Page 47 of Heartstrings & Horizons
“Thank you,” I sigh as I place my head on his shoulder. “I don’t know if I said it already but it bears repeating. This has all been such a whirlwind that I can’t remember if I stopped to tell you how much this means to me.”
I don’t think I’ve ever felt so incredibly special. I can count on one hand the number of truly memorable birthdays I’ve had in my 23 years on this earth. I grew up feeling like I wasn’t worthy of being celebrated, but Cade is slowly unraveling every thread in the tattered tapestry of my past, replacing each shredded piece with something new and indelible.
“You don’t have to thank me, baby. Your smile is all the thanks I need.”
There’s only honesty in his eyes as he lowers his lips to my forehead. I close my eyes to savor the moment. Everything is so perfect, I can’t help but anticipate the inevitable fall when this doesn’t work out.
Call me a cynic, but I haven’t exactly seen any evidence of happily ever after outside of romance novels, and I’m absolutely terrified I’m going to fall for this man.I’m halfway there already.
Everything is still so complicated. We haven’t even discussed the logistics of thewedding or the distance, but I don’t want to bring it up and put a damper on his trip. This has been the best birthday of my life.
I must have been really lost in my thoughts, because I missed Cade slipping off the bench. My eyes quickly shift to the snow at my feet, and I am surprised to find my cowboy down on one knee, a heartfelt expression on his face.
“Paige,” he says, a slight tremble in his voice, “you have the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever known and you are constantly putting everyone else’s needs ahead of your own. I want to be the man who puts you first. I want to show you that you can count on someone. I want to be by your side, holding your hand, no matter what the future holds. I didn’t see you coming, but now I can’t imagine my life without you. Will you marry me?”
We’ve drawn a little bit of a crowd and I must have waited too long to answer because Cade looks worried, and a woman to my left says “Well, answer him honey!” She’s snapping photos on her cell phone and I make a mental note to ask her to send them to me later.
I reach down and palm his cheeks in my hands, “Yes, Cade, of course I’ll marry you, you dummy. In case you forgot, I asked you first.”
“Actually, if memory serves, you didn’t really ask — it was more a command and it was sexy as fuck.”
I’m blushing now as Cade gently pushes the rings onto my finger and places a tender kiss on my palm. I giggle as he lifts me off the ground and spins me in a circle.
“It’s getting cold. We should head back to the hotel and get ready for your birthday celebration.”
I take his hand and we head over to an awaiting Uber, stopping first to accept an airdrop from the lady who was snapping photos of us. I’m not even sure when he put in the ride request, I must have been lost in my thoughts.
“Wait! We need a selfie.”
I hold out my phone and snap a photo with my ring finger on full display. Before I can pull away, Cade plants a kiss on my cheek and I snap one more photo for good measure along with a closeup of the ring.
Chapter 17
Cade
? Hot to Go! - Chappell Roan
Holy shit. My brain feels like it’s short-circuiting, unable to form coherent thoughts as I watch my girl lean into the mirror, meticulously checking her appearance before we meet up with her friends at the bar.
“Do I look ok?” she asks as she tugs on her bottom lip with her teeth. She looks stunning in a deep red sweater dress and black chunky heeled shoes with a strap around her ankle. Her hair is down in loose waves that skate over her shoulders with a dainty silk bow sweeping the front strands away from her face. I notice her signature red lipstick and I can’t help but imagine those lips wrapped around my cock later tonight.
“You look breathtaking, baby.” I slowly glide my hands across her ribs and lean down to place a kiss along her collarbone, feeling her body shiver ever so slightly. I love how my kisses affect her.
“On second thought, maybe we should stay in.”
She turns and playfully swats at my chest, “Come on, Cowboy, we better get going.”
Paige
Cade’s predatory stare sends shivers down my spine, and I can feel my cheeks flush with heat. He’s looking at me like I’m his next meal, and fuck do I want that. But we don’t have time.
I tug on his hand before both of us get carried away; we have to make it out of this hotel room or my friends are going to start asking way too many questions.
We arrive at the Loose Moose in time to see Mags, Bristol, Kevin, and Jaz sliding into a row of high top tables. The bar is all rustic charm, and the atmosphere is casual, but my nerves have me feeling anything but. I’m momentarily lost in my thoughts when I see a blur that looks something like my best friend barreling in my direction.
“Sweetie darling, you’re here!” she shouts — I think someone has been pre-gaming.
“Hey Mags. This is —”
