Tessa Teevan - Inflame

“I know. I just missed them. That’s all. Thanks for a great party, Kale. Jacob’s favorite thing might’ve been the box Branson’s toy came in, but he still had a blast. We’re so lucky to have such great friends with kids he can grow up with.”

“Yeah, we are,” I agree. Leaning forward, I open up the drawer in the coffee table and pull out an envelope. “Hey, baby, there’s one more card that needs opening.”

As I turn to hand it to her, she pushes a small rectangular box into my hands. Cocking an eyebrow, I finger the box, wondering what this is. “As much as I love gifts, baby, you didn’t have to get me anything. It’s Jacob’s day.”

She turns the envelope over in her hands then looks up at me with curious eyes. “I could say the same to you. This is addressed to me, not him.”

“Then I guess you better open it,” I prompt as my heart begins to beat out of my chest. I’m anxious for her to see what’s inside.

Lucy turns the envelope over, and in a painstakingly slow fashion, she slides her finger under the top to open it. Her eyes widen when she pulls out a test with just one question and a Scantron so she can answer. I slide off the couch and kneel before her on the floor. Reaching underneath the couch, I pull out a thin, rectangular box and place it on the cushion next to her, opening it so she can see the contents.

Her eyes race to mine as she lifts the pencil out of the box, and I nod at the paper in her hand. “Life’s ultimate test, baby. All I need is an answer. All you’ve got to do is fill the appropriate bubble.”

As she gazes down at the Scantron then back up at me, her eyes dance. She takes the pencil and slowly starts filling out bubbles on the sheet. My palms turn sweaty the longer she takes, and my knees begin to ache as I continue to kneel before her. Finally, she sets the pencil back down in the box and holds the sheet out for me.

“All done, Teach,” she whispers seductively, giving me a wicked smile.

Snatching the paper from her hand, my heart swells as I look over the Scantron. Instead of just checking A for ‘yes’ or B for ‘no,’ she filled in all the bubbles necessary in order to spell out a big, fat ‘yes’ throughout the entire sheet. My eyes scan over the paper, and I grab the box out of my back pocket and set it on couch next to her, just like I did with the pencil box. This one, however, is square and small, and her fingers shake as she picks it up. When she opens it, she brings a soft hand to her mouth, her eyes racing to meet mine.

“Lucy Dawson, you’ve already agreed to be my wife, and all that’s left to do is for you to accept my ring. I love you, baby, and if you don’t become a Montgomery soon, Sprout and I are going to protest.”

I know it’s not the most romantic proposal, but it’s us and it makes her laugh, even as the tears well in her eyes. She picks up the ring and slides it on her finger before flinging herself into my arms.

“I accept your ring, even if it means I’m subjecting myself to a lifetime of foodie and garden jokes. I don’t even care. I love you, Kale Montgomery, and I’m with Sprout. This needs to happen sooner rather than later.”

She gives me a knowing look then gestures to the box she handed me earlier. After rising off my knees, I sit on the couch beside her, letting it rest in my lap.

“Open it,” she insists.

With trembling fingers, I slowly slide off the paper in true Lucy fashion, and she gives me a small scowl, which I return with a playful grin. Once the paper’s gone, I lift the small black lid off the box, and my breath catches at the contents inside.

“Are you freaking kidding me?” I ask, unable to mask my surprise.

“Nope. And if your timing’s right with the wedding, you just might get your Dawson. You know, if it’s a boy,” she says, smirking at me.

Setting down the positive pregnancy test, I pull her into my embrace, thrilled that she’s going to be my wife and even more thrilled to expand our family.

“We’re in this together, baby. No matter what. You’re my best friend. The love of my life. My future wife. You’re it for me, and that’s all that matters. Boy, girl—I don’t care.”

She grins up at me, lifting to give me a kiss, and as I cuddle on the couch with my fiancée, I realize that this is the life and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Cohen

The Not-So-Distant Future

WITHOUT KNOCKING, I let myself into Knox’s house straight into the chaos that awaits me. Kale, Jace, and Knox are sitting in the middle of the living room at what looks like a glamorous tea party. I’m laughing at the pink boa around Knox’s neck when my legs are attacked by my oldest niece, Chloe.

“Uncle Cohey’s here!” she exclaims as her tiny arms wrap around me. Four more pairs of eyes gleam when they see me, and I prepare myself for the attack.

