Page 148 of Doughn't Let Me Go

I glance over in time to see her lips twitch. “Maybe.”

“I’m starting to think maybe it doesn’t matterhoworwhereI ask, just that I ask. You trying to rush us into marriage, Dory?”

“Me? Why would I do that?”

“Because of my money,” I deadpan.

She laughs. “Is it that obvious?”

“So obvious. You’ve just been playing coy the last six months, refusing to move in with me no matter how much I begged. I bet you weren’t even really working at the grocery store, just stringing me along, making me think you were some goodhearted, hardworking woman.”

“God, you’ve got me pegged.”

“As long as I’m not the one getting pegged, we’re good.”

“Porter!” She smacks at me.

“Watch it! I’m driving!” I shrug off her attack. “I just wanna make it clear that I amnotinto ass play.”

“But you have no problems wanting to put it inmyass, huh?” She wags her finger at me. “Turnabout is fair play, you know.”

“Not in that game, honey.”

“Don’t honey me, James Porter Jones.”

“I’ll honey you all I want, Doris Lorraine Palmer.” I swing the SUV into a parking spot, shifting the car into park. I turn her way, tapping my finger against my chin. “Hmm…Doris LorraineJones.It has a nice ring to it, you know.”

“It sounds awful.” Despite her words, her tone is wistful.

I lean across the car, letting my lips get as close to hers as possible without them touching. “You don’tsoundlike it sounds awful.”

“It’s hideous,” she insists, drifting closer, and I can feel her mouth ghosting over mine.

Since Dory agreed to stay and fight, she kisses me freely now.

I’ll never grow tired of the way her lips feel on mine or the way it makes my heart hammer inside my chest.

This is it.

The moment.

The one I’ve been waiting for since I bought the ring last year.

I can feel it.

“Dory, can I ask you something?”

She pulls back, eyes searching mine with alarm and hope and so much fucking love it almost hurts. “Of course.”

“Will you…”

“Yes?” She’s nearly breathless now, and her eyes are shifting from hope to excitement, and I’m certain in this moment she’ll say yes.

“Will you…” I swipe my tongue over my lips. “Will you…”

“Porter…you’re killing me here.”

“I know. I’m sorry. It’s just…this is big, you know?”

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