Something Real (Whiskey Men, #2)(46)

He rocks me side to side with pride on his face. “Because you’re that good.”

I slide my hands to his chest. “None of that matters, though. You and Ollie are what matter.”

He lets out a breath and leans down, pressing his forehead to mine, and his voice breaks with emotion. “Thank God.”

I pull back and look at him, searching his eyes. “Ford? What is it? What’s wrong?”

His hands tighten on me as if he’s afraid to let me go. “I can’t keep doing things this way. I’m tired of waking up and you being gone. I want you next to me when I go to bed at night and when I wake up in the morning. I always want you with me.”

My hands curl against his chest, and my breath comes out in little pants. “What are you saying?”

He releases me then, shaking his head. “Please don’t let me fuck this up.” He walks around to his side of the desk, pulls something out of the drawer, and walks back to me holding out a little blue box in his palm. “I love you, Lilian. I love you more than I ever thought possible. I’ve had this ring since before we went to Vegas when you told me you were going to start dating. I knew then that I loved you and wanted you as my wife.” He drops down to one knee. “I love you, baby. If you’ll do me the honor of being my wife, I promise to love you always, to always put your needs above my own, and to help you reach all your dreams. Will you marry me, Lily?”

I go down to my knees on the soft carpet and wrap my arms around him. “Yes, yes, I’ll marry you.”

He puts the ring on my finger, but I barely look at it. “I love you and Ollie, Ford. I will never, ever walk away from either of you.”

He exhales a long sigh. “If you tried, I’d come after you.”

I pull at the buttons of his shirt and slide my hands against his hard chest. “So now we celebrate?”

“Now we celebrate.” He presses his lips to mine and makes me his in every sense of the word.





Epilogue





Ford





“All right, let’s get to it.”

I try to give the guys my serious, let’s get down to business face, but I can’t stop smiling.

Austin looks at me. “What’s that look?”

Lucas rolls his eyes. “I’m sure I know what he’s smiling about. Anyone that was near his office this morning will know why he’s smiling.”

I should be upset that Lily and I were a little loud. It’s not very professional for the CEO of the company to be heard having a good time behind closed doors, but I can’t be upset about it because she said yes. Lilian said yes.

“Whatever, Lucas. It’s not like I haven’t caught you and Issi in your office.”

Beau, always the serious one, interrupts. “Guys, you can’t use Blaze Distillery offices for your little trysts. There are rules and policies…”

Austin is smiling ear to ear. “Fuck, Beau, let them have a good time. Lucas is married, and Ford has stopped being a dick. Let him have his fun.”

Beau takes his glasses off, folds them up, and sets them on the table in front of him. “Exactly, Lucas is married. Ford is having—”

I point at him with a stern look. “Watch what you say…”

Beau smiles tightly and continues. “Ford is engaging in inappropriate behavior with an employee. His assistant, for crying out loud. This is a lawsuit waiting—”

I laugh. I can’t help it. I laugh out loud before leaning forward. All eyes are on me, and I no longer care that I’m smiling like some fool. “I asked Lily to marry me, and she said yes.”

There’s a collective gasp around the table, and then they all are out of their seats giving me hugs and pats on the back.

“I can’t believe she said yes to you, you old bastard,” Austin says, slapping me on the back as he gives me a tight hug.

Lucas is next. “Congratulations, brother. I’m so happy for you.”

Beau is happy for me but a little reserved. “Congratulations big brother. I’m happy for you.”

Everyone is talking at once when our phones all ding at the same time. The only time that happens is when we get a message from our group text. We all pull our phones out and read them simultaneously.

“I’m coming home.”

The message from Huddy has us all a little bit emotional. We each respond, and I text to him, “I can't wait to see you, brother.”

We have so much to celebrate. Lilian said yes… and my brother is coming home.

Want to read Hudson’s story?

Get it in Coming Home.