“Earlier tonight, I was sitting home alone and I heard the call for the fire department. My heart leapt into my throat. I rushed here, praying to God I hadn’t lost my opportunity to tell you how I felt. Now that you’re here, and safe, I’m not going to let someone else’s secrets get in the way of our chance at happiness together. I want you to move in with me. I want us to rebuild your house and make it into a real home where you and I can live and start our lives together. Pepper, will you marry me?”
Pepper gasped as she listened to him speak. She followed every word and yet she could barely believe she was hearing them. This whole night was so surreal. She hadn’t quite come to terms with the idea of losing almost every single thing she owned. Of being temporarily homeless. Of nearly dying. So many things were flying at her so quickly, she didn’t know what to do or think about it all. But she knew one thing for certain—she wanted to say yes with every ounce of energy she had left in her.
She brought her hand up to his face, caressing the stubble of his cheek. Pepper thought she might never get to touch him like this again. “Yes,” she said.
Grant’s nervous expression melted away into a wide grin. “Yes?”
Pepper nodded and Grant scooped her up into his arms. She fell into him, feeling safe in his embrace for the first time since she woke up on her neighbor’s lawn. His lips met hers, gently sealing their agreement more officially than any ring could do.
When they pulled apart, she looked up at him and smiled. “I love you,” she said for the very first time.
“I love you, too,” he responded.
“I’ve never said that to anyone before.”
Grant grinned wide. “Good. I don’t want you to say it to anyone else, ever.” He took her left hand and brought it up to his lips. He kissed her bare ring finger. “We’re going to get you a ring tomorrow,” he promised.
Pepper chuckled, shaking her head. “I think we should start a little smaller.”
His brow drew together in confusion. “Smaller?”
“Yes. I’d love an engagement ring, but I’d also like shoes. And pants. A couple pairs of panties and a toothbrush. We can work our way up to diamonds, but we’ve got a lot of other things to buy first.”
Grant nodded. “Absolutely. We’ll get you everything you want. I’ll take you down to the insurance agent first thing in the morning.”
“In the meantime, I’ve got a little money,” she said. “Some little birdie refunded the four thousand dollars I paid for you.”
Grant looked a little stunned. “Did you ask for a refund?”
Pepper shook her head. “Not at all. I’d pay it again. Your grandmother can drop ice water on me any day.”
He took her hand and helped her up. Looking down at her feet, he frowned. “No shoes. I guess we have no choice but to go with the cliché fairy-tale ending to the night.”
Pepper looked at him in confusion, but before she could say a word, Grant swept her up into his arms. She cried out in surprise, quickly clinging to his neck. “You’re going to hurt your arm.”
“I can’t feel a thing other than how much I love you, Pepper.”
Pepper hugged him and rested her head on his shoulder as he carried them through the obstacle course of hoses and equipment to his truck.
“She said yes!” he shouted to the other firemen milling around as he walked by.
“Good for you!” someone shouted, quickly followed by “yes to what?”
Grant didn’t answer right away. He carried her over to his truck, not setting her down until he had to open the door. He helped her inside and leaned in to give her a kiss. “Yes to forever,” he said softly as their lips parted.
Yes to forever.
Ready for More? The Fun in Rosewood Continues…
Chapter One
“Now those are some nice-looking buns.”
Madelyn Chamberlain looked up in time to see Emmett Sawyer walk past her bakery. He was up early for a night owl— or perhaps he was up late for him—but as always, the shaggy, laid-back owner of Woody’s, the local bar, was looking casually delicious. He managed to make a simple T-shirt and jeans look sexy. Of course, it helped that his well-worn jeans fit him like they were custom-made. Just the sight of him wearing them caused an uncharacteristic tingle to run through her body. “They sure are,” she muttered to herself.
“Maddie, do they have nuts in them?”
Emmett disappeared from sight, and Maddie turned to look at Miss Dotty as she perused the bakery case. Apparently, Miss Dotty had been referring to the honey buns, not Emmett’s well-fitting jeans. “No, if you want nuts, get the sticky buns instead. They have toasted, candied pecans.”