my hair. She sipped her wine, glancing down at me.
“Hey,” she teased, “I thought you were asleep.”
I stroked her cheek with my thumb. “I was watching you, Wren.” I smiled up at her. “You are so pretty, my girl.”
I felt the heat under my hand and grinned. She never failed to react to my words.
“Stop it,” she admonished, setting down her glass.
I pulled her face down, meeting her partway, nuzzling her lips with mine. She tasted of wine, the chocolate she was nibbling, and Jenny. Perfect. Lazily, our tongues met as her fingers buried themselves in my hair, and she whimpered quietly as the kiss deepened. She told me once kissing me was her favorite thing in the world. It was my job to make her happy, so who was I to deny Jenny her favorite thing? Besides, it was my favorite thing as well. Slowly and thoroughly I explored her, savoring her sweetness. Finally, I tempered the kiss, softening my mouth to gentle, indulgent sweeps of my lips before pulling back and smiling at her.
Now this, this was my favorite look for Jenny. Her cheeks lightly flushed, lips swollen, hair mussed up from my hands—and the look in her eyes. Love, want, and desire, and she directed them all at me—always for me. I knew mine reflected the same back at her. She was it for me.
Abruptly, I sat up and pulled Jenny onto my lap, cupping her face. “I love you.”
Her hand covered mine. “I love you too.” She frowned at the expression on my face. “Connor, what is it? What’s wrong?”
I shook my head. “Nothing is wrong. Everything is right. You make everything right, Wren.” I kissed her. “You always make everything so right.”
Her expression was soft as she gazed at me.
I drew in a deep breath. “I want you to make it right…” I swallowed. “For the rest of our lives.”
“Connor…” she breathed.
“I know we’ve only been together a short time and living together for a few months. But, baby, you’re it for me. I know it. I feel it. I don’t ever want to be without you.”
“You won’t be.”
“I’m not rich, but I promise to give you everything you didn’t have growing up. You’ll never be alone. You’ll never feel unwanted or wishing for a home and security. You’ll have that. You’ll have me.”
I lifted her hand and kissed the palm, pressing the small box into it. “Marry me, Jenny. Make me the happiest man on earth and say yes.”
A tiny sound escaped her mouth as she stared in shock at the box. Her tear-filled eyes met mine.
“Please,” I murmured. “I need to know I have you forever. I want to wake up to you every morning and know you’re here, at the end of the day, waiting for me.” I kissed her. “I want your smiles and laughter. I want all those thoughts you can’t keep inside your head. I want to be there for you when you need me. I want a life, children, with you.” I paused and cupped her face. “Please be mine.”
“Yes,” she whispered.
I took the box and opened it for her, removing the ring from its velvet bed. “It was my grandmother’s,” I explained as I slipped it on her finger. “My mom gave it to me to give to you.”
The simple solitaire set in filigreed white gold twinkled in the light. “It’s so beautiful.”
“So are you.”
I wiped the tears from her cheek and sealed our engagement with a kiss to her ring then to her lips. She wound her arms around my neck, and I pulled her against me. Standing, I lifted her and carried her to our room. Laying her on the bed, I smiled at her as I tucked a stray curl behind her ear.
“I love you, Wren.”
She opened her arms, pulling me down to her. “I love you, Connor.”
I kissed her with all I had and held her close.
I would be eternally grateful for the day she mistook my door for hers.
Her bad day changed my life for the better.
Because she became mine, forever.
Epilogue
Connor
Three years later
I stood on the sidewalk, admiring the small Cape Cod-style house. Flowers lined the sidewalk, making it bright and cheery. A porch swing sat to the right, piled with pillows, beckoning you to sit and have a cold drink, rest a spell and relax. The creamy white paint was fresh, and the shutters and trim painted a cheerful blue.
The color of my eyes, Jenny said.
I was still struck every time