Hot Pickle - J.J. Knight Page 0,86

to the deli from it.”

“That’s a nice neighborhood,” she says. “And I’ll always love the park where we met that time.”

“Our first kiss.”

She laughs. “Our first very short, very platonic kiss.”

I hesitate again as we pass by registration and out to the parking lot. I continue to hold the thought as we stow our things in the trunk and climb into the front seat of my Audi.

Camryn pulls down her shoulder harness. “So, when are you thinking about making an offer?”

I reach over and take her hand. “Just as soon as it meets the approval of the woman I want to live there with me.”

Her jaw opens, then closes. “Really? You’re ready for a house full of tanning tents and the constant smell of oil?”

“It’s one of my favorite smells. It has the best memories.”

She bounces in her seat. “Can we go there now?” Her face radiates joy.

“I thought you were tired.”

“Not anymore. I have something amazing to look forward to.”

She chatters nonstop as we drive across town. “I could set up in the garage, maybe. We could have a room for your medals.”

I revel in the sound of her happy voice. She’s making plans with me.

We pull up in front of the white stucco with a red Spanish tile roof. A circle driveway sets the house back from the road enough to look classy, but not so much to be L.A. elite.

“Oh, wow!” she says. “Look at this!” She jumps out of the car. “Look at it!”

I glance at my phone. “The realtor will be here in fifteen to let us in.”

Camryn spins around to face me. “It’s so beautiful!”

“We can peek in.”

We peer through the front windows. “Look at that fireplace!” she says. “I’ve never had a fireplace!”

She runs around the side. “The master bedroom! There’s a garden tub!”

The back gate is locked, but I remember the code on it from my visit yesterday, so I buzz it open.

She pulls on the handle and runs ahead.

Ah, so she’s going to see the surprise.

She stops dead in her tracks. “Max!”

I hurry forward so I can see everything through her eyes.

A pool glistens, edged with blue and white tile. At the opposite end is a cabana house, the doors thrown open to show the spacious interior.

She hurries to it. “It has a bathroom! People could change in there! I could tan in here!” She whips around. “You picked this for me!”

I nod, and she runs at me, jumping so hard she almost knocks me into the pool.

But I clutch her body, her face buried in my neck. She wraps her legs around my hips.

“I love it,” she says, and barely contains a sob.

“I love you,” I say. “I want all our dreams to come true here.”

She pulls back, her wet eyes holding mine. “They already did.”

I kiss her in the backyard of our first house. I want everything of mine to be hers, to wrap her in security, family, and love.

This is a good start.

Epilogue: Camryn

When I first see Max in his tuxedo, I have to admit, I almost like this version of him better than when he’s naked in my tanning tent.

Almost.

He’s let his face scruff grow since we’re between competition seasons. The natural bodybuilding circuit has fewer meets. But it feels like the right amount. Enough to show off his hard work. But not so competitive or driven that it impinges on his life.

The black jacket shapes his shoulders like a linebacker. The pants are custom fit and accentuate his powerful thighs.

Honestly, I want to take the whole suit right off of him.

But we’re out of time. The wedding is less than an hour away.

Max turns in the circle. “What do you think?”

“I think you’re too beautiful for this world.”

He tweaks his white bow tie. “Funny, that’s the way I’ve always felt about you. Take a spin in that beautiful dress. I’ll try to keep everything in my pants.”

“Not your strong suit,” I say with a laugh as I take a slow, easy walk on the hotel room’s Berber carpet.

Jason’s wedding is in an hour. My fitted gold dress is sheathed in sequins. The light from the balcony windows hit it like I’m a disco ball, throwing off bits of light across the walls.

“Perfection,” he says. “And those shoes are outrageous. I love them.”

I kick up a heel of the six-inch gold platform stilettos. I’m probably going to break my neck. But I have a pair of tiny folding flats tucked into my clutch. The platforms are mainly