his pocket. She’d completely blown it.
“No more crying, remember?” he said as he unhooked the ring from the chain. “And you didn’t blow it.” He held out a palm. “Give me your hand.”
Heart pounding ninety miles a minute, Sadie did as he instructed.
“You only delayed it,” he murmured, clasping her fingers gently in his. “Marry me, Sadie.”
She snort-laughed and covered her mouth to muffle the sound.
Aiden’s lips quirked. “I forget, is it one snort for yes, or two?”
She laughed as she swiped at her leaking eyes. “One,” she managed. He grinned as he slid the ring home, a perfect fit. Like him, she thought. She threw her arms around his neck. “I love you,” she said into his ear. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize it sooner. I’m sorry I ruined everything.”
He pried her away from him and tipped her chin. “Look at me, Sadie. Do I look ruined?”
No. He looked devastatingly handsome. His hair wet and mussed, his face damp, water droplets hanging off the longer scruff on his jaw. She raked her fingers through it, the rasping sound making her shiver. “Make love to me.”
Aiden’s smile vanished.
He dipped his head and took her lips, gingerly unbuttoning her wet shirt and dropping it with a
“Maybe they won’t hear you over the music,” he said, standing in front of her again.
Sadie palmed his jutting erection. “Me?” she teased, enjoying him looking down at her with hungry, ever- darkening eyes. “You’re the one who’s going to have to try and keep it down tonight.”
She was grinning, a big, stupid, happy grin that felt so much better than the agony she’d felt moments ago. Biting her bottom lip, she slid her fingers beneath the band of his running shorts.
He dropped his head back on his neck and groaned before fishing her hand out and undressing himself. Sadie simply stared at his naked body, his damp, golden skin, broad shoulders, taking all of him in, and feeling so grateful to be here with him like this.
He undid her bra, slowly slid it down her arms, his fingertips trailing along her exposed flesh. Sadie shuddered at the intensity in his eyes. He unzipped her skirt, dropped it to her feet. When she bent to take off her high heels, he shook his head. “Leave them on.”
She obeyed and Aiden dipped his head to take her nipple with his tongue. His hand slipped between her legs and when she brought her hand to the back of his head, the diamond on her ring finger glinted in the lamplight. He sensed her hesitation and lifted his face, still stroking her below, his other arm braced at her lower back.
“Tell me,” he commanded.
She was disintegrating beneath his touch, but she managed to whisper, “I love you.”
He dropped his forehead on hers and closed his eyes. “I love you.”
And then he proceeded to show her how much.
Epilogue
Snow drifted down from the sky, blanketing the front of Mike Downey’s yard in a few inches of the stuff. Sadie stood at the front window, clasping her arms around herself and watching the serene picture outside.
The neighborhood was quiet, the holiday lights strung white on some houses, red or blue on others. It made for a twinkling, happy backdrop to the happiest time of Sadie’s life.
“Here you go.” Crickitt handed over a hot mug of cocoa. “Yours has Bailey’s in it.” She took a long, appreciative sniff and rubbed her protruding belly. “I’m so jealous you get to drink alcohol. Does that make me a horrible mom?”
“Not at all,” Sadie said, palming her best friend’s arm. “How are you feeling? Better?” Dinner tonight had featured a slab of perfectly seasoned, red, juicy prime rib. Crickitt had turned green at the sight of it and Shane and Aiden had whisked the platter back into the kitchen before Crickitt’s unborn baby kicked the food right out of her stomach.
“Better.” She rubbed her tummy. “I might have to stick to fish and chicken from here on out.”
Deep laughter rumbled from the den, and Sadie’s arm broke into goose bumps. Aiden was in there, she could hear his distinct chuckle apart from the others.
“You’ve never looked so happy,” Crickitt said.
Sadie smiled at her, shrugging her shoulders to downplay her emotions. Love was a vibrant light and Sadie emitted it like the Gloworm she’d bought for Celeste for Christmas. Well, for her niece or nephew currently incubating in Celeste’s belly, anyway.
Aiden had come with her to her mother’s Christmas Eve dinner last night. It was the first time he’d met her mother and stepfather, her sister, and Trey. Sadie was a nervous wreck, despite having mended things with Celeste last month.
Celeste’s pregnancy had been a rough one, and that had brought out Sadie’s kind side. She saw Celeste several times a week, either to bring her food or magazines, or just to sit and talk to her about things they should have resolved long ago.
Yes, she and Celeste were a-okay…it was Aiden she’d worried about around Trey. She shouldn’t have worried. Aiden had glided into her mother’s house and greeted her family like he’d known them for years.
When he met Trey, he pulled Sadie flush against his side and rubbed her arm as he talked to her ex, simultaneously calming her and letting Trey know unequivocally that Sadie was his. Not that Aiden needed to claim her, but she’d appreciated his protection—so much she pulled him into a back bedroom after dessert and made out with him for several minutes.
“I’ve never been this happy,” Sadie told Crickitt, belatedly responding to her statement. Aiden meandered into the living room from the direction of the kitchen and suddenly Sadie was even happier. Crickitt excused herself as Aiden ambled his way over to Sadie and stopped in front of her.
His hair was getting longer, just brushing his jaw. A piece fell over his cheek and he moved it aside. “Hello, beautiful.” He embraced her, resting his hands on her hips the way he always had. They fit there like she was made for him. She’d begun to believe maybe she was.
“Hi.” She held her mug out of the way. Aiden took it from her hands, setting it aside. “I love you,” she told him.
There went his dimple. “I love you.”
She beamed, no doubt lit up like the decked out Christmas tree standing behind him. She couldn’t get enough of Aiden. Couldn’t get sick of him no matter how hard she tried. Once she’d flipped the switch and allowed herself to love him, it had become impossible to flip it the other direction. She was his, through and through. There was no going back.
She never wanted to.
“One week,” Aiden whispered in her ear before pressing a kiss to her neck. “And then you’ll be mine. We can finally have sex legally.”
Sadie laughed at his joke. Their wedding wasn’t going to rival the royals, but it wasn’t going to be at the courthouse, either. They’d settled on something in between, something that suited both of them. A small church Aiden and his family used to attend would perform the ceremony, with the reception being held at Shane and Crickitt’s house in Osborn.
Sadie couldn’t wait to become Mrs. Aiden Downey.
She stroked the scruff quickly turning into beard on his face. How did he look mouthwatering clean-shaven or hairy? Long ponytail, or short hair?
“I’m ready,” she breathed, trailing her hands up his body and linking her fingers around his neck. The ends of his hair tickled her wrists.
“And then,” he snuggled her closer and whispered, “babies.”
Sadie’s breath caught.
