Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 112762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
I felt Callie squeeze my hand and looked down at her. She gave me a bolstering smile. Before I released her hand, I squeezed it back and stepped forward to take the ring out of the cake. Sloane gaped at it like she’d never seen a ring before.
Removing it, I wiped the buttercream from the band. She turned to me, big gorgeous brown eyes searching my face, stunned.
I took her left hand and slid the ring on her ring finger without preamble.
Sloane gawked at it as it winked and glittered under her bright kitchen lights. Then she looked up at me. “Was there a question?” she practically squeaked.
My smile came easy. “I’ve loved no one like I love you, Sloane Harrow. I couldn’t live without you now.” I rubbed my thumb over the ring. “And I want your promise that I won’t ever have to.”
Suddenly, she laughed, delight bursting from her every pore as she reached up to clasp my face in her hands. “That is such a Walker Ironside way to propose to a woman.”
Wrapping my arms around her, drawing her close, I demanded, “Is that a yes?”
“To your nonquestion?” she teased, and then laughed harder at my scowl. “Yes! Yes, I will marry you!”
Her cries drew the girls in from the front of the store into the kitchen. They erupted into cheers of congratulations when they realized what was going on. But I only had eyes for my now fiancée. I kissed her until heat flooded my limbs at the realization she’d agreed to be mine forever. I had to release her before things got inappropriate.
A weight hit us, and we looked down to find Callie, arms around us both, jumping up and down. “Does that mean we can change our name to Ironside?” she practically yelled at her mum.
“Aye,” I responded firmly as Sloane said, “Well, it’s the twenty-first century, baby girl, so we can keep our name if you want.”
I cut her a look.
Her lips twitched with amusement and then she nodded down at Callie. “Yes, since apparently Walker hasn’t joined us in the twenty-first century, we can change our name to Ironside.”
Callie pumped her fist in delight while I tickled Sloane under the arms in retaliation.
“Oh, Walker, don’t!” Her laughter rang off the bakery walls as she squirmed in my arms.
I didn’t stop until she was gasping with giggles. Finally, when she’d had enough, I stopped and cuddled her into me. Tears of amusement gleamed in her eyes.
“I hate being tickled,” she complained even as she grinned.
“I’ll need to remember that next time you’re restrained.”
Her eyes flared at my meaning and she murmured, “Don’t you dare.”
“Dare what?” Callie asked around a mouthful of one of the cupcakes we’d baked. Apparently she couldn’t wait.
“Nothing.” Sloane slid her arm around my waist and held out her hand. “As much as I just want to stare at this ring for the next thousand years, I have a bakery to open.”
“And we’re here to help. Also, I have this.” I pulled a velvet pouch out of my pocket and a white gold chain fell out. Gesturing to her ring, I said, “Give.”
Bemused, she reluctantly took off her engagement ring and handed it to me. I slid it through the chain until it dangled from it. “To keep it safe when you’re in the kitchen.”
Understanding dawned as Sloane turned so I could place the chain around her neck. “You thought of everything.” She turned back to stare up at me with so much love, I could barely stand it. I’d never know what I did to deserve her. But I knew I’d never walk away from this. “You always think of everything.”
Caressing her cheek with my thumb, I said quietly, “No. Just everything pertaining to you.”
Sloane clasped the necklace, the ring to her chest. “No one would believe you’re such a romantic. I kind of like being the only one who knows it.”
“I know it too.” Callie finished up her cupcake and brushed the crumbs off her fingers. “Let’s face it, Walker’s like a Mento. Hard on the outside but soft on the inside. Anyone paying enough attention can see it. Lewis’s mom said Walker’s the reason Monroe and Brodan even got back together. So …” She gestured between me and her mum. “None of this is surprising, really.”
I didn’t know how to feel about any of that, but Sloane looked ready to pee her knickers with laughter. She turned to me, wide eyed and voice trembling with amusement, “Out of the mouths of babes. I think I’m going to call you my Mento from now on.”
A smile prodded my mouth. “Don’t even think about it.” I gently shoved her toward the front of the store.
“No, I think I have to at least work it into my vows,” she continued, as I guided her forcefully forward. “My love, my Mento!”