Page 73 of An Inconvenient Plan
“I will!”
She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. Something hit the ground, but she ignored it as his arms wrapped around her and he kissed her breathless. They broke apart at the sound of growling.
Josh dropped to his knees, pried the ring box out of Rose’s mouth, wiped it on his jeans, and opened it to her.A proposal on both knees? Swoon!It was a round diamond solitaire on a gold band. She adored it. He slipped it on her finger, looked up at her from his gallant kneeling position, and gave her a tender smile.
She squealed, pulled him up, and peppered him with kisses all over his scruffy face.
Josh slid his hand under her hair, cupping the back of her neck, and kissed her fiercely, possessively, like she was his. She had to return the same fierce claim.
Their dogs ran in circles around them, excited, the leashes tangling around their legs, binding them together.
Brandy and Joe’s wedding was perfect. It took place only two days later, so Hailey had to work with a bride on crutches, but it only went to show how deeply Joe loved his bride. He didn’t care that she moved awkwardly down the aisle on crutches or that she had to sit through most of the reception at Happy Endings bar. He doted on her, his eyes full of love, his every gesture for her comfort. And her mom positively glowed with the love she had for Joe.
Hailey let out a happy sigh, surrounded by friends and the Campbell family, which she was now a part of in so many ways they’d never be able to cut her loose. Josh was her fiancé, Mad was the sister she’d always wanted, Joe was her stepdad, and all the brothers treated her like gold. Not to mention three of her friends were married to Campbells and one friend was engaged.
Josh entwined his fingers with hers as they watched the bride and groom have their special dance, which was more like the happy couple standing still, arms wrapped around each other. Every once in a while, Joe would lift her mom in her cast and spin her in another direction.
“So cute,” Hailey murmured.
“Next is the maid of honor and best man dance,” Jake Campbell announced. “And let’s give them a round of applause on their new engagement.”
Hailey flushed with happiness as everyone cheered for them. This was the first time Hailey had seen everyone since Josh had proposed two days ago, though, of course, she’d texted and called everyone immediately.
“It was about time!” Mad hollered.
Josh pulled her to the small dance floor in front of the bar, drawing her close for a slow swaying. He looked ridiculously handsome in his tux, clean-shaven, his hair still sexily rumpled. His hair was so thick there was just no taming it, which explained why his twin kept his hair short.
“Hello, lovebirds,” Joe said, dancing with her mom nearby. “You’re welcome.”
“Ha,” Josh said. “You don’t get all the credit. I got moves, old man.”
Hailey blushed. “Josh.”
“What?”
Her mom laughed. “Why do you think we made you maid of honor and best man in the first place? It was a last-ditch effort to get you together.”
Hailey turned to Josh in surprise. He looked equally surprised. That hadn’t exactly worked out like her mom and Joe might’ve thought. Hearing Josh tell her he’d be best man to her maid of honor had been the last straw that caused her to break down in tears. At the time, being stuck with Josh, who’d rejected her, while everyone around her was having the happy ending she’d so craved had felt like the worst thing in the world. Maybe she needed to be stuck with Josh to find the wonderful man waiting to come out and love her. Once he was done being an arrogant beast.
“Like I said, you’re welcome,” Joe said smugly before whisking her mom off the dance floor and back to a comfortable chair.
Josh turned to her. “What do you think? They get the credit or us?”
Hailey shook her head. “I feel like I’m supposed to say us, but…”
He laughed. “Yeah. You made things extremely difficult.”
“Excuse me? If anyone made things difficult, it was you. I didn’t even think you liked me.”
His hand slid up her spine to cup the back of her neck. “I always liked you. Why do you think I was your paid wedding escort in the first place?”
“Because you needed money.”
One corner of his mouth lifted, his dark eyes sparkling with good humor. “I thought you were asking me out, and then when you said it was part of your business plan, I pretended like I knew that all along.”
“Josh! We could’ve been dating years ago! I could’ve been the first one with a happy ending!”
He hugged her. “Honestly, I don’t think so. I was fighting the attraction because I thought wrongly about you.”
