Page 129 of Animal's Reformation
Lucy bobbed her head and scrambled off the chair. “It was the best French toast I ever had.” She ran over to Olivia and gave her a quick hug. “I’m going to my room to finish my picture then we can go to Carson’s.”
“For sure.” Olivia smiled.
Lucy began to walk out of the room with Patches following behind her when Animal cleared his throat. “You need to help clear the table, kiddo.”
Lucy groaned but turned around quickly and picked up her plate and brought it to the sink. After clearing the rest of the dishes, she turned to look at her dad. “Are you going to ask?”
Animal narrowed his eyes and jerked his head toward the stairway. “Didn’t you say you were gonna finish your picture in your room?”
Grumbling something inaudible under her breath, Lucy stomped out of the room, the half-colored picture and box of crayons in her hands.
“What did she want you to ask?” Olivia said as she sat down with a steaming mug of coffee in her hand.
Animal shrugged and rose from the chair. “I’ll be right back, babe. Why don’t you pour me a cup of coffee?”
“Okay.” She padded over to the counter and took out a cup from the cupboard. When she turned around, Animal was already back in his chair and had a funny look on his face.
“What’s up?” she asked, putting the cup in front of him. “You look like you’ve got a secret you want to tell me.”
He splayed his hands on the table. “It’s more like I got something I wanna ask you.”
Butterflies scurried about in her belly while her heart quickened and her cheeks warmed. Animal looked so earnest and serious that it scared, excited, and intrigued her all at the same time.
“What is it?” she said softly as she brought the mug to her mouth.
Animal bent down and put a box on the table. Green and orange ribbons decorated it in a haphazard fashion, and the big bow on top was a bit off center.
Olivia’s eyes widened. “Is this for me?”
He nodded and pushed it toward her.
She figured it was some racy lingerie he’d ordered online for her again. Animal loved dressing her up then unwrapping her slowly. A wicked smile flashed across her lips as she opened the lid. For a couple of seconds Olivia just stared at the leather cut neatly folded in the box. She knew immediately what it was—Animal’s patch. A shot of excitement sparked through her as she realized that he was asking her to be his old lady.
Olivia snapped her eyes to his then back to the box. She ran her fingers over the buttery, soft leather then took it out and saw the ivory-colored embroidery on the back “Property of Animal.” Once again her gaze returned to his.
“This is beautiful and … so unexpected,” she murmured, reaching for his hand. Tears formed in the corner of her eyes.
“I wanna see you with my patch on,” he said standing to his feet. “Let me help you put it on.”
Olivia rose from the chair, and Animal helped her put on the cut. He drew her back into him and ran his hands down the sides of her body, caressing and petting. “I love you, baby. Will you be my old lady?”
She tilted her head back and looked up at him, catching his gaze. “I’d be honored to be your old lady, sweetheart.”
He crushed his lips to hers and stole her breath away in a wild kiss that had her twisting around, clinging to him, and craving more.
Breaking away a bit, Olivia ran her fingernail over the bottom of his lip. “I love you so much,” she whispered.
“Me too, babe … me too.” He stepped back. “You got inside pockets in the cut.”
Okay … that was a change of subject. Olivia nodded and figured he wanted her to try out these pockets, so she shoved her hands in them and felt something square in one of them. She pulled out a navy blue box. Her heart pounding, she looked at him. “What is it?”
“Open it up,” he replied.
With trembling fingers, Olivia opened it and held her breath as she gawked at the sparkling ring nestled in dark velvet. She let out a long breath, glanced up, and met his eyes.
“Oh fuck … Animal … it’s beautiful.” Her voice quivered.
Animal took the box from her and slid the ring onto her finger. “Babe, I can’t live without you. Since you came into my life, no one exists but you. You made me believe in love and I want to spend my life with you. Will you marry me?”
