Page 59 of The Model

She sat up straighter and spoke so everyone could hear what she had to say. “It’s okay. I just never thought being married was in the cards for me, especially seeing how much it wrecked my dad after my mom died.”

“Being married can heal those wounds if you find the right person.” Sadie looked at us with kind eyes.

“And I think you have,” Tyson added. “Why don’t you put the poor sap out of his misery and marry him?”

“How do you know?” Lexie and I both asked at the same time.

“It’s written all over his face. He’s dying to marry you. Trust me, I’ve been there and know the look all too well.”

Alyssa looked uncomfortably at us from across the table like she needed to use the restroom. I wanted to laugh, but I also didn’t want to distract Lexie.

“We’re trying this week out.” I hated the words as soon as they left my mouth.

“What kind of bullshit is that?” Tyson barked out with a laugh. His wife’s soft face instantly went hard as she glared at him.

Leaning over the table, my eyes narrowed at him. “Hey, don’t speak to her like that. I don’t want to force her into doing anything she doesn’t want to do, and if she doesn’t want to marry me, then I’ll find a way to live with that.”

I gulped down the words that had just come out of my mouth. I wasn’t sure how I’d manage, but I would. I’d take Lexie anyway I could get her, even if that meant she wouldn’t be my wife now or ever.

Lexie cleared her throat. “If you’ll excuse us.” She turned in her place to look at me, her eyes watery. Her voice was whisper quiet as she spoke. “Please come with me.”

Standing up, I wasn’t sure what was happening. Was Lexie going to yell at me for what I’d said at the table? Taking my hand in hers, she led the way out of the restaurant and down the hall until we were clear from any onlookers. When we finally stopped, and she looked up at me, there were tears cascading down her cheeks. She pushed me up against the wall, her small hands cupping my cheeks. “I want you to know, I do want to marry you, but I’m not sure right now is the right time.”

Now was the perfect time.

With my hands firmly planted on her hips, I tried to explain myself calmly. “I know it may seem old-fashioned, but I want us to be married before our baby is born. There’s nothing that’s going to change the way I feel about you. But if you’re not ready, I’ll marry you today, tomorrow, next week or a month, or even a year from now. You say the word, and I’ll be there.”

A soft smile tipped her lips as her blue eyes glittered up at me. “Why is it when you say endearing things like that all my worries disappear?”

“Because that’s how it should be. When I’m with you, the rest of the world fades away, and all I see is you. I want to do the same for you. For you to be able to share your worries and troubles, and we work them out together.”

Pushing up on the tips of her toes, Lexie pressed her lips to mine. It was desperate and healing all at the same time, and when she opened her mouth over mine, I knew she’d be mine until the end of time.

Breaking apart, she rubbed her nose along mine. “You’re a very convincing man, Ryder Williams.”

Blinking rapidly as wetness built in my eyes, I placed my hands over hers. “Does that mean what I think it does?”

“Why don’t you ask me and find out?”

Letting go of her, I dropped down to one knee faster than the speed of light. I wasn’t going to give her a chance to change her mind. Holding both her hands in mine, I brought them to my mouth with our eyes locked on each other and kissed the back of each hand. “My beautiful and talented woman, and the mother of my unborn child. The one person in this world I can’t live without, will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife, my partner in life?”

Nodding vehemently, tears raced down her face. “I’d love nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Pulling her down to sit on my knee, I peppered kisses all over her gorgeous smiling face. “Thank you, I promise I won’t make you regret your decision.”

Clapping from the direction of the restaurant interrupted our moment, and when we turned to look, we found everyone in our crew who’d been at breakfast standing just outside the entrance with smiles on their face.

Holding onto her hips as I stood, I placed her on her feet. “What do you say we go celebrate?”

“I like the way you think.”

24

Lexie

Shootingoff an email to the wedding planner, I leaned back in the booth and watched as our crew trickled in. It had become somewhat of a tradition for us to hit up the buffet after our late-night shoots. I grabbed what I wanted to eat and tried to get some work done before I was surrounded by everyone and couldn’t think for myself.

“Are you finished?” Raine slid into the booth on the other side and made her way down until she was across from me.

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