Rumor Going 'Round (Lyrics and Love #3) - Lind, Samantha Page 0,69

and thought that I should have asked Lindsay that very night. I thought about it, making it a little private moment, but I already had things for tonight in the works, so I stuck with my original plan.

“A beer and water for milady.” I hand over the drinks and kiss Lindsay’s cheek before I down half of my own beer in just a couple gulps.

The ladies all let out a screech of excitement when “Country Girl” by Luke Bryan comes on. They all head for the dance floor and start shaking their asses as they cut it up dancing.

“You going to ask her, or are you chickening out?” Lee asks as we both watch them dancing.

“I’m not chickening out, asshole.” I punch him in the shoulder. “I was planning on it when she comes back over here.”

“Finish your beer and ask her. You know she’s going to say yes, so the sooner you ask her, the sooner y’all can get the fuck out of here and celebrate.” He smirks at me.

“Please don’t think of my girl and sex ever again,” I deadpan, staring my best friend down.

“Lighten up, asshole. It isn’t like I said I was taking her to bed,” he says and just laughs at me. He’s got a point, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m protective over Lindsay, even if it is my best friend and someone that I know I could always trust around her.

“Did you have fun?” I ask once Lindsay returns to the table. She grabs the glass of water I brought her earlier and downs it. Her skin is shiny from the sheen of sweat covering it after dancing.

“Yes! I needed this tonight!” she says, wrapping her arms around me. I pull her in close, as if I’m going to kiss her, but I don’t. I hold back just enough so that I can look her straight in the eyes.

“This feels almost like déjà vu,” I tell her, looking around at our surroundings. “Being here with you, our friends in the background, me holding you like this. It seems like just yesterday we were in this exact spot physically, but in that limbo of do we or don’t we see what this is between us. Thank you for taking the chance on me. For loving me, loving my daughter. For making me hope and pray for more, for a family of my own.” My words pour from my lips, and I can see tears start to form in her eyes. I wipe just under one as a tear escapes. I reach into my pocket and pull the ring out before I drop to my knee.

“Lindsay Rae Blackwood, will you do me the honor of being my wife?” I ask, holding up the ring to her. The bar has gone almost silent as everyone waits for her to answer. Her head nods frantically as the tears pour down her cheeks.

“Yes!” she finally says, and the entire place goes up in cheers. I slip the ring onto her finger and sweep her up into my arms as I stand up.

“I love you so damn much,” I say before I press my lips against hers in a kiss.

“I love you. I can’t believe you turned today into this,” she says, pulling back and looking at me.

“You’re my ultimate present, baby. You saying yes to me today was my one wish, and I’m the luckiest man in the world that you did.”

“Take me home, fiancé. I’ve got one last birthday present for you.” She gives me the sexiest smirk I think I’ve ever seen.

“Goodnight, everyone; my fiancée has instructed me to take her home,” I call out to our group of friends. They let out another cheer as I lead Lindsay to my truck.

“Come,” I tell her once we’re home. We have the place to ourselves. Paisley’s spending the night with my parents, and she took Buckley with her. She’d take him with her to her mom’s if we’d let her, but Lilly doesn’t, which is fine with me.

Lindsay follows me down the hall and into the bedroom, one that will soon be officially ours. We discussed it the last few days, and she’s officially moving in and we’ll put her place up for rent. Keep it as a little side income for us.

I link our fingers together, my thumb sliding over the ring I placed on it not that long ago. I flick the switch, turning on the bedside lamps to give us light to