Page 112 of Falling for You

“Got that. Any more details you want to share with us?”

“Not important. Like I said. It’s the past, and this is my future.” He pulls my face in close, kissing me softly on my lips, large hand cradling my stomach and whispers, “Youare my future.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Rex

I’m nervous.Fuck me, but I think I’m going to throw up.

But it’s not every day that I get to ask this question, and I don’t want to mess it up.

I knock on the door to hopefully my future. “Come in.”

“Hi.”

“What’s going on? Why’d you ask to see me like this?”

“I need to ask you something. And I really need you to hear me out before speaking because it’s important.”

“Okay? You’re acting really fucking weird, man. What’s going on with you?”

I place a small, black velvet box on his desk and I pop open the lid, presenting the small piece of jewelry to him.

Ethan takes a close look, lifts it out of the soft cushion it’s cradled in, inspects it before slipping it back in the box. “Ah, for me? You shouldn’t have. But it’s a little flashy for my taste. I prefer something a little more subtle. Not so many diamonds.”

I realize he’s just trying to lighten the mood and he knows exactly what this box means, but I still have to say it. Need to. For Chloe. It’s the right thing to do. I think. “You idiot. I um… Iwanttoaskchloetomarryme.”

Ethan’s lips twitch and he leans back in his seat, fingers steepled together. “Want to say that again?”

“You’re an asshole.”

“Hey, you came to me.”

“Right now I’m wondering why that is.”

“Because you want to do right by her. As you should, because if you don’t, I’ll cut off your nutsack, give them to Chloe’s cat, and let him play with them.”

“I should have called Paul.”

He laughs. Hard. “You think Papa Paul would have gone easy on you? Fat chance of that happening. Not with his precious Chloe. She’s his daughter in every sense of the word.”

It’s the truth. And for that reason, I probably should have gone to him. But I took this one and only time to use the whole blood is thicker than water route, and wanted to come to Ethan to ask for Chloe’s hand in marriage. Not that I need it. It’s simply a courtesy because if he says no I’ll ignore him and ask her anyway. And she’ll say yes.

Damn, I hope she says yes.

“I’m waiting.” He grins, leaning back in his chair which goes off balance so he almost falls backward. He recovers quickly, acting as if nothing happened.

Idiot.

“Ethan, I would be honored if you would approve of me asking Chloe to marry me.”

“That was the weirdest, most pathetic speech I’ve ever heard.”

“I don’t know what to say! You’re not exactly her keeper but I want to do right by her.” I rest my elbows on my knees and let my head fall forward. Sucking in a deep breath, I look up, right into Ethan’s eyes that are so much like Chloe’s it’s shocking at times. I’ve seen pictures of her mom and know how much Chloe resembles her. That the eyes they share are from their mom. But there are pieces of her in Ethan as well. I hope one day soon Ethan will be able to learn more about the woman who gave birth to him. About the woman who raised Chloe to be the amazing person she is today.

“Just talk to me.” The tone in Ethan’s voice is one I’ve never heard before. It’s full of understanding.

“I love her. More than I’ve ever loved anyone else. And I can’t imagine a day without her in my life. She’s the single most important person to me and I would be honored to have her as my wife.”

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