Adrenaline (Speed Series Book 2)(72)

“Are you sure you’re okay? Everything is all right?”

He kept his eyes forward as we walked up to the door. “I sure as hell hope it is.”

Frowning, I went to ask him what he meant by that when he opened the door and led me in.

My breath hitched as my eyes bounced around the cottage. Pink peonies filled the room. Everywhere I looked there were bouquets of my favorite flower. The smell in the room was amazing as I took a few steps in. In the middle of the room was the same quilt we sat on during our first date. Next to it, lying down, was Deuce. My hands came up to my mouth to keep from laughing. I was so overcome with happiness I could barely think straight.

“Malcolm, this is amazing! What is all this for?”

Spinning around, I gasped when I saw him down on one knee holding a ring box in his hand.

“Oh, Malcolm,” I whispered.

“Paislie, from that very first moment I met you, I knew you were different. It may have taken us a few tries to get it right, but I knew in my heart you were always the one I was meant to spend the rest of my life with. Will you marry me?”

My body trembled as I looked at the love of my life as he opened up the box and a beautiful princess-cut diamond sparkled against the fire burning in the fireplace.

Tears fell freely as I reached up to pinch myself. Is this really happening? I’d finally found what I had been searching for since my mother died.

Love.

A beautiful timeless love.

Nodding my head, I tried to force the words to come between my sobs of happiness. “Y-yes! Yes! A million times yes!”

Malcolm laughed as he took the ring out and slipped it on my finger. Standing, he pulled me into his arms and kissed me passionately. I was completely lost in the kiss. Nothing else in the world mattered more to me than this moment. Everything about it was perfect.

Deuce barked, causing us both to laugh. “I’m glad to see you included my boy.”

The crooked smile that spread over Malcolm’s face had my lower stomach tightening. “I promised him your first date.” He turned and looked at the boxer as he sat there patiently waiting. “As you can see, he’s ready to start your date.”

Placing my finger on his chin, I brought his eyes back to me. “First things first, Mr. Wallace.”

Malcolm raised his eyes in question. “And what would that be?”

“I believe you still have a few orgasms to catch up on.”

His eyes turned dark as he quickly picked me up and carried me to the sofa. “I’m on it, baby.” Setting me down, I watched as my future husband stripped out of his clothes.

“And, Malcolm,” I said as I pulled my dress over my head, “please go slow.”

His hands cupped my breasts as I dropped my head and let out a moan. “Oh, baby, I can do slow.”

And boy did he ever do slow. His hands and mouth explored every inch of my body before he slowly made love to me.

The smell of the flowers, the light from the fire, and the smell of chicken salad filled my senses as we whispered one another’s names. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever imagine I could be so happy.

Nothing would ever be the same again. I’d finally found love and nothing or no one would ever take it away from me.

Ever.





I LAY ON THE COUCH with Paislie wrapped in my arms as Deuce snored on the quilt in front of the fire.

With a giggle, she turned in my arms and looked up at me. “I should probably get over there to my date. It appears he fell asleep waiting on me.”

I frowned and said, “Poor bastard.”

Paislie gently kissed my chest before getting up and slipping her clothes back on. She made her way over to Deuce and plopped down next to him as I got dressed.

“I knew I smelled chicken salad!” she exclaimed as Deuce wagged his tail in anticipation.

“Oh look, boy! Janet made you a sandwich too and it’s shaped like a bone.”

She set the sandwich down onto a plastic plate and put it in front of the dog. He quickly ate it as Paislie took a bite of her sandwich.

Sitting across from her, I let out a chuckle. “You couldn’t wait for me?”

With a shrug, she winked. “What can I say, multiple orgasms make me hungry. Then add an engagement on top of that and I could eat a dog!”

Deuce whimpered as Paislie laughed and said, “Not you, baby boy. You’re too special to me.”

Feeling satisfied with her answer, Deuce laid his head on Paislie’s lap.

I slowly drew in a deep breath before letting it out. “So, I have some more news for you.”

She took a drink of water from the water bottles that Janet had packed. “Is it bigger than this?” she asked as she held up her diamond.

I was suddenly overcome with nerves and scared as hell I might have jumped the gun. Shit. I thought this was going to be easier than asking her to marry me.

“I’m selling my house. I want to start our new life in a new home that we make together.”

Paislie’s sandwich stopped short of her mouth as she stared at me. “You’re selling your house? What about Autumn and Sophie?”

“I’ve actually got a place lined up for her. Although I’m not sure how she would feel if she knew we had made love on the couch twice now.”

Her eyebrows pinched together in confusion. “What are you . . . oh my gosh! Autumn and Sophie will be living here in the cottage?”