Page 87 of Total Abandon
“I didn’t get to do this properly the first time, so allow me to correct that mistake,” he grumbles deep from his chest, his decadent lips tugged up in that soul-snatching half smirk of his. “From the moment I met you, it was only you. It might have taken me a while to realize it, but you had me that very first time you called me a sex addict in that waiting room.”
I let out a strangled laugh as a fat tear rolls down my face.
“I love you, Chloe. And if you’ll let me, I’ll love you every day until the end of time. I’ll love you when you’re mad, I’ll love you when you’re freaking out about wet socks, and I’ll love you when you’re throwing chairs at strangers in bars.”
A shaky laugh tumbles from my lips and I sink down to my knees in front of him, reaching for his face.
“The rough with the smooth, baby. I want it all with you.” His voice becomes thick with emotion and a deep glow of happiness seeps through me. His stubble scrapes beneath my palm as he glances down and pulls the ring from the box. When he meets my gaze again, all of his teasing fire is absent, leaving nothing but a burning sincerity behind. “Will you marry me, Chloe Devlin?”
“Yes!” I sob, throwing myself into his arms.
He chuckles and before I know it, we’re standing. He whirls me around once as his lips find mine, claiming them in a passionate kiss that’s dampened by my tears. “Damn pregnancy hormones,” I whisper when he pulls back and places me on my feet, using one hand to brush my hair away from my face.
I’ve never seen him as happy as he is now. The light beaming from his eyes could shoot planes from the sky. And I put it there. Me. Who will soon be a Guerra, just like him and Diego and our daughter to come. He pulls my hand gently away from his face andslides the ring onto my finger. Where it will stay forever. It twinkles at us for a moment as we both grin like idiots.
“CONGRATULATIONS!” The uproar of a joint chorus makes me jump out of my skin. I spin in Zeke’s arms to see a crowd of everyone I love rushing over from behind the cabanas. Tilly, Cade, my mom and my dad, even my grandma shuffles over on her walker. Mason, Chase, Mia, and Logan stand to one side, the latter with his hand on a beaming Diego’s shoulder.
“You guys…” I sniff weakly as I’m pulled into my mom's arms.
“Congratulations, sweetheart. I’m so happy for you.” I grin into her neck, my shoulders sagging as I surrender to her embrace. My family had been shocked when we explained what had really happened between Zeke and I, and then angry, and then disappointed. The fact they are all here with happy smiles to support us now means the world to me. She lets me go, patting my cheek merrily as tears pool in her eyes.
“Chloe, Chloe!” The small, excited squeak draws my attention and I crouch down to pull Diego into a hug.
His fists ball into my hair as I rub his back, beaming at Tilly where she stands between Logan and Chase without an ounce of discomfort.
“So, did you find out?” Mason asks Zeke after clapping him on the back.
“Yep. It’s a girl, I’m screwed.” Zeke grins, and the crowd erupts again into congratulations and laughter.
“A girl!” Diego yells, pulling back to look at me with his mouth stretched into a shocked O.
“Yeah buddy, is that okay? You’re going to have a sister.” I smile, watching his little brain process. His face melts into the sweetest, most excited smile I’ve ever seen, his little limbs vibrating in my arms.
“I'm so…” The breath catches in his chest as his eyes bounce between mine and Zeke’s. “I'm so…so…HORNY!” he yells, punching his hands into the air.
