it means when I say I love you. I want to give you the whole damn world — but we know that’s impossible. But giving you this diner — it is.”
Tears fill her eyes again, and she wraps her arms around my neck. “Why are you being so good to me?”
“Because I love you.”
I step back from her and lower myself to one knee. “I know we just revealed how we felt, but Val, I’ve known for a long time how I feel about you. And I can’t hold back.”
“Vance…” she covers her mouth with her hand.
“You’ve been alone in the world for far too long. Life is so hard. Hell, I almost died a few months ago — I know that it’s never gonna be easy. But I also know the hard parts are sweeter when you share them with the person you love.” She drops to her knees too, kissing me hard. Letting go of anything she was still holding back in that one perfect kiss.
Valerie
His words seem too perfect, too surreal — yet here Vance is, looking at me with devotion. And I know that look because it’s the very one I am giving him back.
He takes my shaking hands in his. The feel of his hands wrapped around mine makes my belly flip-flop. God, I love this man. Why did I wait so long to tell him?
“Valerie, I love you,” he says, taking my breath away. “Marry me. Let me be the husband, the man, you deserve.”
He pulls out a beautiful antique emerald cut diamond ring. “Oh God,” I whisper, covering my mouth with my hands. “You mean it?”
He gives me a smile, the smile that makes me melt. The smile that makes me his.
“Oh, I mean it, baby. But I admit to being a little terrified that you’re gonna go bacon my heart.”
I shake my head. I kiss him again as he draws me so close I can feel his hard length. “I won’t break anything, I promise. I’m yours, Vance. Forever.”
He slips the glittering ring on my finger and I can’t hold back the sob that rises in my chest. This is a moment I will never forget — the moment when the man I love promises to be mine. It’s what I’ve dreamed of all my life. And somehow, I’m getting my happily ever after.
“I can’t believe you bought me a diner.”
He laughs. “It’s where everything changed.”
I nod, kissing him more deeply. My body awake and alive. His. “I have to tell you something though, Vance. Something I’ve never told anyone.”
His hands still and he looks in my eyes. We’re sitting on the floor of the diner, our diner, our bodies entwined. My heart his.
“I’ve never slept with anyone before,” I whisper. “And I want to sleep with you. Now. So badly it hurts…” I run my hand between my leg. My pussy is tender and full of want. Wet. Willing. “It hurts right here,” I moan.
“Oh, love,” he groans, pulling me to stand. “I need to get you off this dirty floor. Come with me. It’s time you came home.”
Chapter Seven
Vance
My innocent girl is a virgin. A virgin.
Fuck.
My cock can hardly stand the thought of it.
The way her fingers ran between her thighs, over her pussy. I could hardly take it. Hand in hand, we lock the diner up, then head to my place. She has been here before, and I’m glad I tidied the place up.
I am taking my bride home. I want her to like it.
“I can’t believe you proposed,” she says, wrapping her arm around mine as we walk.
“You didn’t expect it?”
She shakes her head. “I mean, I always dreamed of it… but I didn’t actually think it would happen.”
“Georgie knew. I thought for sure she’d blow my cover.”
Val giggles. “I wondered why she was so bubbly, even buying champagne.”
“I’m glad it was a surprise,” I tell her as I push open the front gate of my bungalow.
“How did you manage to buy the diner?” she asks hesitantly.
“I’ve been alone for years — what do I have to spend my money on? I bought this house for a steal, fixed it up by myself. What can I say, I’m a saver.”
She beams up at me. “Thank you. You literally made all of my wildest dreams come true in the space of a day.” She licks her lips. “Now when we get inside, maybe I can make one of your dreams come true.”