Be sure to read how Ethan and Abby met and fell in love in Worth the Wait.
“Please tell me my surprise is something kinky.”
I laugh, as I slap Ethan’s hand away from the blindfold he keeps trying to adjust so he can peek under.
“You have such a one track mind,” I accuse, tugging him forward so I can steer him into the empty building, Ethan’s surprise. My stomach is tying itself in knots wondering what his reaction will be. Even more than that, what I’ve done is a huge commitment for us. This is at least as major as marriage.
“Guilty. But, you have to admit, blindfolding me seems like it should lead to something kinky. In fact, if this isn’t kinky then I’m saving this blindfold for some light bondage later.”
“Yeah, good luck getting me to agree to that.”
“You forget how persuasive I can be.” His breath tickles the back of my neck and gives me goosebumps. He can be damn persuasive, that’s a fact.
“Can I give you your surprise now, or do you want to keep up with all the raunch?”
“Do I really have to choose?” He reaches out and pulls me against his chest. I don’t even try to resist. Why would I resist the sexy, amazing, love of my life kissing me any time he wants? His lips land on mine with a few teasing pecks and nips.
“I love you,” he whispers against my lips.
“I know,” I tease, pulling back and removing his blindfold. He blinks several times and looks around the empty room we’re standing in. His brow furrows as he tries to put the pieces together.
“We’re at The Wookie? Why is it empty?”
“Well, it used to be The Wookie,” I hedge. Ethan raises an eyebrow at me and I grab the paperwork off the bar and hold it out to him. “Once you sign these papers it’s our bar, and we can name it whatever we want.”
“What?” Ethan takes the papers from my hands and reads them with a look of consternation on his face. I chew on the cap of the pen in my hand, waiting to hear what he has to say.
“I don’t understand,” he finally says after reading through the paperwork several times.
“I used the money I had from the accident to buy the bar. I didn’t spend all of it, but we will probably have to take out a loan to get everything up and running.”
Ethan continues to frown, not the reaction I was hoping for.
“This is our dream,” I reach out and touch his arm.
“You spent all of your money on this?”
“Well, not all of it.”
Ethan gives me a ‘cut the shit’ look and I hold my hands up defensively.
“This is too much Abby, for you to buy a bar like this, it’s too much.”
“I don’t understand why it’s too much? I can spend my money on anything I want. And, now that we live together we’re sharing all of our bills, it’s joint money really.”
“I mean, maybe if we were married or something…” he trails off.
“Okay,” the word slips past my lips before I can think about it. Did I really just say ‘okay’ to getting married? Ethan’s head snaps up and his ice blue eyes burn with intensity.
“What?”
“Okay, let’s get married,” I say more firmly this time.
“Oh no, hell no.”
“What?” It’s my turn to be confused.
“Nope, no, no, no.” He shakes his head as he puts the paperwork down on the bar and makes his way towards the exit.
“Ethan, wait!”
“No, I fully support all of your feminist dictates, but you are not going to take this from me.”
He’s gone before I can figure out what he’s saying, let alone respond. I blow out a frustrated breath and gather the paperwork into a neat pile. I don’t technically need his signature, but I want this place to be as much his as it is mine, regardless who put up the cash for it. I kind of thought we were in this for the long haul, shared finances and all.
I know it’s childish, but after the weird way Ethan and I leave things I decide to go to Lee and Nikki’s apartment, my old apartment, instead of home to Ethan. Once he decides to stop being such a jerk he can come find me.
“What’s up sourpuss?” Lee asks when I barge in, grousing under my breath.
“Your brother.”
“Aw, did the lovebirds have a fight?” Nikki teases.
I sigh and plop down on the couch.
“I don’t even really know what he’s mad about. I, uh, bought The Wookie and when I took him over there to surprise him he kinda flipped out.”
“I feel like I’m missing part of the story here,” Lee says, eyeing me suspiciously.
I shrug, refusing to admit that I more or less proposed in the world’s least romantic fashion.
“You guy’s will work it out, you’re meant for eachother,” Lee assures me with a kiss on the head.
Nikki, Lee, and I spend the next few hours pigging out on junk food and watching chick flicks. As the sun starts to set Lee gets a text message. My heart beats faster hoping it’s Ethan. I look at my own phone and see no notifications.
“Oh, I just remembered there’s supposed to be a meteor shower tonight, let’s go watch it from the roof,” Lee says suddenly. Nikki and I both look at her like she’s grown a second head.
“What?” I didn’t even know this building has roof access.
“Come on,” Lee urges, ignoring my questioning looks.
Lee shuffles me up onto the roof and as soon as I’m through the door I stop in my tracks. Ethan stands under an archway decorated with white Christmas lights.
“Ethan, What’s going on?” I ask, making my way towards him on shaky legs.
A nervous smile plays on the corners of Ethan’s lips as he holds out a hand for me to take. As soon as I take his hand he pulls me forward and gently kisses my temple before tilting my head so I’m looking into his eyes. His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows nervously and then lets out a shaky breath.
“Red, I’m sorry I was a total dick earlier. I’ve been trying to work up to this for a little while now but I’ve been trying to think of the perfect thing to say. And, I’ve honestly been terrified you would turn me down flat. I’m still not sure exactly what to say and I’m hoping to hell you don’t say ‘no’.” A nervous bark of a laugh escapes his lips before he steps back just and inch and takes my hands in his.
“What are you talking about?” My stomach is jumping with anticipation. I think I know what this is, but I don’t want to jump to conclusions.
“I love you more than I ever thought possible, Red. You’ve changed my life, you’ve made me a better man.” He pulls a small, velvet box out of his pocket and drops to one knee. “Be my wife.”
I let out a laugh, unshed tears burning my eyes.
“Is that a question?”
“Hell no,” Ethan says with another smile, offering the beautiful solitaire ring up to me. I take it from his hands and notice an engraving inside of the band. Together…
I raise my eyebrows in question and Ethan stands, holding his left hand out for me to look at. On the side of his ring finger is a fresh tattoo. …Or not at all.
“You are such a nerd, I fucking love you.”
He slips the ring onto my finger and pulls me against him for a bone melting kiss.
“I fucking love you back.”
Synopsis:
Abby:
I have issues. Like, serious, major issues. And, the last thing I want or need is a man in my life to make things more complicated. Unfortunately for me my roommates drop dead gorgeous brother seems hell bent on seducing me. And, what’s worse is that he’s kind of the perfect guy. Resisting him just might kill me.
Ethan:
I don’t do relationships. I prefer to keep things casual, and I’m always up front with women so that no one ever gets hurt. But, my sister’s new roommate…yeah I might have a small obsession. What the hell is a guy supposed to do though when he meets a woman who is not only beautiful but also feisty, fun, and way into nerd culture? I may be doomed
