Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
God, I love him for it, too.
And I know he’s the only one for me. Next to Hope, he’s the greatest love of my life. As my love for him deepened over this year, I had more of an appreciation of how Asher freaked out at the thought of my cancer recurring. When I reversed roles, the thought of me ever losing him is so painful I do question how I would have the strength to go on. Of course I would… for Hope. But I sure as hell have a greater appreciation for his fears about me.
“There is one more thing I’d like to say before we call it a night,” Asher says into the microphone. The room goes completely silent. “I want to speak directly to my love, Hannah Madigan.”
The spotlight swings to me. I feel like the proverbial deer frozen in place as I stare up at Asher. He smiles casually back at me. From my right, Hope giggles. I tear my eyes from him to my daughter to mouth, “What’s going on?”
Hope grins and shrugs.
Slowly turning my attention back to Asher, I almost pass out as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a black velvet box.
There are oohs and ahhs, along with a smattering of applause. He holds it up high for everyone to see. “That’s right, folks. This is exactly what you think it is.”
There’s more clapping and one person hollers out, “Say yes. You know that rock has to be massive.”
There’s laughter everywhere, and Asher gestures with his hand for people to settle down. His eyes come back to me and while he’s speaking to the crowd, it feels like he’s only talking to me. “My woman is cautious and wanted to take our relationship slow. I agreed to it because there isn’t anything I wouldn’t give this amazing lady.”
My heart starts beating so hard I’m afraid I’m going to pass out. If that doesn’t happen, I’m getting so melty-swoony from the way he’s speaking to me that I might just flop out of my chair.
I hold my breath as he continues. “Hannah… I’ve respected that you wanted to move slowly but we’ve been together over a year, and Hope and I have been talking.”
At that, my breath comes rushing out and I snap my attention to my daughter once again, who is still giggling like a damn fool.
“Hope is Hannah’s beautiful daughter,” he tells the crowd as the spotlight illuminates us both. “And like I said… we’ve been talking. And we think it’s way past time that we move this to the next level.”
I can’t help but smile, shaking my head in both embarrassment and total awe that Asher’s making such a spectacle of himself. I guess he figures if he puts a spotlight on me, I can’t say no.
“Hope,” Asher booms into the microphone. “Grab your mom and get her up here for me.”
People start cheering. There are whistles as my daughter grabs my hand and pulls me from my seat. I pick up my dress so I don’t trip on the hem, then follow my daughter as she leads me onto the stage with Asher.
When I reach him, I give him a look that says I’m going to kill him later for doing this to me in public. In reality, though, I’m going to show him my love and appreciation—probably with my mouth on his cock.
Asher grins at me, opens the box, and holds the ring out for me to inspect. It’s exquisite and monstrous, and it’s going to totally weigh my hand down.
“Hope helped me pick it out so it’s totally kid approved,” Asher leans toward the microphone to tell the crowd. They roar with approval.
But then Asher steps away from the podium and goes to one knee before me. After giving a quick wink to Hope, he pulls the ring from the box and slides it onto my finger. He then holds my hand tight to his chest.
Looking up at me, he says, “Hannah… I love you. You are my everything. You are woven so deeply into the fabric of my soul that I don’t know where I end and you start. I don’t want to know, either. I like the way you make me feel alive and whole and so very much loved. I’ll give the same back to you all the days of your life if you’ll have me. I want you and Hope by my side, so please stop torturing me and agree to be my wife.”
My head is bobbing up and down, a resounding yes before he even finishes, and the crowd stands and starts clapping for our engagement.
I crook the finger on my other hand, gesturing for Asher to stand. He needs to make it fast because I demand to be kissed.
My man does not disappoint, giving me a searing kiss that makes me dizzy. He then turns to the microphone and says, “Thank you, everyone, for attending and for your generous donations. Goodnight.”