Page 118 of Stirring Up Love
Finn laughed. “Not surprised.”
“And I made sure there’s enough cabinet space,” Bella said as she stepped inside. “Brought you this.” She set his cast-iron skillet on the stove with care.
“That’s ... wow.” With his free arm, Finn embraced Darius, who looped in Bella. The people he cared most about in the world, underone roof. His roof, thanks to the love of his life. “Thank you for this,” he said, in the biggest understatement of his life.
Darius squeezed his shoulder, then pulled out of the hug, humor sparking his brown eyes. “What you should be thanking me for is introducing you two. If I hadn’t sent you to that farmers’ market ...”
“Yeah, yeah, save it for your best man speech.”
Darius’s face lit up. “Okay. All right, then.” He rubbed his hands together, peering out the window. “Any idea about the maid of honor yet?”
“My sister, Alisha,” Simone said. “Happily married. But this town is full of single women, if you’re ever in the mood to relocate.”
“Never know. It’s not that far from Springfield. How’s the market for farmland? Got space for an office downtown?”
“Always room for more.”
Bella stepped between them. “Enough of this business talk, you sharks.” She tugged Darius’s sleeve. “Let’s give them a second to enjoy their new house in privacy.”
With a wave, his friends clomped down the steps of the attached porch, and Finn shut the door behind them. “I thought they’d never leave.”
Simone grinned. “You do realize we’re in the middle of the street, with half the town waiting for us inside?”
He nodded. “Don’t worry, I won’t beg you to ravish me until this thing is parked. But then, all bets are off.” He planned to say thank you in her favorite way, because in this case, words wouldn’t even begin to do her gesture justice.
But for now, he kissed her, slow and deep, then dug a folded slip of paper out of his back pocket and pressed it into her hands. “I got you a present too. It’s not a house, but—”
She unfolded it carefully, and it took all he had not to blurt out the news. “Oh my gosh. This is an adoption certificate.” She looked up, eyes wide. “You got me a puppy?”
“I did.”
“Where is she?”
Finn pointed out the window, to where Meg held a wriggling ball of brown, black, and white fluff. The Australian shepherd puppy who’d captured his heart at the pet shelter.
“That’s her? She’s adorable! Have you named her?”
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a collar with a heart-shaped nameplate. “I thought maybe we should name her together.”
But Simone was staring at the collar in his hands, and he couldn’t hold back his smile anymore, because there wasn’t just an empty nameplate attached to the collar.
“Finn Rimes, is that a ring?”
He nodded, hands going clammy, even though she’d already asked the question. Even though he’d already said yes. Would say yes every day to life with this woman.
“Were you going to ...” She put her hands to her mouth. “Holy crap, were you going to propose?”
“Great minds think alike, I guess,” he said, biting his lip.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to steal the moment.”
“Sorry? Are you kidding? It’sourmoment. And as competitive as you are, I’m glad you beat me to it. All I want is you.”
“You’ve got me. I’m all yours. Forever.” She pulled him down for a kiss, cupping his jaw. “And you’re mine.”
“I’ve been yours since the day you sicced those knitters on me.”
“I had nothing to do with that.”
He tipped his forehead to hers. “Did so.”
“Are we fighting a few minutes into engagement?”
“It’s never been fighting between us, Simone, and we both know it.”
She kissed him again, long and deep. “For once, Finn, you’re right.”
