“I have a terrible track record.”
“Not with me,” I say. “I’ve loved you since we were too young to know what real love was.”
“I love you, too. Too much to...”
I shake my head. “No, Sami, I know you just emancipated yourself from tiny-dick and if I was as good of a friend as I should be, I’d let you enjoy your freedom, explore new options, spread your wings and all that bullshit.”
She grins. “Bullshit?”
“Yes, because in the last three weeks, you’ve given me a taste” —I smirk— “a sweet-as-honey taste of what life could be like to spend the rest of mine with my best friend. And damn it, I want it.”
Sami’s forehead furrows. “What are you saying?”
Fuck. This wasn’t how I had it planned, but I can’t stop now.
I fall to one knee and eye the hem of her dress. As I take her hand, I look up at the woman who has always been in my corner. “Samantha Ann, I’m not a perfect man. You’ve seen me at my best and my worst. We’ve jumped off cliffs together and plunged deep into the lake. We’ve been there for each other when common sense would tell someone not to drive through a snowstorm or not to sleep on a tiny mattress. I cheered you on each time you thought you found your forever, but I have to be honest. I’m glad your track record sucks because if you look back, you know in your heart that through it all I was there. Through life’s ups and downs you were there for me. I am shocked and awed by you. I never knew what I was missing. I love falling asleep next to you and waking up tangled in the sheets. I’ve loved you most of my life. I finally realized that I don’t want you to explore more options, spread your wings or your legs for any other man. I don’t want fake women and no-strings sex now, not since I’ve had what’s real.” I stand, wiping a tear from her cheek and bringing my nose to hers. “I want to make you mine in every way forever and always.”
"Marshal..." she says, gripping my shoulders.
Keeping her pinned against the wall, I lift her chin and bring her lips to mine. My kiss isn’t soft or gentle. No, it’s hard, demanding, possessive, and primal. As my tongue probes beyond her sweet lips, I press myself against her.
When she glances toward the floor, my confidence begins to falter. "Sami, what is it?"
She looks back to me and her green eyes fill with tears, each drop breaking my heart.
"When I walked in and saw that woman here, I rememberedyou. I remembered who you are and who you have always been. I love you, Marshal. I always have. Our friendship works because we’ve always accepted each other, faults and all."
I stiffen my shoulders. "I have faults?"
"You have faults," she confirms. "And I've never had a problem with them, but I can't...not after what Jack did. Not ever. I can't be with someone who would cheat on me."
With the pad of my thumb, I wipe away a big fat tear that's rolling down her cheek. "Sami, I've never cheated on anyone. I've never been in a relationship. I've never wanted to be. Different women on different nights. Before that it was different girls...hell, that was what I wanted until I got a taste of something much sweeter." I lift one cheek to give her my lopsided grin. "And honey, it’s more than that. You’re real. You’re a concert shirt and The Suds’ cheeseburgers. You’re also a sexy black dress and The Rooftop Restaurant. You’re everything I never knew I wanted until I almost lost you."
“Lost me?”
“I would walk on hot coals for your smile, Sami. I know you told me not to look at you in those pictures, but I did.” When she starts to look down, I lift her chin again. “Honey, you’re fucking sexy, but what struck me was how sad you looked. If you’ll agree to make one last amendment to our agreement, to be mine forever and always, I will work to keep your smile bright and no sadness.”
“Life has sadness, Marshal.”
I nod. “It does, but I’d rather focus on what makes us happy.”
“What exactly are you saying?”
“I want all of you. I want” —I can barely believe the words I'm saying— “us. I want to wake up and fall asleep with you. I want to piss you off and make up. I want to taste your honey and I want you on your knees. I want us to make love all night long and when you’re ready to give up your newfound freedom, I want to take it further.”
With each of my statements, Sami's eyes widen.
“Further?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know. This is new to me. Marriage, kids...grandkids.”
Her lips come together as she swallows. "What if," she asks, "after Jack, I'm not ready?"
"Then I'll wait...as long as you let me do all the other stuff, starting today."
She shakes her head. "Marshal, are you really talkingforever and always. You said you never wanted that."
“Blame it on my inability to see what is right in front of me. The way I look at it, who better to live the rest of my life with, to spend my forever and always with than my best friend?"