Page 55 of Twice as Sexy (The Sexy 2)
All the emotion she hadn’t let herself feel came flooding out because last week had been like loss and she never wanted to experience that again.
He brushed at the tears with his thumbs. “I love you, Scarlett. So let me in. Let me be with you in busy times and free times. In good and bad.”
She laughed. A real, honest, carefree laugh. “I love you too. And I’m sorry I was an idiot. I should have stayed. I just…”
“You needed to see for yourself what it was like without me or you’d never have understood what we had. You couldn’t let yourself believe in it. I get it. I knew before you left that we’d end up right here, right now.”
She tipped her head to the side. “How?” How had he been so sure of them?
His smile was so sexy it took her breath away. “Because I know you, Scarlett Davis. I know you in here.” He placed his hand over her heart, the same way she’d once done to him.
“Now will you get back to work so later on I can take you home, where you belong?”
* * *
Tanner spent the afternoon on an errand he’d never pictured himself doing. For shits and giggles, he’d taken Landon along with him since Jason was busy, and he knew his single friend wouldn’t understand. Someday, he’d have his elevator moment, as Tanner had come to think of the instant the doors opened and he’d laid eyes on Scarlett. Only then would Jason’s and Tanner’s lives make sense to their confirmed bachelor partner.
As expected, Landon grunted and groaned through every piece of jewelry they looked at.
“Who gives a shit if it’s circular, oval, or square? A diamond’s a diamond,” he’d said.
Tanner had grinned. “You’ll see,” was the only answer he had.
Now that he heard the words he’d needed from Scarlett, he was locking shit down. No way was she finding any excuse to leave him again.
He picked her up from work, taking his SUV this time because his nerves demanded that he be in control of something and driving was it. The ring burned a hole in his pocket. Sure, she’d agreed to move in with him, but he knew damn well he was pushing it asking her to marry him so quickly.
He couldn’t seem to stop himself. The last week was the most patient he’d ever been. He didn’t have another ounce inside him. They’d already gone to her apartment and packed up enough for the rest of the week. This weekend he intended to move everything he could get his hands on into his house.
“Tanner, are you okay?” she asked, touching his arm.
His hand gripped the steering wheel hard. “I’m good. Just going over some things in my head for the event with Tangled Royal.”
“I’m so excited for it! Oh! Let’s listen to them on CarPlay!” She inserted the plug into her phone, scrolled around, and Lola Corbin’s husky voice sounded around them.
The songs calmed him for the duration of the ride, and by the time they walked into the house … he was ready.
He opened the door and Scarlett stepped inside. As per usual, they walked through the kitchen, he dropped his keys in a dish, and they headed upstairs to change. He slid his hand into his pocket, feeling for the ring.
She pushed open the door … and candles greeted her. Flickering flameless candles because he’d had Felicia, their manager, come by and set up the room. He couldn’t risk a real fire.
“Oh my God!” Scarlett stepped inside and he followed. “What is all this?” Scarlett spun around at the same time he lowered himself to one knee.
“Tanner?” Her sweet mouth parted at the sight of him.
He held out the ring he’d tortured Landon to buy, his mouth dry as dirt. “I know I just got you to agree to move back in with me, but I want more. I want it all. With you. Scarlett, will you marry me?”
She didn’t even look at the ring. She merely nodded and threw herself against him, something that was becoming a nice habit, knocking him over.
They fell to the floor, her mouth on his, kissing him over and over. He felt around for the ring he’d dropped and pulled his head back. “It’s nice to know my fiancée isn’t materialistic, but would you like to at least see the ring?”
She grinned and he took in her happiness, feeling it like it was his own. “Sorry. I’m just so happy to be back here with you and I didn’t expect a marriage proposal. But since you asked, and I’m not letting you go again ever … yes, and let’s see.”
He slid the ring onto her finger and she glanced down at the cushion-cut diamond surrounded by a halo of smaller stones. “I love it,” she whispered. “And I love you. And your patience. And everything about you. I’m going to make this last week up to you.”
