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“Did
you want a baby?” he asks, and my jaw drops.
“Huh?”
“It’s
okay if you did. I . . . I mean, I want to have kids with you
someday.”
Someday
. . . yes. But not today.
I
grin at the scared-as-hell look on his face. That’s the great thing
about the longtime relationship. I know his looks. I know his smiles,
his frowns, his laughs. I reach to him, and his hand slips through my
wet blond hair, hugs the back of my head, and pulls me into his
shoulder. I lock my arms around his torso, ignore the sweet buzzing
all over my stomach and heart and sides. His fingers massage my scalp
as he rocks me.
“I
like the idea of having a permanent piece of you,” I admit into his
wet skin.
“You
already have a permanent piece of me.” One of his hands slides down
the length of my back. “Hell, you have the whole thing.”
“You
know what I mean.”
“Okay
. . . if you really want . . . I’ll impregnate you. Open up.” He
pushes at my thighs, and I smack his shoulders.
“Pretty
sure I want us to be married first. And I don’t know . . . older.”
Like years ahead of us. We can barely afford to feed ourselves.
“You
. . . you said married.”
“I
did.”
I
push back on his chest, and he scratches his dark hair. “Just
letting you know I’m not freaking out about it.”
“This
is not freaking out about it?” I say, circling my finger at his
face. It could be the steam from the shower making it smoke red, but
it sure doesn’t seem that way.
“I
let it slide like it was nothing.”
“You
did not.”
He
growls, playfully nipping at my neck. “Well, I’m not freaking
out,” he muffles against my skin, creating goose bumps up and down
my spine. “Because, you know, we’re in the spot.”
“Huh?”
“You
know, the spot.”
“In
the shower?” I laugh when his red face darkens a shade.
“No,
I mean . . . I love you. And it’s not like I’m going to break up
with you. And I’m pretty sure you want to be stuck with me.”
“You
think we’re stuck? That’s ‘the spot’?”
“No.
Shit, it’s coming out wrong.”
“I
don’t even know what you’re trying to say.” I laugh, bending
down to adjust the heat on the water.
“I’m
saying there’s no reason for me to freak out because I want to
marry you. I think, you know, we should get married.”
My
hand stops dead on the tap, and I crick my neck to catch his
expression. He’s gone from red wine to white in the blink of an
eye, water dripping from his dark hair down his forehead, and he
frantically wipes it away. Then he reaches for me, pulls me up
against him, hiding his face.
“Um
. . . what did you just say?” I croak, my heart suddenly beating
out of my skull. A tidal wave rushes through my stomach, and my nails
dig into his shoulders to make sure I’m not dreaming or something.
He
slowly backs away from my neck, eyes wide as grapefruits. “I didn’t
mean . . . oh shit . . . it wasn’t supposed to happen like this.”
He
falls forward, pushing me against the cold tile and hitting his
forehead on the wall near my cheek.
“What
wasn’t supposed to happen?” I ask through a small laugh. Seconds
ago, he was boasting about not freaking out, and now he’s gone bat
crazy.
“I
had it all planned,” he grumbles into the tile. The echoes bounce
off my shoulder. “I even bought a suit. Outside patio dinner, clear
night for stars . . . I was going to pull out all the romantic stops,
and it just falls out when we’re in the shower.”
“Landon,
are you being serious? I can never tell.”
“Because
I’m never serious?”
“Pretty
much, yeah.”
He
lifts his head, eyes meeting mine, and a nervous twitch pulls at the
corner of his mouth. “Will you marry me?”
My
heart’s still thumping through my brain.
“The
test was negative, Landon,” I try to joke, but it comes out wobbly.
“You don’t have to—”
“I
know.” His palms cradle my face, drops of water falling from his
eyelashes. “Will you marry me?”
His
misty lips make contact with my nose. I’m still trying to process
if he’s serious or not.
“Really?
This isn’t because of that pregnancy test, is it?”
“I
was planning on asking a few weeks ago. Cross my heart, the ring’s
been in this apartment for at least a month.”
My
eyes flick back and forth between his, searching, searching,
searching for a lie, a joke, a tease, something.
But it’s all honesty and nerves and love. So much love I find
myself slipping on the wall, losing strength in my knees.
“You
are
serious.”
“I
love you, Liz. Marry me? Please?”
I
feel a smile tug on my mouth. The water’s getting too cold to stay
underneath, but my body temperature rises, my skin boiling under his
touch. I grip his forearms, holding myself steady while he continues
to cup my cheeks.
I
love every bit of this man, every piece of his heart and soul and
mind and body. So even though I wasn’t expecting it this way, even
though I was just internally moaning about not getting any
spontaneous loving, I practically shout my answer at him.
“Yes.”
“Yes?”
He pulls back, the stream of water hitting him square in the face. I
laugh and bat it away from him. “Yes . . . you said yes?”
“Yes,
I said yes.”
A
large relieved breath leaves his mouth before he presses it to mine.
Landon’s arms circle my torso, pull me up against his now hot and
slick body, and every ounce of disappointment I was feeling
evaporates with the shower steam.
“I
thought I royally botched that.” He laughs, and a wave of minty
breath travels from his mouth to mine.
“You
did,” I tease before closing the gap between our lips again. “But
I love you.”
Some books draw you in within the first page but I didn't feel that
same initial pull with this book but thankfully that disappeared
after a couple of chapters as I settled into this humorous story.
Liz and Landon have been together for four years and their
relationship is comfortable, they're happy...Too comfortable? When
Landon springs a surprise proposal, Liz can't believe her dreams are
about to come true. However, she wants their wedding night to be
“out of this world”...something that hasn't been happening in the
bedroom lately! Another proposal, turns into a bet. The stakes are
high...the winner chooses the honeymoon destination! Do either
protagonists have the willpower to see this though to the end?
At times the comedy is almost slapstick as our protagonists navigate
through their wedding preparations. Obstacles pop up and real-life
issues throw them into turmoil as they come to terms with the
consequences of their decision. Difficulties come in the form of
parents, monetary issues and raging libidos ;-)
Liz may only be twenty-two, but is the responsible one who holds the
purse-strings and in full control of the domestic side of their
lives. She selfless in her dedication to Landon as he pursues his
dreams to be a film director. At times her immaturity shines through
as she's totally “in love” with the idea of having the
perfect wedding but soon realises that all that really matters is the
man she loves. Landon is very young at heart, romantic and totally
devoted to his “Tumbles.” He appears to be the one in the
relationship who “takes all” but then shows time and again he
wants to make Liz's wishes and dreams come true. There is no doubt
that Liz and Landon are meant to be together as they compliment each
other, creating a partnership that works for them.
”The author, who is new to me has written fun protagonists and an
equally amusing supporting ensemble. The banter is laugh out loud
funny at times. A highlight is when their two Mothers are together
for the first time! At times the humour was a little too silly for
my own personal taste, however I know that there are plenty of
readers who will appreciate and love it so have no problem
recommending this title and author.
***arc generously received courtesy of publisher Loveswept via
NetGalley***
