Unconditional Love (Journey of Love #1)(75)
Author: Kelly Elliott

I stopped pacing and reached into my pocket and walked up to Scott. I handed him the ring box.

He smiled when he took it and opened it.

“Holy shit, dude. That is one nice diamond. You do this by yourself?” Scott asked with a laugh.

I rolled my eyes and snatched the box out of his hand. “It was my grandmother’s ring.”

Scott shook his head and asked, “When are you asking her?”

“This weekend.”

Scott stopped and looked at me. “What? Here? Do you have a plan?”

I just looked at him. “Yes, I have a plan. Azurdee doesn’t need anything grand and fancy. I’ve got this. Don’t worry pretty boy. It’s covered. Don’t forget, I’m still not pussy-whipped like the rest of you.”

Scott nodded his head and looked at me with a cocky grin. “Dude, you keep filling your head with that shit. You are now a member of the pussy-whipped boys club. Just embrace it. The perks are fantastic.”

I laughed and slapped him on the back. “I’m going to find Azurdee. “

He called out from behind me, “You’re going to be watching Twilight soon! Or sitting there listening to a book.”

I put up my hand and waved it. As I rounded the corner of the barn I laughed. No way in hell I was going to admit I had watched Twilight with Azurdee a few weeks ago. I made her swear to secrecy not to tell a soul. I may or may not have threatened her as well.

I walked into the kitchen and smiled when I saw my girl standing at the stove trying to reach up to the microwave. I leaned back and watched her as those first moments of being with her in this very kitchen flooded my mind.

“Fucker. I hate you! Stupid microwave.”

I smiled and said a silent prayer thanking God she was mine. I cleared my throat and walked up to her. “Would you like some help with that?”

“No. I don’t know why they made this damn thing so high.”

I leaned against her as I reached up and took out the bowl. I set it on the counter and then turned her to face me.

“No, you’re just short.”

She smiled and began chewing on her lower lip.

“Seems like yesterday, not a year and a half ago.”

I nodded my head and said, “It was a moment ago.”

I leaned down and sucked her bottom lip between my lips and gently bit down. She reached her hands up and laced them around my neck as we deepened our kiss.

“Get a room,” Jessie said as she walked into the kitchen.

I pulled back and wiggled my eyebrows up and down as Azurdee laughed and shook her head.

“Don’t make plans for this evening. I made us dinner plans,” I said as I smacked her ass and walked out of the kitchen, then headed up to the room we were staying in. When I walked down the hall, I peeked into Lauren’s room. I walked in and stood over her crib.

I gazed down at the only other girl who had changed my life. This precious little girl changed me forever the moment I held her in my arms. I couldn’t even imagine what it would feel like to hold my own child someday.

I moved and sat down on the small bench and watched her sleep. The small little sounds she made had my heart soaring.

I glanced over to the door when I saw it open. Jessie smiled and walked in. She peeked at Lauren and then sat down next to me on the bench.

“What are you doing in here?” she whispered.

I smiled and shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess she just captured my heart and I wanted to watch her sleep. I love watching Azurdee sleep. Even when her mouth hangs open and she drools and then snores really loud. Sexiest thing ever.”

Jessie giggled and hit my leg. “You’re going to ask her to marry you, aren’t you?”

I snapped my head and looked at her. “Scott tell you?”

She smiled bigger and said, “No. I can tell by the nervous way you’re acting.”

Shit.

I dropped my head and asked, “Do you think she knows?”

“Nope. She’s clueless.”

I grinned and said, “Good.”

“Do you need help?”

I looked at her and said, “I just need you to keep her busy right before sunset. I’m having someone come in and set up a picnic in your front yard. I’m going to ask her at sunset.”

She pulled her head back and asked, “Why in the hell are you asking her to marry you in our front yard?”

“It’s where we first met. It’s where I knew I would love her for the rest of my life. I just didn’t know I loved her then.”

I saw the tears build up in Jessie’s eyes. “Wow. Lark Williams. Romantic.” She shook her head as she stood up. “Never thought I’d see the day.” She leaned down and kissed my cheek as she reached for my hand and led me out of Lauren’s room.

The rest of the afternoon was spent with me checking my pocket every five minutes to make sure the ring was still there. Looking at the time on my phone and trying to act normal so Azurdee wouldn’t pick up on anything.

I looked at Jessie and winked.

She stood up and said, “Azurdee, how would you feel about going with me for a walk? I’d love to get out of this house for a bit. What do you say?”

Azurdee stood up and handed Lauren to Scott. “Just you and me?”

Jessie smiled and nodded her head. “Yes! Girl time!”

When they walked out the back door, I ran to the buzzer and waited.

“You know, a watched gate buzzer takes longer to go off than if you just walk away.”

I looked at Scott and said, “Fuck off dick. I’m sure you were just as nervous.”

He shook his head and said, “Nope.”

I made a mental note to ask Jessie.

The buzzer went off and I fumbled to hit answer.

“Yes! I’m here!”

“Hello, this is Hill Country Catering. Mr. Williams?”

“Yes. Come on up.” I hit the button to open the gate. I turned and looked at Scott and smiled. I clapped my hands and said, “Let’s do this!”

Scott started laughing and said, “I never thought I would see the day.” Scott’s mom walked up and took Lauren and laughed.

Thirty minutes later, me, Scott, Francis from Mason Florist, and Linda from Hill Country Catering all stood back and looked at our creation. A small table with two chairs had been set up under the giant elm tree in front of the house. Francis had hung lanterns down from the tree branches so that at sunset we would still have light. She also had one lantern set in the middle of the table with red rose petals spread on the table.