would be easy to reach down and put the ring on my finger. But was it what Rush really wanted?
“You don’t have to do this,” I forced myself to say staring down at him. He hadn’t spoken to his sister or his mother in weeks. As much as I disliked them… no hated them, I didn’t want to be what came between him and his family.
Rush shook his head. “No, I don’t have to do anything. But I want to spend the rest of my life with you. No one but you.”
His words were the right words. I still felt like something was wrong. He couldn’t truly want this. He was young, rich, and gorgeous. I had nothing to offer him. I’d tie him down. Change his world. “I can’t do this to you. I can’t hinder your future. You can go do anything. I promised you I’d let you be a part of our baby’s life. That won’t change when you feel like you’re ready to leave. I’ll always let you.”
“Don’t say another word. I swear Blaire, I am seconds away from throwing your ass in that ocean.” He stood up and his steady gaze held mine. “No man has ever loved a woman as much as I love you. Nothing will ever come before you. I don’t know what else I have to do to prove to you that I won’t let you down again. I won’t hurt you. You don’t have to be alone anymore. I need you.”
Maybe this wasn’t right and maybe I was making a mistake but his words tugged at corners of my heart he had somehow not managed to reach until that moment. I took the box from his hand and lifted the ring free. “It’s beautiful,” I told him. Because it was. It wasn’t too flashy or overdone. It was perfectly simple.
“Nothing less would be worthy of your finger,” he replied and took the ring from my hand. Then he went back down on his knee and his eyes met mine.
“Please, Blaire Wynn, will you be my wife?”
I wanted this. Him.
“Yes,” I said and he slipped the ring on my finger.
“Thank god,” he whispered then stood back up and captured my mouth in a hungry kiss. This was real and maybe it wouldn’t be forever but it was mine for now. I’d find a way to let him go if he wanted to. But I loved him. That would never change.
“Move in with me,” he begged.
“I can’t. I have to pay my half of the lease,” I reminded him.
“I paid your lease in full for a year. Every dime you’ve given Woods has gone into a savings account with your name on it. Same for Bethy. Now, please move in with me.”
I wanted to get mad at him but right now I couldn’t. I pressed another kiss to his lips and then nodded.
“And please stop working,” he added.
“No,” I replied. I wasn’t doing that.
“You’re my fiance now. You’re going to be my wife. Why do you want to work at a country club? Don’t you want to do something else? What about college? Do you want to do that? Is there a degree you want? I’m not trying to take away your choices; I want to give you more.”
I was going to be his wife. Those words sunk in as I gazed up at him. I didn’t have to give up college like I had high school. I could get a degree and have a profession.
“I want that. It’s just… let me soak this in. Too much, too fast,” I said, wrapping my arms around him.
Rush
Blaire was determined to work out a two weeks notice with Woods. I wasn’t going to argue with her. She’d agreed to everything I asked. I wasn’t about to push my luck. I sat at the table with my laptop and a cup of coffee waiting on her to get off her shift.
Woods had stopped by to talk to me for a few minutes but other than that it had been a quiet evening. Most everyone had left town. Jace was hanging around because of Bethy but I wasn’t sure he was going to make it much longer. I’d seen the restless look in his eyes the other day when we’d played a round of golf. He wasn’t used to staying in this town longer than a summer.
“This seat taken?” I looked up to see Meg take the seat across from me. I hadn’t seen her much since the golf tournament. I glanced back to see Blaire refilling someone’s water but her eyes were on me.
“Yeah, it is,” I replied without looking back at Meg.
“I know you’re engaged to the blonde. Everyone knows it. I’m not here to hit on you,” she replied.
Blaire smiled at me and then turned to walk back to the kitchen. Shit. What did that smile mean?
“She has a big ass diamond on her hand. She has nothing to be worried about and she knows it. Calm down, dude. You’re freaking out over nothing.”
I shifted my attention to Meg. “She knows you were my first. It bothers her.”
Meg chuckled. “I can assure you the memories I have from our experience and the reality she is living in are completely different. I got the horny virgin. She has the seasoned pro.”
I glanced back to see if Blaire was back out here. I didn’t want her hearing this. “Just go sit somewhere else. She’s emotional right now. I don’t want her upset.”
No one knew she was pregnant yet. I was letting Blaire decide when to tell people.
“She’s not made of china. She will not break. Does she know you treat her like a damn doll?”
“Yes, I do. We’re working on that,” Blaire replied as she approached our table and poured more coffee into my cup. “I don’t believe we have officially been introduced. I’m Blaire Wynn.”
Meg took a quick startled peek at me then turned back to Blaire. “Meg Carter.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Meg. Can I get you something to drink?”
This was not what I’d been expecting. Not that I didn’t like it, because I did. It meant I was making her feel
