Upside Down (Breaking the Rules #3) - A.M. Madden Page 0,102

cabin where, by the time he was through with me, I felt boneless and drained. In need of a shower to wake me up before dinner, I emerged to find an empty suite. Assuming he’d sneaked into his office again, knowing the guests were getting ready for dinner, I began dressing for the same. But when I pulled opened the drawer holding our briefs, there was a handwritten note lying on top of my pile.

C ~

Meet me on deck at our spot to watch that sunset. I’ll be waiting.

R.

It had been something we’d done every night since embarking. We’d share a bourbon as the orange orb dipped into the azure sea. Once darkness fell, he and I would head inside to have dinner at a private table in the corner. I wondered why he felt the need tonight to formally inform me of that ritual.

Knowing the humidity had been ruthless all day, I threw on a pair of linen shorts, a simple cotton T-shirt, and a comfortable pair of boat shoes. It didn’t take long to finish my simplistic routine, and shortly after I made my way to our special spot.

A few guests mulled around the deck, enjoying the sunset before dinner. It wasn’t hard to find him, leaning over the railing, wearing a similar outfit to mine. I smiled to myself over the ongoing joke that my wardrobe had doubled after I began dating him. As I approached, I noticed a table set for two on the private deck, which was usually roped off for special occasions.

When he heard my footsteps, he turned with a smirk that could set me on fire. “You’re late,” he grumbled. “There’s like ten minutes left of daylight.”

“You’re hot,” I countered.

“You’re forgiven.”

“Aren’t I always? What’s this?” I asked, pointing to the formal setup usually found in the dining room.

“I thought it’d be nice to have dinner out here tonight.”

“Okay,” I said as the humid air clung to my skin. But, touched by his romantic side, I kissed him softly as a thank-you. Before I could turn to sit in one of the chairs, he took my hand, halting me from going any farther with a firm jerk. “What’s—”

“Cooper,” he interrupted. “A year ago, on this very night, there was no way of knowing that kiss you assaulted me with would be the start of us.”

“It wasn’t quite an assault, but I guess we should thank the bourbon,” I added on a chuckle.

“We should.” He then went on to say, “I couldn’t imagine the journey we would begin from that moment on. One that hasn’t lacked in frustration, confusion, desire, from start to finish. Having said that, I don’t regret any of it. I also can’t imagine living another day without you. No man has ever unraveled me like you have, in both the worst and best of ways. No human has ever stolen my heart without apology. Until you.”

“I can say the same.” This was the new Ricky, always ensuring I knew exactly what it was that he was feeling. Ever since he showed up in Jersey, he’d made it a point to communicate, whether it be good or bad, and I had gotten used to his declarations of love.

But when he placed his free hand over our entwined ones and paused, the serious expression on his face piqued something in my mind. While I put the pieces to this puzzle together, he continued. “Now that I have you, I don’t want to waste another moment. I don’t want to cautiously experience life. I want to run headfirst into all the things I never dared to hope for.” His Adam’s apple bobbed on an audible swallow that made him appear nervous, unsure… and that was when it all clicked. My mouth gaped just as he asked, “Marry me?”

“Marry you?” The following shocked span of silence worsened his uncertain expression. I hated it. I hated that I’d put it there. I hated that he’d have any doubt that I wouldn’t accept his proposal, and that prompted my hand to slide into his thick hair on the nape of his neck before saying, “Yes. One hundred percent, yes.”

Doubt morphed into joy and then into something entirely Ricky. He leaned closer, laying his forehead on mine. “You made me nervous for a second.”

“I guess I wasn’t expecting this. And for the record, I was going to ask you to marry me… eventually.”

“Eventually? Like when? Years from now?” He pecked my lips. “Grow a set, Cooper James Stanton.