Tears spilled from her eyes.
“You put an engagement ring in my soup?” she whispered.
“I knew you’d eat the soup. I could build up the courage to ask while you did.”
She picked up the ring, coating the tip of her fingers in the soup. “Are you saying I’m fat?”
“Never. You’re all woman. I want to be with you for the rest of my life. I love you.”
He took the ring, placed it in his mouth and sucked the juice off. Next he wrapped the ring in a paper towel to dry.
“Miss Sandy Breeden. I’m a complete shit but I promise to cherish and love you for the rest of my life. Would you put me out of my misery and promise to be my bride?”
How could any woman refuse such a proposal?
“Yes,” she said.
The door to the room burst open. His family including her sister and Rory charged in. Each hugged her in turn.
Bursting out laughing, Neal took her in his arms as he sat on the bed.
“You’re going to make me the happiest man alive.”
“Why? Are you going to bend me to your will?” she asked with tease.
“No. Because you’re my girl. I love you.”
He leaned down and kissed her.
Never had she felt so at peace and so accepted. She had a broken leg, no home to go to and a man who loved her.
She wasn’t going to complain.
Epilogue
Luke Haney swallowed more of his beer contemplating his current position. Sandy had been deeply unfair in making him her maid of honor. Her only explanation for the horrid title had been that he was her only friend.
The best friend always did the job no one else liked.
He wished he’d made more friends in high school. Staring out over the dance floor, he saw the happy couple in each others arms. Dancing. Sandy still wore a cast on her leg. Her dress covered up the worse of the damage. Two months after Neal proposed his brother decided they couldn’t wait another day.
Sandy looked beautiful. He’d always thought she was with her fuller figure and charming smile. On the day they met he knew she’d be a big part of his life.
Turning away from the couple, he searched the party in time to see Natalie and her husband. He glared at the pompous ass manhandling her away from the crowd. Tipping the remaining beer down his throat, he walked in the direction of his best friend’s sister.#p#分页标题#e#
“Will you stop it?” He heard Natalie demand.
“You’re the one who wanted to come today. Even your parents seemed disgusted with your whore of a sister,” the man slurred.
“Don’t talk about my sister like that. You don’t even know her.”
“And you do?”
Some scuffling sounded, then a short cry came from Natalie.
“Stop it.”
“Your sister is so much better looking than you anyway. I bet she’s hot in the sack. Not a cold fucking fish like you.”
Luke had heard enough. Stepping around the corner, he saw tears pouring from Natalie’s eyes while her husband stared at her with hatred.
“I think you should get back to the party.”
“Whatever. I’m out of here.” The guy walked off.
“Are you all right?” he asked her.
“Yes. I made a mistake coming here,” she said. Her hands shook where she dabbed at her eyes.
“Why? Sandy would have been devastated if you missed her big day. Besides, you’re the only bridesmaid not gunning for my head,” he teased.
“I wasn’t surprised when she picked you for the role.”
“I was. Attending a bachelorette party will disturb me for the rest of my life.” As the maid of honor he’d been forced to watch a guy shake his cock around while his brothers probably got a stripper.
Rory had been the best man.
Natalie chuckled. The sound went straight through him, warming him all over. In all the years he’d known her, he’d never heard her laugh.
Instinct took over as he looked at her in the conservative gown she wore. Her curves were slighter than Sandy’s. Her breasts smaller. In the dress they were covered. An image came to him of her stripped naked, lying on his bed.
When he’d first met Natalie, he’d been attracted to her. That cold ice queen exterior. He knew deep down inside a passionate woman lay hoping to break free.
The Christmas of his and Sandy’s eighteenth birthday popped into his head. Sandy had gone to bed early. He’d stayed over at her parent’s. Their last official Christmas together. Natalie had walked downstairs when he was completely toasted.
He’d kissed her underneath the mistletoe. Shaking his head, the image would not change.
Moving closer, he held her waist and cupped her neck. Tilting her head back, he gazed into her beautiful brown eyes.