Page 26 of Fake Spring Fling

Oh… I think I’ve forgotten how to breathe.

“Madison, you are the love of my life,” he continues. “Every single thing about you lights me up. I love how driven you are. How creative and caring you are when serving guests at your hotel, or planning our Saturday night dinners. I simply cannot imagine existence without you.”

His eyes are glowing as he pauses and chuckles. “I once heard a comedian use the term ‘Wife that woman up right now’ and thought it sounded a bit crude. But that’s what I want to do…wife you up. Partly to prove this was never really a fling, we just started out faster than some, but mainly so that you know I’m in this forever. We belong together. Madison, darlin’, would you please do me the extreme honor of becoming my wife?”

I’m already nodding, teary-eyed, fingers shaking as they flutter over my open mouth. There are a few sputtered noises before I manage to form the word, “Yes.” The cool golden band fits perfectly as it slips around my finger. “It’s beautiful.”

“No,you’rebeautiful.” Wyatt stands up, holding me close. “The ring is just a fancy way to tell the world you’re mine.”

He moves in for a kiss, but I swerve, bringing my lips to his ear. “You know I secretly love it when you get all possessive, right?”

His hands tighten on my ass. “Yeah. I do.”

He kisses me, softly at first, then it becomes steamier, wilder, until we’re both so short of breath we have to break apart. “We’re staying for the weekend,” he gasps. “The same suite we had before.”

“Perfect.” I look up at Wyatt, hoping that he can see in my eyes everything I’m feeling. “I love you.”

“I love you, gorgeous.”

We turn toward the sun and I snuggle against his chest, simply listening to the waves for a moment.

Then I grip his arm. “Wait. Your family isn’t waiting for us back at the lodge with a team of photographers or anything, right?”

“Absolutely not.” He squeezes me. “We can wait until Christmas to tell them, if you like.”

I sigh with relief, leaning against him. “Sounds good. Thank you.”

Wyatt’s other two sisters came around to Tanya’s way of thinking once they saw that Wyatt and I were truly head over heels for each other. The three of them seem to like me now, but they’re still a handful, especially if Heather’s bubbliness is added to the mix.

“Once you’re officially joining the family, Heather is going to want to sit you down for a movie marathon. Teach you about her good old days.”

It takes all my focus to stop myself from laughing. “Let me guess. I should wear all pink, get diamond earrings to match this ring, eat sushi for lunch during all day detention, and throw a high school dance just outside the county line?”

His jaw drops. “You’ve been studying.”

“Maybe I was secretly hoping that I’d be joining your family one day.” I wave the ring in the sunlight. “Will this make me a princess bride?”

His lips brush my forehead. “As you wish.”

EPILOGUE TWO

WYATT

* Six Years Later *

“Therewe go.” I settle the booster seat in place, then lift my giggling daughter into it.

I sit beside her as Madison slips into the other side of the booth. A waitress in a blue uniform shows up immediately. “Morning, folks.” She sets menus in front of two of us, then pulls a small box of crayons from her pocket and slides a coloring sheet across the table. “I’m Ella. Are we starting off with coffee?”

Our four-year-old straightens up. “I’m Molly. I’d like orange juice, please.”

Ella grins, writing it down carefully. “Of course, Miss Molly. What excellent restaurant manners you have.”

Molly’s little brown pigtails brush my arm as she dances in her seat. Then she whispers loudly to me, “When’s the food part?”

“Two coffees, please, and we’ll need a minute,” I tell Ella, who nods and rushes away.

“Daddy’s going to read you a list of what they have that you’ll probably like, and then you get to choose,” Madison says, lining up the crayons on the table.

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