Page 125 of Word to the Wise

Claps come from below us, and Reed looks down as they start whistling before her gaze comes back to mine.

“You planned this?”

“I did.” I grin.

“Guess now I know why they weren’t asking if we were going to keep going.” She smiles.

I take her hand and slip the ring onto her finger.

She mentioned once that she didn’t like diamonds because she finds gestures more important than possessions. So I had an intricate white gold band craftedfor her instead.

“It’s beautiful.” She inspects the woven strands and smiles.

“Not as beautiful as you.”

“You’re a serious cheeseball today.” She rolls her eyes but pulls me to her for another kiss as she says it.

“I am. You bring it out of me. And I don’t care, you said yes. That’s all that matters.”

“You actually thought I wouldn’t?”

“I mean, you never know. You keep me on my fucking toes, Sticks.”

She grins at my comment. “It’s for your own good.”

“Yes, it is.”

“So then…” Reed wraps her arms around my shoulders and pulls her body closer to me. “Does my brother know you’re going to make an honest woman out of me?”

“He does.”

Sage has always been a little hesitant about me getting involved with his sister, but I never took it personally because I get it. No one is ever good enough for your sister.

Still, when I told him I was proposing to her, he seemed genuinely happy about it, and offered to give me the weekend off.

Reed might think this little climb is the end of it. But we’ve got a cabin all to ourselves, and I’m going to sit around a fire with her and do all the dirty things I know my girl has been thinking about since she started reading a new book series.

Reed smiles so big it looks like she’s up to something.

“What?”

“Nothing.” She bites her lip. “It’s just Lyla told me this might be coming.”

“Your brother and his big mouth.”

Reed leans her head back and laughs. “No, I don’t think it was him. About a month ago, she brought me a tarot card and said you were it.”

“So, you’re telling me the universe gave away my secrets? Because that’s about the time I bought this ring. Lyla’s a cool chick and all, but it’s kinda creepy when she reads the future.”

“You get used to it.”

“Whatever you say.” I kiss her again.

“So, what now?” she asks, beaming at me.

“Now, we climb this fucking rock so I can kiss my fiancée properly.” I release her so we can go back to gripping the rock surface. “Unless you’d like to stop and celebrate right here. You think I could fuck you against this cliff?”

“I think you could try, and it wouldn’t go very well.” She grins. “Plus, they might have approved our little pause for the proposal, but I don’t think our belayers would appreciate that.”

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