Ballers: His Game (Ballers Series Book 1)(48)
Brielle has been hounding him for a dog for weeks since seeing the puppies one of the dogs at the ranch gave birth to. I eye the dog warily, but burst out laughing when the puppy actually looks like he is pleading with me with his big blue eyes, just like the man that is holding him is doing.
“What are you up to?” I say with a smile. “I thought we agreed that Bri would get a puppy when she could care for it. Like in six or seven years from now,” I chide.
Brad pulls the rose from his mouth and hands it to me. “Yeah, well I started to think about how often I’ll be leaving my girls without me and this little guy started to sound like a good idea,” Brad shrugs.
The puppy is adorable. As Brad scratches his neck around the collar while talking to me, the puppy looks between the two of us. He is so cute. I don’t have the heart to be upset or to deny wanting to keep him.
“Will you dance with us,” Brad asks with a little boyish grin on his lips.
How can I resist? I throw my head back and laugh as Brad steps closer to me. I wrap my arms around his waist and place my head on his chest. When he wraps the arm holding the puppy around me the little pup starts to push his little cold nose into my back and paw at me.
“Easy Six, we want her to like you,” Brad says to the dog.
I laugh again. “Six?” I lift my head to look at him and lift a brow. “Why in the world have you named the dog Six?”
“It was my number when I met you,” Brad says with a smile. “I won a ring with it. I figured it would bring me luck tonight.”
My brows draw together and I give him a curious look. “Why would you need luck tonight?”
“This song, it says what I don’t know how to say about the night I met you. I saw you and even though I didn’t know you I wanted you. I let silly words fool me and I didn’t know how to react to you then. You have pointed me home again Tam.
“I have found where I want to be for the rest of my life. I can be content on our ranch with our children and our dog as long as I have you there with me. What I am saying is that I am hoping that Six here brings me luck because,” Brad pauses and releases me as he gets down on one knee.
I lift a shaky hand to my lips as they part in shock. Brad lifts the puppy up toward me and I notice for the first time that there is a huge rock dangling from his collar. “I want to ask you to marry me, Tamara. I don’t want anyone else. You are it for me. I want you and Ellie to finally have my last name,” Brad says, as his eyes blaze with the love I know he has for me.
“If I say no do I get to keep the puppy,” I tease as tears leak from my eyes.
“Tam,” Brad growls.
“Yes, of course I’ll marry you,” I laugh.
Cheers and hand claps come from out of nowhere and our family starts to pour out of their hiding places. Even my friends are here for this. I can’t believe he planned all this without me knowing. I mean Bri can’t hold water.
“We have a puppy mommy,” Bri squeals excitedly as she runs up and throws her arms around her father’s neck as he releases the string that has the ring attached to Six’s collar.
“Yes, we do,” I say as I give Brad the eye.
“Good boy,” Brad coos to the dog as he pets his head and grins widely at me. He hands Bri the puppy and pulls me to him for a searing kiss before placing the huge diamond ring on my finger. Once the ring is on my finger the weight of it brings me to reality.
I just agreed to marry this man. He is going to be mine for the rest of my life. I almost want to pinch myself. Somehow I think our trial has really just begun.
Everyone gathers around to congratulate us and get a look at the ring. I don’t miss the sour look on Donna’s face as she stands off to the side. Whatever her problem is she can shove it. I won’t let anything ruin this moment for me.
Chapter 21
“Really Gloria, you and Vernon didn’t have to go through all this trouble,” Tam says to my mama. It is the night of our engagement party.
Let’s just say that my parents have gone ahead and done it Texas style. Tam has been nervous all day. I may have gone big with Ellie’s birthday party, but that was a mix of my family but mostly Tamara’s family and friends. This engagement party is going to triple in size. My mama has called in the cavalry, family I haven’t even seen in years.
“Oh nonsense, I can’t have my baby boy find the love of his life and not celebrate that with everyone that is important. This was no trouble at all,” my mama replies. “Now let me get a look at you. You look absolutely lovely, honey.”
My mama is right I haven’t been able to take my eyes off my fiancée. Tamara took my breath away the moment she came down the stairs in the Ivory dress she has on. It has thin straps and is cut into a tasteful v down the front. The dress is fitted in the top, showing off her slim waist and the silky skirts flare out at the waist stopping just above the knee to show off her amazing legs.
Her pretty feet are incased in a pair of navy blue heels with her cute red toes peeking out, just adding to her sexy legs. Her hair is brushed up into a soft neat bun, that is elegant messy as she called it. The studs in her ears only add to the elegance of her look.
Her chocolate skin is glowing against the silky fabric of her dress. I have imagined passing my tongue across her collarbone a few times. I’m honored to have her at my side, even if I am the complete opposite in contrast to her city elegance. I cleaned up pretty well for tonight. I opted for a pair of blue jeans and a white button down shirt with a dark navy blue sports jacket. Just because I know my woman would get a kick out of it I have worn cowboy boots and a cowboy hat as well.