Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“But more than that, Emma Henricksen, I’m standing before you because I am truly madly, insanely, and forever in love with you. I picked that ring out thinking how perfect it was for my woman. You, Freckles. It wasn’t a prop, I mean it was, but I took so long giving you one because I had to have the right one for you.”
“You can’t say that.”
Her heart thundered in her chest. Her legs were like cooked noodles and tears burned her eyes, hoping for a chance to slide away down her cheeks.
“Freckles, I’m planning on saying things like that and more for the rest of our lives, if you’ll give us a chance. Let me make it up to you every damn day. Show you how much I love you and how I can’t live without you.”
He left the doorway to stride across the room and pull her into his arms. Face-to-face, his minty breath surrounded her.
“I love you, Emma.” His lips brushed the side of her mouth. “I’m so sorry I hurt you.” A touch on the other side. “Let me make it up to you, let me prove myself worthy.”
“You hurt me, Linc.”
He nodded. “And I’ll keep apologizing for that until you believe me. I want my ring on your finger again, for real this time. For no other reason than because I love you and you love me.”
God, she longed to say yes but self-preservation wouldn’t let the word pass her lips. “This can’t work.”
“Freckles, this did work. I don’t want to lose you. Your daughter said you were talking about moving. I’m following you.”
His words punched the air from her chest. “You can’t give up the center, Linc. Too many people depend on it, and on you.”
“I’ll hire someone to run it.” He didn’t let her drop her gaze. Linc cupped her face and smoothed his thumb along her lips. “You’re my world, Freckles. You and that little girl.”
“Can you hurry up and say yes so we can be a family, Mama?”
Linc’s mouth twitched but he didn’t say a word. She dug her nails into his torso as she glanced around his shoulder to find Greer with far too many adults behind her, being nosy.
“Fuck,” she uttered.
“You have to stop cursing at the center.” Linc’s tease warmed her. His eyes drifted to her lips and stayed on them. “I want to kiss you, Freckles. Tell me I can.”
“We’ll discuss this later, Greer. I’ll be right there.”
“Not right away,” he said in a not-so-subtle tone. “We have some making up to do.”
She dug her nails in more and his purr went from his throat directly to her clit. “Behave.”
“Let me kiss you, Freckles.”
Her lips parted seconds before he closed the distance between them. The cheering behind her didn’t register. Not even when he swept her up in his arms and carried her through the gathered crowd toward his office. They didn’t make it, however. Everyone stopped them and pulled them apart.
Emma didn’t have time to be embarrassed before she was being passed around from friend to friend as they gave her congratulations. Then she was in front of Linc and he kissed her again, bending her backward until one of her legs lifted off the ground.
“Freckles?”
“Yes,” she murmured against his lips. “Of course I’ll give you another chance. I love you, Linc.”
His smile warmed her from her head to her toes. Without missing a beat, he dropped to one knee and took her hand in his. She gulped and shook her head. Linc didn’t let her pull away, instead he pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.
“Emma,” he said as everyone fell silent. “I’ll never find another woman who makes me feel the way you do. A woman who always puts others before herself. A woman who loves with her entire being. I’m a jackass and no doubt an asshole.”
“Nope,” Tully supplied. “No doubt.”
Linc winked at Emma even as Dawson smacked Tully in the chest.
“There you have it, Emma. I am an asshole but more than that, I’m the man who loves you and your daughter Greer more than anything. I would move heaven and earth for you if it made you happy. I need you in my life, Emma. Both of you. Will you marry me?” He licked his lips. “Will you let me marry you?”
She dragged her tongue along her lower lip. Beyond Linc she saw her daughter leaning against her Uncle Mitchell’s leg, her small hand curved into his jeans, but her eyes were on Emma. Greer gave a smile and a tiny nod.
“Yes,” Emma said, giving Linc her full attention once more.
“Thank God,” he replied, digging into his pocket and pulling out the ring he’d presented her before.
Tears burned her eyes as she watched him slide it onto her finger. Linc pushed to his feet the second it rested where it was meant to be and kissed her once more.