The tea party’s abandoned as my nephew, Cade, leads the charge against me, and I pretend he knocks me over easily. A massive dog pile ensues and Chloe does her best to tickle my most sensitive side as the rest of the brood continues the attack until I’m begging for mercy from this little gang of hooligans.

I’m given a reprieve when my sister-in-law Charlie calls out to them. “Kids, we’re leaving!”

They scramble to get off me, and I sit up, catching my breath. I watch as all the kids race to the front door to say bye to their moms. Charlie, along with her best friends Lucy and Lexi, are all dolled up, ready for a night out on the town in Nashville.

Rising to my feet, I make my rounds, greeting the women, and when I lean in to give Charlie a kiss on the cheek, she gives me a wicked gleam. “Don’t worry, Cohen. We’ll take good care of her.”

I let out a low chuckle and shake my head. “That’s what scares me.”

“She’s in good hands. You have absolutely nothing to worry about,” Lucy chimes in.

My arms fold across my chest as I cock an eyebrow up at them. “Right. Like I don’t remember what happened last time y’all went out.”

Charlie gives me a sheepish grin, and Lucy waves me off. “Oh, that was nothing. I bet that jerk will think twice before he slaps a married woman’s ass next time he’s out patrolling for a quick lay.”

“That’s a pretty safe bet. At least it is if she locked him in an arm bar anywhere near as tight as it was when she did it to me. Although, in my case, I was just caught off guard,” Branson explains, arriving just in time to see the women off. Charlie gives him a playful scowl. “Ladies. Looking beautiful as ever.”

Charlie reaches up to pat Branson’s cheek. “Keep telling yourself that, Bran. All right, we’re out of here. Good luck, guys,” she offers, giving us a wink.

The women call out their goodbyes, and once the door’s closed, Branson puts his arm around my shoulder as we watch the rest of the guys removing their tea party gear.

“You ready for this, kid?” he asks with a smirk on his face.

As my gaze continues to rest on Jace, Knox, and Kale, the sound of the kids running around fills my ears. My mind goes back to Knox’s engagement party and the way the guys all laughed at Kale’s guarantee. When he leaned in close and told me that I was next, I didn’t believe him for a single second.

And let me tell you. I’ve never been more wrong in my life. 

Small Bump- Ed Sheerhan

Why Don't You Love Me- Hot Chelle Rae, Demi Lovato

Kiss Me Slowly- Parachute

5:19- Matt Wertz

Best Day of My Life- American Authors

All I Ever Wanted- Matt Wertz

Are You With Me- Easton Corbin

Last First Kiss- Ron Pope

Waned You More- Lady Antebellum

If I Didn't Have You- Thompson Square

All of Me- LLoyd

Tonight- John Legend, Ludacris

Need You Now- Lady Antebellum

Maybe It's Over- Jon McLaughlin

Summer Is Over- Jon McLaughlin feat Sara Bareilles

Just Say The Word- Josh Kelley

Beautiful Soul- Jesse McCartney

Sleeping With a Friend- Neon Trees

Not a Bad Thing- Justin Timberlake

I Belong- Tyler Hilton

Just Say Yes- Snow Patrol

Gone Too Soon- Daughtry

In love With A Girl- Gavin DeGraw

We Both Know- Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw

Ride- SoMo

Show Off- SoMo

I Don't Wanna Let You Go- Ross Copperman

Beneath Your Beautiful- Labrinth feat. Emile Sande

Derek- your love and support means the world to me! You are amazing. Thank you for keeping me in line and not minding a dirty house…at least not too much. Love you!

Teri Beth- I can’t imagine my books without your touch. Your meticulous notes help bring my stories to perfection, and I could never thank you enough!

Sarah- I love your face, even if you want to hurt my characters from time to time. Just remind me to keep you out of the way of frying pans! Bouncing ideas off you is so much fun, even if you want to hurt me.

Michelle- Thanks for all you do! You’re a sounding board and I appreciate it more than you’ll ever know. Your music suggestions are the best!

Bianca- Thanks for loving my men as much as I do! Your advice is so important to the writing process, and I am so thankful I have you. Your emails always crack me up!

Mickey- You make the editing process fun and I couldn’t be more grateful for that. Your gifs have me laughing out loud and I love them!

There are so many other people I could, and should, thank, but I am literally down to the wire to send this off. I love each and every one of my readers and supporters and I couldn’t do this without y’all! Thanks so much for all your kind words, reviews, and messages!!