Page 87 of Enticed

“You had this here, waiting for me?” I ask once I finish the bite.

“I was trying to be optimistic that you would figure things out eventually,” he tilts his head, trailing a finger down my cheek as I close my eyes and melt into his touch.

“I’m sorry it took so long. But I’m so glad it’s over. I love you so much, Cooper. I can’t imagine my life without you.”

Cooper turns to place the ice cream on the nightstand before reaching back for me, lying us both flat but facing each other.

“I don’t want that either. Promise me that from here on out, if you’re feeling anxious or fearful about something, you talk to me about it first, okay? And then we face it together. That’s all I want, Clara—to be a team with you, face life together, protect each other.”

“You’ve always protected me, Coop. And I want that too. And lots more sex,” I wiggle my eyebrows as Cooper’s mischievous grin appears again and he kisses me hard, tangling our tongues together before our limbs follow suit and we love each other a few more times before we fall asleep, back in each other’s arms and fully emerged from the relationship closet.

Epilogue

Cooper

Two Months Later

“I wish you didn’t have to work,” Clara whines in my ear while holding onto me, her arms wrapped around my waist. I’m not gonna lie, every time she touches me in public I get hard. Maybe because she avoided it for so long and now she does it so naturally—it’s like she’s claiming me in front of everyone and it ignites these caveman instincts inside that make me want to pound on my chest with a club and grunt, “MINE!”

Instead, I just kiss the top of her head and glance down into those eyes that own my soul—because Clara is the best part of my life and I never want to lose her again.

“I know, but at least my job is to patrol the event here so we can see each other.”

Clara peers around Clove Park where the Labor Day Celebration for Emerson Falls is currently underway. The town organized this event for families to enjoy the holiday safely and celebrate the end of summer while raising funds for the library renovations. The town library has been the same dreary space since I was a kid, but our town leaders are making it a point to bring life back to the building and ignite a love of reading in the youth of our town. The new town librarian has been very eager about the idea, too. They have big plans, so a fundraising effort was necessary—and my little love muffin beside me helped with advertising for the event.

“I know, but I’d much rather be walking around holding hands—or, we could be strolling along on our bikes with the matching baskets, buying all kinds of knickknacks to put inside,” she teases and I slap her ass.

“You’re gonna pay for that later, babe,” I growl in her ear as a gleam of sexual desire sparkles in her eyes.

“Looking forward to it,” she winks before kissing me softly on the lips. “I’ve got to go check on a few things, but I’ll catch up to you later, handsome.” She walks away from me backwards, before blowing me a kiss and then turning, swinging her hips and playfully watching me watch her over her shoulder.

“You nervous?” Cash comes up beside me, also dressed in uniform since he’s on duty for the event today as well. He’s supposed to be on traffic watch though.

“More so about getting up in front of everyone, but not about asking her to marry me,” I reply as I go through my plan in my head one more time.

“Well, you’d better go get this thing done. I was only able to pull away from my post for a little while, then I’ve got to go back.”

“It’s always about you, isn’t it, Cash?” I tilt my head to look over at my best friend, who’s smiling from ear to ear.

“Glad you’re finally realizing that. By the way, don’t you even dare think about putting me in a brown suit for the wedding, or I’m not coming. Brown doesn’t match my coloring. This blonde hair and blue eyes looks better in navy blue or black.” He pushes me forward towards the tent, where I’m supposed to go before walking on stage.

“Such a prima donna,” I call out after him as he flips me the bird.

“You ready, Walsh?” Captain comes up beside me, a critical player in my plan.

“Yup, ring is right here,” I pat the pocket of my pants. “Is she out there yet?” I peek through the curtains of the tent, hoping my sister was able to get her close to the stage like I asked. All of our family and friends are here today, so the event is the perfect place to ask Clara to marry me—but Liv is the only one that knows that it’s going to happen. I needed her advice on a ring that Clara would love—luckily my intuition was on the mark and I picked up a classic round diamond on a simple platinum band—classic and stunning but still gorgeous, just like my girl.

I debated proposing marriage so soon, given that it’s only been a few months since we’ve been officially a couple out in public and only twice as long that we’ve been seeing each other at all. But putting a ring on her finger doesn’t mean we have to get married tomorrow—I just know that she’s the one I want to spend the rest of my life with—and claiming her in front of everyone similarly to how she did for me, not only once, but twice (although at the auction it wasn’t intentional)—well, I feel like it just brings our story full circle, you know? Plus, we’re both at a point in our lives where having children needs to be something we think about as time keeps moving—and I can’t wait to knock Clara up.

But you know the saying—first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes all the sex to make the baby in the baby carriage—or something to that effect.

I search the crowd and finally lock my gaze on my girl, her long red cotton dress clinging to her curves with the top half of her hair pulled back off of her face. She has a blue belt tied around her waist—patriotic themed for the holiday, but stunningly beautiful nonetheless.

“She’s here. Alright, Captain, don’t let me down,” I pat his back as he hoists his pants up beneath his pronounced belly and climbs the handful of stairs to the stage.

“Attention folks of Emerson Falls. How are we doing this fine Labor Day weekend?” He addresses the crowd as cheers and clapping accompany his words. “Perfect, perfect. Well, I have a special treat for you today. Since our Date the Deputy auction back in April was such a success, we decided to offer a very limited edition of the same event here today. Please welcome our own Deputy Walsh to the stage,” he introduces me and the crowd gets audibly louder. I wave to the people as I walk across the black platform, and then find Clara’s face as she narrows her eyes at me and places both hands on her hips, mouthing, “What are you doing?” She’s pissed and clearly confused, which makes this all the more delightful for me.

“How are you Deputy?” Captain asks before placing the microphone in front of my mouth.

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