Page 67 of Apple of My Eye
I thought a relationship would be too much for me to handle. And I carried guilt and grief, and secrets as my greatest burdens in life. But Knox had been there at every turn, not a man to fear, but a man to trust. Someone to count on because when he gave his word, it meant something.
We shared a bond now. A love so true. I couldn’t possibly walk away from that.
“Daisy, I want everything with you. The orchard and the farmhouse and your sisters turning up unannounced anytime, night or day. I want you in your granny nightgown so I can unzip it and be surprised by what you’re wearing underneath. I want coffee with you before sunrise because we’re both early risers and hard workers, and we get out there and get things done every day. I want all of it. I want forever with you. Yes, this is fast. But I believe we’ll figure it out as we go along.”
I wiped the tears from my cheeks, my heart beating wildly in my chest. “I want two rings. One a simple plain gold band for days that I work. You can etch a special message to me inside it. And another gold band with a simple, petite princess diamond in it, because I like nothing too flashy. But now and then, when I’m not covered in barn dust, I like to look nice. Having options is good.”
He chuckled, bringing my hand to his mouth once again. “Is that all you want?”
“You owe me red panties. An entire drawer of them.”
“That I do. What else?”
“A wedding in the orchard this summer might be nice.”
“Done. And?”
“I want you.”
“That’s a given.”
“I want you to be my husband.”
“And you’ll be my wife.” A thrill worked down my spine when he called me that.
A knock came at the door. The nurse poked her head in. “Mr. Alexander? Sponge bath time.”
Knox cocked an eyebrow. I growled. “Don’t even think about it, cowboy.”
“I absolutely wasn’t. Much,” he grinned. “Say, nurse, I just proposed to my lovely fiancée. Would there be a way, by any chance, that you’d allowherto give me a private sponge bath?”
“Hm.” She eyed us at first and then walked in. She placed the bucket of water on the bedside table and consulted the chart. “You know what, I see on your chart here it shows that you’ve already been given one today.” She purposely left the tub and sponge behind and left the room, closing the door behind her.
“Problem solved. I’ll take one of those spontaneous acts of appreciation now, future wife.”
“You’re enjoying this way too much, future husband,” I laughed.
“I have a feeling I’m about to. Make it a good one.”
I wrung out the sponge and took my time with his body, grateful for him and thanking him properly.
Chapter 20
Forest Grove Gossip Gal
Sixth and Final Edition
Forest Grove GossipGal
Your anonymous source for everything happening in Silver County.
The Hat, The Kiss, and Goodbye
Posted: Early November, Forest Grove, MT
I have been sitting with this column for several days now, trying to decide how to write it.
That has never happened to me before. Usually, the words come easily. Usually, I have more to say than space to say it in. I am the one with the observations and the opinions and the carefully placed ellipses, and the rest of you are the ones doing the wondering.
