A delightful tingle sparked at the base of her spine and worked its way to her mouth, which was turned up in a huge smile. “Oh, Beau,” she sighed. “It’s you.”
I always want it to be you.
Beau winked. “Are you lost, Allie Cat?”
She threw her arms around his neck, giggling like crazy. “No. I’m right where I need to be.”
Beau gave her a squeeze and picked her up like she was cotton candy. Then he carried her into the room, slamming the door with his foot.
There was a small table set with china, crystal, and candles, and the room smelled fantastic. “You didn’t have to go to all this trouble, but it’s lovely, and I’m glad you did.”
Her stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, and Beau laughed.
“It sounds like we might have to eat before getting to the fun and games portion of the evening,” he said.
Yes, but first, she had something to say. And she was going to go crazy if she didn’t do it right now. “Can we sit for a moment? We need to talk.”
“Sure, darlin’,” Beau said, taking a seat on the bed. “What’s on your mind?”
“I’ve been contemplating our current contract.”
Beau shifted and pulled her onto his lap. “There’s no expiration date, remember? You. Me. Together forever or until you get tired of me.” His eyes widened. “Are you tired of me?”
“I’m never going to get tired of you, Beau,” she said, running a finger along his cheek. “But I’ve been doing some research, and well . . .” She cleared her throat. “I think we might need a new contract. It seems there are many advantages to, you know, legally joining.”
“Legally joining?”
She swallowed loudly, even though her throat was dry from nerves. “Like financial advantages. Some studies indicate there can even be long-term health benefits for married couples—”
Beau gasped. “Alice Ann Martin, are you proposing to me?”
“Marriage proposals are old-fashioned and archaic and often sexist. One person shouldn’t ask the other for their hand in marriage. It should be a mutual decision, and I’m merely trying to open up some dialogue—”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“Yes, Allie. I’ll marry you.”
Relief washed over her like a torrential downpour. She tried to inhale but discovered she couldn’t. Had she forgotten how to breathe?
“Are you okay?” Beau asked.
“Yes. But are you sure? You don’t want to talk about it some more?”
“We can talk about it for as long as you like, which is probably pretty long. I’m sure you came armed with facts and figures, but Allie, I want nothing more than to be your husband.”
She absolutely had come armed with facts and figures. “Did you know that married people have better outcomes following major surgery and are more likely to—”
Beau leaned back against the pillow, pulling her with him, and she forgot all of her facts and figures.
“We need to add Engagement celebration to our bucket list,” he said.
“How do you propose we celebrate?” She lifted her head to see if he got it. “I said propose as a joke.”
Beau chuckled, and it vibrated her belly. “I have a few things in mind.” He licked her bottom lip. “And I suggest we get started right away.”
She liked the sound of that.
“And darlin’, I did a little research of my own. The Village Chateau is point-four-six miles past the city limits.”
“So?”
“So, noise ordinances do not apply.”
Don’t miss the first in Carly Bloom’s
Once Upon A Time in Texas series,
Available now from
The unmissable second book in Carly Bloom’s
Once Upon a Time in Texas series.
Available now from
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