Ignite (Speed Series Book 1)(34)

“Yes, I’m sure. Listen, Chris, I’ve got to run.”

Adaline perked up. “Your brother, Chris?” she asked.

With a quick nod of my head, she dropped her mouth open and said, “Tell him hi and I can’t wait to see him again.”

“Addie said hi and she can’t wait to see you again.” I said as I took her arm and gently pulled her to me.

Chris let out a dramatic sigh. “Tell her I can’t wait to see her too, and Emmit, do me a favor.”

“Sure, what is it?”

“Slow down.”

I shook my head as I grinned from ear to ear. “Dude, you know me better than that. I don’t know the meaning of the word slow.”

“Right. Tell mom I love her and I’ll see her at Thanksgiving.”

Adaline tilted her head, exposing her neck to me. Taking the invitation, I softly moved my lips across her skin. “Yep, will do. Later, Chris.”

“Later, Emmit.”

As I pulled the phone from my ear, I said, “Same old, Chris. Always worried about everything.”

Adaline expression was one of worry, “Is everything okay?”

Licking my lips, I gave her a wink and said, “Everything is more than okay, pumpkin. Come on, Mom’s waiting for us.”

Adaline pushed out a deep breath and said, “I hope she’ll be happy to see me.”

With a quick kiss and slap on Adaline’s ass, I laughed and said, “She’s ecstatic to see you, Addie. Stop worrying.”

I headed to the garage as Adaline followed closely behind me. As we stepped into the garage Adaline laughed. “Holy crap. Is that a . . . Ferrari?”

Walking her over to the passenger side, I opened the door and held her hand while she got in. “You know how I like my toys.”

Adaline shook her head as she glanced around the car. “I guess so.”

Five minutes later I was pulling into the driveway of my mother’s house as she stood on the porch waiting for us.

“Hold on, let me get your door,” I said as I jumped out of the car and jogged around to open Adaline’s door.

I helped her out only to have my mother scream Adaline’s name and slam into her as she gave her a giant bear hug.

“Oh, Adaline! I’ve missed you so much my sweet girl.”

Adaline looked at me with tears in her eyes. “I’ve missed you so much too, Candace.”

My mother pushed Adaline out at arm’s length and looked her over. “My goodness, you’ve become such a beautiful young woman. The flush on your cheeks is adorable. Adaline, your eyes look so happy, sweetheart.”

A beautiful rose color moved across Adaline’s face as she peeked over to me and then back at my mother. “I guess being in love will have that effect on you.”

My mother quickly glanced over to me and smiled bigger. “Let’s go inside; I’ve made your favorite.”

Adaline gasped. “Chicken tacos?”

“You’d better believe chicken tacos.”

I’d never seen Adaline’s eyes fill with excitement over food before. “Oh my gosh, I’ve missed your chicken tacos!”

I watched as my mother and Adaline walked arm and arm into the house. I knew in my heart what I was about to do was the right thing.

Time wasn’t stealing anything else from me ever again.





CANDACE AND I TALKED NON-STOP for two hours as Emmit sat by quietly and listened. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed her really until I saw her.

After a quick tour of her house, we went to sit on the back porch with a glass of wine.

“So, Adaline, what do you think about this new job?”

“It’s a blessing I feel like I don’t deserve.”

Candace laughed as she brushed me off. “Nonsense. Mr. Elliot has been talking about bringing on his own medical team for the last two years.”

Peeking over at Emmit, I noticed he was staring out over the lake. He seemed nervous and I wasn’t really sure why.

I turned back to Candace and grinned. “"It’s funny how you go off looking for what you thought was your dream . . . only to find out your dream was right in front of you the entire time."

I glanced down at my hands and let out a soft chuckle as I glanced back up. Emmit was piercing me with his gray eyes as I felt my heart sink to my stomach. “Turns out my dream was racing a hundred and ninety miles an hour around a race track.”

Emmit’s lips parted slightly as I watched his eyes begin to water. He quickly made his way over to me and lifted me up. Emmit pressed his lips to mine and kissed me amorously. I was so moved by the kiss I could feel his love rushing into my body.

When we finally broke our kiss and Emmit set me back down, he gazed into my eyes as he asked, “Will you marry me, Addie?”

A sob escaped my lips as I heard Candace gasp. I didn’t even need time to think about my answer. I knew what it would be since the first time Emmit kissed me.

I quickly wiped my tears away. “Yes! Oh God, Emmit. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Emmit smiled the most stunning smile I’d ever seen. He hooted and hollered as he reached for me and spun me around. Candace began jumping and clapping her hands while tears rolled down her face. “Let me get some champagne!”

Emmit looked back at his mother and said, “Sounds good, Mom.”