Page 156 of The Last Second Chance
Business at the brewery was booming and the need for a full-time manager was no longer just speculation. Joey’s relationship with her parents had smoothed out to the point where she no longer felt like she was wearing a plastic bag over her head during conversations with them. Forrest had stopped treating Jax as a pariah, and April had only hinted around for a week or two after Joey’s fall that maybe Joey should start working with livestock smaller than horses.
Joey and Jax agreed that Apollo and Calypso’s first “experience” with each other seemed wildly successful, after a few well-placed kicks from the mare reminding Apollo to mind his manners. In a few weeks they’d know for sure if there would be a baby Aplypso, as Jax had dubbed the potential foal.
Yes, life in Blue Moon was beautiful, Joey sighed, letting the spring air from the open car window rush through her fingers.
After some spectacular early morning sex, Jax had talked her into breakfast at Overly Caffeinated to celebrate their day off together. And after plates of growth hormone- and cruelty-free bacon and eggs, they were heading home to do whatever the hell they felt like. Jax brought the knuckles of her hand to his lips and brushed them and she felt that familiar flutter in her stomach.
In his aviators and t-shirt, his hair carelessly tousled, he looked more movie star or model than writer and brewer. And he was all hers.
Suck it, Moon Beam Parker.Joey grinned. “Breakfast sure puts you in a good mood,” she said.
“I was just thinking about a vacation with you.”
“A vacation? Don’t tell me you’re back on road trips again.”
The sun glinted off the glassy waters of Diller’s pond as they cruised past.
“I was thinking more along the lines of passports and white sand, blue water, and a tiny bikini.”
“If you think you can pull off a bikini I’ll be happy to post photographic evidence to Facebook,” Joey teased.
Jax slowed and downshifted, bringing the Nova to a smooth stop on the side of the road.
“Oh, gee. Are we out of gas?” Joey smirked.
“Cute. Now get out,” Jax said, reaching across her and pulling the door handle.
It wouldn’t be the first time Jax had pretended to throw her out of car. But when she looked around them, she realized where they were. The oak was still standing and, despite the scars it bore on its trunk, it looked stronger than ever.
She climbed out of the car and wandered over to it, fingers skimming the bark. She’d never revisited the site of the accident. She’d driven past it hundreds of times since, but had never stopped. Never wanted to remember that night.
“What are we doing here?” she asked, wondering why Jax would want to put a damper on what had started off as the perfect day.
His fingers joined hers on the trunk of the tree. “Do you know what I see when I look at you, Joey?”
She faced him, arched an eyebrow. “I can’t even imagine.”
He brought his hands to her waist and she felt the love in those gray eyes. “I see my past,” he began, turning her wrist up and starting to trace her scar from the elbow. “I see my present.” He skimmed a hand over her cheek, fingers dipping into her hair.
“And I see my future.” Jax looked her square in the eye and slowly began to sink down on one knee.
Goosebumps sprang up on her arms as Jax’s hand left her face and traveled down her arm until he held her hand. Her breath caught in her throat.
“Joey, it’s always been you for me. There’s no home, no heart without you. Marry me. Be my wife, my partner, my home.”
She saw it then, the diamond glinting in the spring sunshine.
She bent at the waist, trying to catch her breath. “Are you sure about this?” she asked.
His slow, sexy-as-hell smile made her heart beat even faster. “Hell yes. Say yes.”
“Are you asking or telling?” Joey’s vision blurred with tears.
“There’s only one answer here, Jojo.”
She laughed and straightened. She knew it too. There had always been only one answer.
“Let’s do it.”
