Her brow creases, and her tone is cross. “Why? Did you poison me?”

“No,” I reply an octave too loud. Shit. I’m fucking this up.

Her eyebrow cocks. Now we’re off the rails entirely.

“For Pete’s sake,” I say, “I didn’t poison you.”

“Who’s Pete?”

This is not how it was supposed to go. “I don’t know who Pete is. I don’t care who Pete is. It’s just an expression.”

“I know. I was only teasing.” She giggles. “What’s wrong?”

I grab the mug and dump the remaining coffee down the drain. With her hands on her hips, she scowls. “Why’d you do that?”

I practically shove the mug back at her and then sink to one knee. “Look at the mug.”

“It’s adorable. Thank you,” she says, irritation coating her tone. “I already said I love it, but you didn’t have to waste perfectly good coffee.”

I take a deep breath. I love this woman with my whole heart. Apparently, I’m not making it easy on her either. This was a terrible plan. Rubbing my forehead, I say, “ Look inside the mug, Tealey .”

She does . . . and then it happens. She finally sees what I’ve been anxious for her to read.

Her lips part, and her chest rises and falls with a heavy breath.

“Will you marry me, Tealey?” Each word sounded out as tears sprang to her eyes.

When her attention pivots to me, she sets the mug on the counter and caresses my cheek. “Did you have that made for me?”

“No,” I say casually, like it’s not hard to find the name Tealey on anything. The confusion written on her face was not exactly what I was aiming for with this proposal. “Yes, I had it made. Trust me, there are no other Tealeys in the Tri-state area.”

Since I’ve already screwed it up, I flip open the velvet box to reveal the ring I had designed for her, with the help of Marlow and Cammie, who insisted on input. My stomach does a flip, and my heart is beating out of my chest.

I clear my throat, trying to be serious and sincere.

“I love you, baby, your punny mugs, cat pjs, and rock star romance reading ways. There’s no one else I want to wake up to each morning or go to bed with each night other than with you.

Destiny introduced us, but we made it happen.

Now, I can’t imagine my life without you.

I may not be an odds man, but I’d bet on us every time, baby.

” I look at her and lick my lips. “Will you marry me, Tealey Bell?”

Not the best argument I’ve ever laid out, but it’s us—a little orderly and a dash of chaos.

She sits on my bent knee, wrapping her arms around my neck, and says, “Yes, because underneath those tailored suits and behind those crystal awards, you were always a man who knew what he wanted. You just momentarily lost your way, but you got here in the end. So, yes, I’ll marry you, Counselor.”

“How’s tomorrow?”

She giggles again and then kisses me.

At one time, divorce just about destroyed my belief in love, but then along came Tealey to prove me wrong.

The chance to love her for a lifetime is a gift that I’ll never take for granted.

Not in this life, or in the next. And every time I get to kiss her sweet lips, it’s like the entire universe is rooting for us.

Ashleigh once told me I’d fall so hard that I wouldn’t know what hit me. I know exactly what hit me—a pretty, blue-eyed beauty not watching where she was going with a bag full of strawberries. And that’s how I fell head over feels for the woman of my dreams.

When Tealey tells the story, she says she was on her way to psychology. When I tell it, I say she was on her way to me. Either version makes for a good story, but mine makes for a happy ending.

If I do say so myself.

And I do.

Bam, and here we are.