Arm Candy (Real Love #2)(70)

“I know you had reservations about coming….” Her eyes gleam as she watches Rox and Mark dance in the sand. “But I didn’t want to be here without you.”

I understand what she means. I don’t want to be anywhere without her.

She kisses me and strokes my cheek. “I love you.”

I close my eyes and let her words soak in like the warmth from the setting sun. “I love you too.”

“I love you so much…” Her tone is teasing, and I open my eyes to find the orange glow on her skin as soothing as the tropical backdrop. “…that when we get married, I’m not going to make you do it on a beach.”

My hands, resting on her hips, ball into fists, gathering the fabric of her dress. Shock must’ve set in, because when I open my mouth to ask her to repeat what she said, I can’t.

“A wedding in a park would be nice,” she says conversationally, “if that’s your thing.”

“A park?” I repeat, trying to get my bearings. A wedding—in a park or otherwise—hasn’t been discussed. Ever.

“I have one caveat,” she continues with an apologetic twist of her lips. “We have to say our vows at the top of the Ferris wheel.”

The Ferris wheel.

I bite my tongue and let out a brief laugh. I admit, she had me going.

“You’re teasing me. I thought you were serious.” I take her hand. “Come on. Let’s dance.”

She doesn’t budge, squeezing my fingers. “I’m serious.”

My mouth goes bone-dry as I turn to face her. “You’re serious?”

The DJ announces the chicken dance into a microphone and Grace’s face lights up, talk of matrimony temporarily forgotten. “I love this song! We have to!”

She pulls me to the “dance floor” in the sand.

“Gracie. Wait.”

“The park for sure,” she calls as she bocks at me while pumping her arms. “The Ferris wheel is a nice touch, though, don’t you think? You overcoming your fears after I overcame mine of proposing?”

She wiggles her hips and encourages me to do the same. I love this woman so much I’d do just about anything for her.

Just about.

“What about the carousel?” I ask.

She stops dancing to crinkle her nose. “You want to marry me on the carousel?”

“Why not?”

She blinks a few times in succession. I’ve flipped her proposal on its ear.

“Hmm,” Grace agrees with a grin. “I don’t know. I feel like the Ferris wheel is more sentimental.”

Guests sweep by, elbow in elbow. Roxanne’s grandmother catches my arm and we spin. I search for Grace as I turn, finding her in the crook of Mark’s arm.

“No blondes,” she mouths.

I look down at the elderly lady in my arms, her hair platinum thanks to her hairdresser granddaughter, and lose my battle with the smile spreading my mouth.

Another twirl and I release her, catching Grace before someone else can grab her. Rather than lock elbows, I lift her off the ground and kiss her while everyone chicken dances around us.

Once her feet hit the sand, her hands grip my biceps. “Maybe we should make a bet.”

“Gracie Lou, you still owe me two hundred dollars from our original bet.” I catch one of her curls and twist it around my finger.

“Right. I forgot about that.” Her eyes sparkle. I see my future reflected in them.

“Okay,” I concede. “I’ll marry you on the Ferris wheel, but you have to move in with me.”

She gives me a shaky smile. “And the two hundred dollars?”

I shrug with my mouth. “You can pay it back in sexual favors if you prefer.”

Grace tosses her head back and lets loose one of her bawdy, contagious laughs before sobering, rising to her toes, and touching her nose to mine.

“You’ve got yourself a deal, Davis Price.”





For Nic





Acknowledgments


Huge, rib-crushing hugs to Sue, Gina, and everyone involved in production and marketing at Loveswept. I’m eternally grateful for your belief in me and the Real Love series and for your help bringing these books to readers.

Nicole, agent of the millennium, thank you for listening and imparting your wisdom. This one is for you.

Thanks to author friends (and keepers of my sanity) Lauren Layne, Jules Bennett, Shannon Richard, Katee Robert, and Maisey Yates, to name a few.

And to you, dear readers. You spend your time and hard-earned dollars on my books. I endeavor to make you laugh and maybe even cry a little, and you brave souls stick with me the entire way—thank you.