doing?”
“This”, he said, easing a small box off the floor beside him. “While you were asleep, I decided to go shopping.”
Monica’s heart skipped a beat when she saw the white velvet box. And when he opened it to reveal a beautiful diamond ring nestled on white satin, she drew in a deep breath. “Landon!”
“Will you marry me, Monica?”
Tears she couldn’t contain began flowing down her cheeks. “But, but...I don’t believe it. You want to marry me?”
“Of course, I want to marry you. And the sooner the better. I love you and you love me. Besides, I figured I needed to put a ring on your finger so men would stop coming on to you. This will let them know you’re taken. So, will you marry me?”
“Yes, I will marry you, and I promise to love you forever and be a good wife and mother to all your babies.”
After sliding the ring on her finger, Landon stood. “I know you will. I was going to wait and give it to you tomorrow on Christmas Day, but I couldn’t wait. Besides, we’ll spend tomorrow morning in the air, flying to North Carolina.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. They would arrive at his parents’ place in time for Christmas dinner and then spend the night. Then the day after Christmas, they would fly to Atlanta to attend the Bennetts’ Christmas Family Reunion. Everyone would be so surprised when they found out she was now an engaged woman.
“You have made everything so special this year for me, Landon.”
“And you have made things special for me as well.” He leaned in and took her lips with a hunger that she knew was just the beginning.
The next thing she knew, he had tossed her on the huge bed, immediately flipping her to her back. “I’ve decided I’m hungry after all.” And then he proceeded to make her his meal.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
THE BENNETTS’ CHRISTMAS FAMILY REUNION
DATE : DECEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 28
WHERE: ATLANTA, GEORGIA AND MACON, GEORGIA
Family REUNION AGENDA IS ATTACHED
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
THE FOUR WOMEN STOOD together, looking over the crowd. It seemed more Bennetts were in attendance at this family reunion than there had been in years past. Definitely since their great-grandfather Ethan’s death.
Alexia Bennett Masters, Rae’jean Bennett Garrison, Octavia “Taye” Bennett-Bennett and Brandy Bennett Masters took in the gathering with huge smiles on their faces, knowing somewhere in heaven, Ethan and Idella Bennett were smiling as well.
So much had happened over the past fifteen years. The family had grown by leaps and bounds. And Alexia, Rae’jean and Taye now included Brandy as part of the ‘Bennett Pack’ whereas, when they’d been teens, they would not have. But they could now laugh about those days and appreciate how close they were now. All of them were successful in their own right, and all were happily married to wonderful men.
“I just can’t believe that Sebrina and Monica got engaged to men you hadn’t even met until today,” Alexia said to Taye, grinning. “Those girls definitely know how to do things in a big way.”
Taye couldn’t help but grin back. “I know, right. You should have seen the shock on my face when both my daughters arrived yesterday for Christmas dinner wearing engagement rings and introducing us to the men they plan to marry. Parker and Landon are absolute sweethearts, and I already love them both. They have made my girls happy.”
“Of course, I’ve known Parker for years, and I’m glad he’s becoming part of the family,” Rae’jean said happily. “Funny how that worked out, isn’t it? I thought Grady was meant to join our family, but in the end, he didn’t. Now, sixteen years later, his nephew will. I talked to Grady and Lynn yesterday and they’re deliriously happy for them. And I’m also looking forward to getting to know Landon. He’s a cutie.”
“Like Haddison, he’s a bit older. But I think he’s just what Monica needs,” Taye said.
All the ladies agreed. Another thing they all agreed about was that they’d never seen Monica and Sebrina happier than they were now. Both were wearing beautiful engagement rings on their fingers and had handsome men by their sides. If anyone had a problem with Sebrina and Parker’s upcoming mixed marriage, they knew to keep their opinions to themselves.
“Any plans yet for the weddings?” Brandy asked.
“Not yet, but I understand it won’t be a double wedding, like Kennedy and Victoria had.”
“But we enjoyed planning it so much,” Alexia said.
“And now we’ll have two of them to plan,” Taye replied.
“Umm, who