Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 17761 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 89(@200wpm)___ 71(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17761 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 89(@200wpm)___ 71(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
He was about to leave the bedroom when he glanced over his shoulder at me. “I love you, sweetheart.”
I felt my chest heat and bloom with pleasure. “I love you more.”
He smirked and shook his head. “Not even close, baby.” He left, and for minutes after, I was still grinning.
The scent of coffee and something warm and buttery filtered down the hall to me. I got up and dressed, leaving the bedroom I shared with Ash in his apartment, and went into the kitchen, standing by the counter. He poured me a fresh cup of coffee and leaned against the island, watching me with that quiet intensity that never quite faded and made me tingle in all the right places.
We moved in together shortly after he had gone to see my ex, and it had been the easiest decision I ever made. I had the choice to leave and find my way in another town—hell, across the country if I wanted to—but being here with Ash was like kismet.
“How long are you gonna do that?” I asked, lifting an eyebrow as I met his gaze.
He smirked, sipping his own coffee. “What? Look at the most beautiful woman in the whole fucking world? Lost in thought and wondering how I became the luckiest bastard in the universe, because you’re mine?”
My heart skipped at the way he said all of that. With so much sincerity.
Truth was, I hadn’t fought what grew between us, because it felt like the most perfect and natural thing ever. And now, I was here. With him.
Ash stepped closer, setting his mug down beside me before placing his hands on my hips, pulling me in.
“I love how much lighter, brighter, you so clearly feel. Like you know how safe you are with me,” he murmured, brushing his lips against my temple.
I let out a breath, tilting my head to look up at him. “I am safe with you, and I trust you with everything.” I lifted my hand, brushing my fingers along his jaw. “All the bad in my life is over,” I whispered. “And I have you to thank for that. I owe you everything.”
His gaze softened. “Nah, baby. You don’t owe me anything, Evie. Being in love with you means I’ll fight to the death to make sure you’re happy and safe.”
Ash never accepted the fact that he was the one who had given me so much that I’d been able to find my way back to myself again.
I was strong, and maybe, eventually, I would have found that path without meeting him, but I’m glad our lives came together and we did it as a team.
He forever had my heart, and I knew I had his too.
EPILOGUE
EVIE
One year later
The sun had just set when Ash pulled me outside onto the back porch, his arm slung around my shoulders. The world felt still and silent.
Peaceful.
I leaned into him, breathing in the scent that undeniably made up Ash. He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. We’d moved farther out of the city and bought a little three-bedroom house in the country, but we were close enough to the bar that we could commute daily for work.
“You happy, baby?”
I exhaled, the answer slipping from my lips so easily and without hesitation. “More than I ever thought I could be.”
He shifted, pulling away from me so that I could see him grabbing something from his pocket. “That’s really good, baby. Because I need you to be sure about something.”
My breath hitched. In his rough, calloused fingers was a small velvet box. My heart slammed against my ribs, and I placed a hand over it, my throat tightening. “Ash…?”
“I’m not good with words,” he admitted and glanced down, his voice low, gruff, sounding slightly nervous for the first time ever. “I’m not perfect by any means. But there’s not a single thing in this world I want more than you.” He opened the box. Housed inside was the most beautiful piece of jewelry I’d ever seen. It was a simple but elegant ring, with a round diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds.
“Oh God, Ash,” I whispered and covered my mouth, not sure what to say.
“I’ll never ask you to be anyone but who you are.” He stared into my eyes and sank down to one knee. “I just want you to be mine. Forever.”
Tears blurred my vision. I’d been so afraid of being trapped. Afraid of what I thought was love—what I thought I deserved.
This was freedom.