The Lucky in Love Collection - Lauren Blakely Page 0,148

woman, her family, and all our friends.

Later that evening, I unlock the front door and toss the keys on the entryway table. “I’m thirsty. Want some wine?”

She wiggles her eyebrows. “Wine is always a good idea.”

“I’ll pour some glasses. You get comfortable, kitten.”

She sinks down on the couch, grabbing her knitting bag, pulling out the hat she’s making for Jodie.

I head to the kitchen and open a bottle, but it’s not wine. It’s a bubbly beverage. Call me confident, call me cocky. Or just call me certain of this love.

I have a damn good feeling we’ll be celebrating any minute.

I pour two glasses, set them down, and grab a piece of light-blue chalk. I write a message on the blackboard, then I call out, “Hey, can you help me with something in here?”

She chuckles. “What on earth do you need help with in the kitchen, Mr. Chef?”

“I need help pleasuring you on the kitchen counter. So get your sweet ass in here.” Sex works wonders on the woman, and I suspect it’ll indeed lure her.

Her boots click across the hardwood, and she turns into the doorway.

I drop to one knee and hold up the chalkboard.

I love you madly and always. Will you marry me?

Her eyes pop. She clasps her hand to her mouth. Tears well up. “Yes!” She nods vigorously, joins me on the floor, and kisses me passionately, even with the blackboard between us. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Happiness floods every damn cell in my body. “You haven’t even seen the ring.”

“I don’t care about the ring.”

“You better care. It’s fucking beautiful. Just like you.”

Letting the blackboard fall to the floor, I stand, her hand in mine, then I give her a glass of champagne. Hers contains a sparkling diamond on a silver band.

“God, it’s gorgeous.” Her green eyes twinkle with delight.

“I knew you’d like it.”

She dips her fingers in, tweezer-like, to fetch it, and when it’s in her hand, I take it and slide it on her finger. “Beautiful,” I whisper.

She throws her arms around my neck. “By the way, have I mentioned how awesome this kitchen is?”

“This kitchen is everything.”

I lift her up on the counter, and we enjoy another one of the great pleasures of this room.

Another Epilogue

Derek

A few years later

There are lies, damn lies, and then there’s everything I’ve ever said about love at first sight.

It wasn’t Perri who changed my mind. I didn’t love her at first sight, and definitely not at first touch. It was after I got to know her and learned she was funny, sarcastic, flirty, and dirty, and had a heart I wanted to cherish the rest of my life.

But then, after we married, something changed in me.

Because something changed in her.

As soon as she told me she was pregnant, I was head over heels for the baby in her belly.

Now, as I hold my baby girl for the first time, I take it all back. This is love at first sight—a fierce, powerful love that I know will only grow stronger every day. This little angel is perfect, and I’m going to take care of her and her mother for the rest of our lives.

“I love you madly,” I say to the tiny creature in the crook of my arm. She grabs my hand, and it’s fitting—I’m already wrapped around her little finger.

I gaze at my amazing wife, who gave me this gift. Who gives me so many gifts. No one’s ever made me feel this good. “And I love you so much too, kitten.”

Perri smiles back at me, tired and beautiful. “Good, because you’re stuck with me.”

And that’s exactly where I want to be.

THE END

Nobody Does It Better

His Prologue

Shaw

Some women are just forbidden. Like . . . oh, just off the top of my head . . . say, my sister’s lifelong best friend. Forbidden, as in if I touch her, it’s sayonara favorite-body-part.

Do I kid?

No, and I don’t want to test my sister’s resolve, so I stay far, far away from lovely Vanessa. Sweet Vanessa. Vanessa who wants the real deal. Keep your dirty hands off my best friend Vanessa.

Hey, that’s what my sister said.

Look, I’m not scared of my sister.

But I do respect her. I was raised right. I was taught respect, honor, and duty. And above all . . . family comes first. When Perri told me years ago she’d have my balls in a sling if I put my ladies’-man paws anywhere near her bestie, I listened, because I happen to like the boys a