Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Dean smiles. "Let's check out our cabin and then explore. You can try all the wine you want."
We get our bags and check-in, and then walk up a little hill to our cabin. It's a little two-story cottage, complete with a white picket fence.
"This is ours for the weekend?" I ask. "You really outdid yourself, Dean."
"Of course," he says, squeezing my shoulder. "Only the best for you."
I sigh and lean into his touch, letting the warm feeling wash over me. Dean always makes me feel like the most important person in the world.
We head inside and settle in. Then, Dean and I decide to walk around the winery and take a tour. We're the only people on the tour, which means we get a little extra attention from the guide.
"This is a gorgeous winery, isn't it?" she says, smiling at us. "Have you two been together long?"
Dean and I look at each other. "Long enough for me to know she's everything."
"Oh!" the guide gasps. "That's so sweet!"
Dean laughs, putting his arm around me. " I guess you could say it's a whirlwind romance."
We return to the cabin where dinner has been delivered for us, and to my surprise, hundreds of rose petals and dozens of candles cover the floors, table, and every other surface of the place. The guide leaves quietly, and Dean takes my hand, leading me over to the table.
He uncorks the bottle of sweet red wine and pours us both a glass. "Before we eat, princess, I need to ask you something."
"Yes?" I reply, my heart kicking into high gear. There’s a feeling of fate in the air like the next few minutes are going to change everything…forever.
My instincts are proven right when Dean, all 6 feet plus of him, gets down on one knee and pulls a ring box from his pocket. I gasp, my hand going to my mouth, adrenaline pumping into my bloodstream and making me shake. Is this really happening?
"Delia Watson," he begins. "When you came into my life, you changed everything. You gave me a reason to start living, not just surviving. For that, I'll be forever grateful. Please make me the happiest man in the world and agree to become my wife. Will you marry me?"
Tears leak down my face as he holds the ring box open—a gorgeous princess-cut diamond shining on the black velvet.
"Yes," I cry, falling to his level and throwing my arms around him. "I'll marry you."
He slides the ring on my finger and pulls me into his lap. His kiss is searing and desperate.
"Delia," he groans. "I love you. I love you so fucking much."
His confession rocks me.
"You've changed my life too," I tell him, tears falling freely from my eyes now. "And I love you too. God, I love you so much, Dean!”
We don't make it back to the dinner table, falling into bed instead and telling each other over and over again with our bodies and our words how much we love each other. When we finally manage to eat, it's in bed, wrapped in sheets, all the candles burning down to wicks and puddles of wax around us.
The food is cold and the wine is warm. It's messy, and because it’s with Dean Dixon, it's perfect.
EPILOGUE
DEAN
Motherhood looks damn good on my wife. My fucking wife. I still can't believe it sometimes. But here she stands, looking over the balcony of our new family home and smiling as she watches the sunset, our daughter in her arms.
We didn’t move far so I could keep my position at the police department, but I plan on retiring sooner rather than later. We had the house built to our exact specifications, and Delia was on cloud nine decorating to her heart's content. The basement is her very own bakery, where she can cater small batch orders on her own time.
"Princess," I say, coming up behind her and wrapping my arms around her waist. “And little princess Dana.”
She leans into my embrace, resting her head against my chest. "Hey, baby."
I smile. "Enjoying the view?"
"Wait one second." She hands me the baby and steps back about six feet until I'm also in the picture she's seeing, and Delia sighs happily. "There. Now it's perfect.”
Delia and I married six months after my proposal, and Delia gave birth to our first child—a girl—nine months after that. She's a gorgeous little thing, with her mama's dark hair and shimmering eyes, and a little dimple in her cheek.
And I'm trying my damnedest to be the best father I can be...and the best husband too.
I’m still the same asshole I’ve always been, but when Delia is around, I'm less tense and angry. She’s given meaning to…well, fucking everything. Even Brody and I are slowly rebuilding a relationship, and when he and his new girlfriend get married, I plan to welcome her into the family with open arms.