Page 56 of Almost Had You

“Probably?” I counter.

Her lips brush mine when she says, “Opossum.”

I pull back, confused. “Huh?”

“Not probably, Mercer. Definitely panda.”

My lips sink into hers and they taste like magic—home. Everything I dared to dream for. It only takes a few seconds to realize the bar separating us is the only thing stopping me from taking her clothes off and having her in all ways. Her tongue tentatively probes against mine and I greet it with my own. My whole body ignites and I pull away before I get carried away.

Leaning my forehead against hers, I whisper, “I need to take you somewhere and show you something. What do you say?” I’m aware that everyone is looking at us, that we’re in a bar filled with people who just saw a kiss that wasn’t just a kiss.

“We still playing a game?” Clover asks. “Is what you have to show me X-Rated?”

I shake my head. “Not yet. That’s later on.”

“Okay, that’s enough of that,” Tannie exclaims, rising from her stool. “You guys want to go get something to eat and let these lovebirds get…reacquainted?” She hikes her thumb over her shoulder to the long table with food set out. The group agrees.

Clover laughs and bids her friends goodbye. I check with Glenda back in the kitchen and maybe it’s the uniform, but she agrees to let me go with a smile. I offer to come back to help her with the chores around the kitchen another day and apologize again for my drunken tirade.

When I exit, Clover is waiting for me, arms wrapped around her bare shoulders. The moon hits her skin and gives her a dewy glow. This is the part where we’re finally alone and I’ll have to use willpower alone to get through this without breaking down or just pushing her against a wall and kissing four months of missing her away.

“Where you taking me?”

“There’s something I want to show you.” My voice shakes and Clover hears it. “It’s a surprise,” I admit, opening my arms to the side.

“I missed you, Mercer,” Clover drawls, tears forming in her eyes. “Seeing you tonight up on that stage made me realize how much everything else doesn’t matter. You’re home safe and time didn’t touch my feelings for you.”

My heart rate picks up as we walk back to town square. This is going just as I hoped it would. “You don’t know how happy I am to hear you say that. This is sort of the surprise I was trying to pull back in Cape Cod.” I stop when we’re in front of the screen that still has an American flag projected. “I should have known it wasn’t clever enough and I’d have to Clover-ize the plan to fit.”

Clover quirks one brow and looks at me, her eyes shining. “I’m listening,” she says, taking both my hands in hers.

“Okay,” I say, stepping out of her grasp. “Stay here and watch the screen. Give me a few minutes.”

She nods, a coy smile playing on her lips.

I jog up to the little control station that houses the projector. There’s a feeling that comes with the thrill of a chase, or when action meets preparation. I feel it during missions, and I feel it now. I hit the play button, and make sure the video is focused and centered. My face pops up on the screen. It’s a little blurry because I used my older laptop to record the video.

My stomach flips when Clover steps closer to the screen to get a better look. The video plays.

“Clover Wellsley. It’s me.” I cover my mouth to cover a cough. “I just got here in London. There should be a little date stamp proving that.” There is. Clover steps even closer. The urge to walk over and pull her into my arms wars with my need for this to be as perfect as I can make it.

“Leaving you was harder than anything I’ve ever done before. It’s how I know that you are the person for me. Not just the person for me at this stage of life, but the person I want to be with for the rest of time. No matter what happens, I wanted you to know that I choose you.”

Clover turns to seek me out, but I move quickly, making my way around the control station toward the stage—hidden from view.

“When people talk about soul mates, I never thought mine would be someone I knew my whole life. Or that I’d find you on the side of the road covered in mud talking about lying to the world. It was then that I knew I was lying to the world too.” I pause on the video, trying to keep my emotions in check. “I wasn’t happy. I was fulfilled with my career, but my life needed more. You stumbled into me, literally, and I knew that life was about more than just my duty. Sometimes it’s about helping the person you thought needed help least. Or falling for a woman who doesn’t fall for anyone or anything. Here I sit in a small tin room in London feeling that ‘Bama sun on my face and that Camelia love in my chest because I love a woman more than I love my own life. Some people you have to let haunt you because they brought you to life, and if you didn’t allow it, they’d kill you completely. That’s where I’m at, Clover Wellsley. I’m letting you haunt my soul because it belongs to you. You’re home. You’re my love. My life. I want you to be mine forever. So, I’m asking for your hand in marriage. I’m asking you to be mine.”

Just as I hoped, Clover is so wrapped up in the video that she didn’t notice me walk up the stage in the dark right corner.

“Will you marry me, Clover?”

I get down on one knee, my mom’s small engagement ring in between my forefinger and thumb. “Marry me,” I ask.

Clover stumbles toward the front stairs of the stage, tears pouring down her face. When she gets to the top stair, she drops to her knees in front of me.

“I know it’s crazy to feel this way after such a short time, darlin’. There’s no one else for me. Not in the entire world. You are my definition of perfection. However you accept, just accept, I’ll do anything to make you happy for the rest of your life.”

She puts her finger on my mouth, takes the ring from my hand and slides it on her left ring finger. “Mercer Ballentine, I love you so, so much.”

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