Jill Shalvis - Seduce Me

"I do," he said. "Very much."

"You never really said, you didn't push-"

Jack shook his head, not sure how to make her understand. "Push? Hell, I could hardly understand the emotions I felt when it came to you. Until last night." He drew in a ragged breath that didn't ease the tightness in his chest. "Last night, I drove up here and had a really bad moment when I saw the flames and not you. Last night, I knew. You're it for me, Sam."

She bent and picked up a rock, tossing it into the ocean. Then searched for another one. Because he could see she was thinking, trying to put things together, he just watched. Waited.

"No one's ever made me think of my future in terms of me and someone," she said after a moment, and turned to eye him as if wanting to see his reaction to that. "Not until you."

He felt the slow smile split his face. "That probably shouldn't make me feel like I just shot the winning point."

Her eyes filled again and his heart cracked. "Oh, Sam…"

"I thought I was so tough, so independent. I thought I had all I needed." She met his gaze, hers shimmering brilliantly. "I was wrong. My life… it was in a rut. Same old comfortable routine, friends, work, everything. Then I met you and things changed. I changed. Suddenly, I wanted more for myself. I wanted to think of the future and see myself opening up. Sharing it with someone." She drew a deep breath and looked more nervous than she had last night with fire raining down around her. "I've never wanted forever with someone, Jack, until I met you."

His heart, torn only a moment before, swelled and filled. "Forever?"

"I have no idea what I've gotten myself into, falling like I have for you. I didn't think I was capable of love like this, but that's what it is. I knew it when you burst through the door to save me last night. I knew it when you carried me to your bed with such love in your eyes. I knew it when I woke up this morning wrapped around you." She blew out another big breath. "So." She smiled nervously and stepped back, hugging herself. "Be kind," she whispered.

"You think I'm going to hurt you?" he asked in disbelief.

"You could."

Shaking his head, he sank his fingers into her hair, cradling her head. "Sam, the only intention I have is to love you back." When she only stared at him, he gave a wry grin. "You love me, right?"

"Yes," she whispered. "Yes, I do."

"Good." He lowered his mouth to hers. "My life was in a rut before you, too. I was just existing, maybe even missing basketball more than I admitted to anyone, including myself. But I don't miss anything when I'm with you, Sam. I just feel alive, so alive."

"So…" She smiled tremulously. "What does this mean?"

"Let me put it this way. I want to wake up at the crack of dawn and freeze my ass off in the ocean watching you surf. I want to have you running down my basketball court looking like the sexiest thing I've ever seen, making it so I can't beat you-"

"Are you suggesting you lost because I distracted you?"

"You know damn well that's why I lost, but you're changing the subject. Say yes, Sam."

Her gaze searched his. "To what?"

"To me, to this thing we've got going, to everything."

She laughed a little, looking scared and bewildered and so hopeful he nearly gobbled her up whole.

"Just give you a blind yes?" she asked shakily.

"Uh-huh." His fingers caressed her face. "And we'll fill in all the blanks as they come up."

"You want to wing something this important?" She laughed, then threw herself at him. "Oh my God, that's right up my alley. It's perfect."

"Yeah." He framed her face with his hands. "It is. And so are you."

Eight months later

The day had been a good one. Sam had surfed all morning with Lorissa, she'd opened up Wild Cherries Café II in time for a good-sized lunch crowd and now, as the sun set, a pair of headlights came over the bluff. Pulled into her parking lot.

She stood in the café kitchen, her heart starting to pound. Scrunching up her face, she hoped with all her might. Then, and only then, did she slowly open the oven and peek.

"Omigod." Holding her breath, she used her oven mitt to pull out… what looked like a beautifully perfect pan of brownies.

She set the hot pan on the counter and stared at them.

Behind her, Jack came in. "Smells delicious."

"I think I did it," she whispered, her gaze still locked on the brownies. "Come taste, I'm too nervous."

"That's funny." He came up behind her. "Because I'm nervous, too."

Whipping around, she looked at him, concern filling her. They'd been inseparable for eight months. After a few months staying with Lorissa, she'd gotten her own apartment.

She'd spent one night in it.

Then Jack had asked her to move in with him, reminding her she'd given him that blind yes. Since she hadn't needed convincing, she'd gone for it. And while she'd never imagined herself happy in a house she could get lost in, she'd fallen in love with Jack's place the way she had with the man.

He'd been with her every step of the way in the rebuilding of Wild Cherries. She'd been with him when he'd started a new phase in his career… running basketball clinics in the local schools, teaching kids the joy of the game. "What is it?" she asked, stuffing a bite of brownie into his mouth. "Did you get that grant to-"

He chewed. "I got the grant for the district. The kids will have their new courts." He paused, looking startled. "Yum."

She had to laugh at his surprise, but then again, she'd been making him taste her brownies for months now, and there'd been some doozies. "You sure they're good? You're not just saying that so you can get lucky?"

"I'm hoping to get lucky with something else entirely." He reached for another bite. "And seriously, these are good. Write down the recipe for this batch." He pulled a small box out of his pocket. "Remember now, you already said yes."

Her heart skipped a beat. "To what?"

"To marrying me." He drew in a deep breath and looked her in the eyes as he opened the box. She caught the flash of light from the beautiful solitaire diamond.

"Be kind," he whispered, echoing the words she'd said to him all those months ago.

She stared down at the incredible ring and felt her throat tighten. "Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"This is better than the brownies."

"Am I getting lucky, Sam?"

"Oh, yeah."

"I don't mean in bed."

"Well, I do. But also right here."

"You're killing me. Tell me quick. Is that a yes, you'll-"

"Yes. Yes, yes, yes…" She threw herself against him, laughing and crying. "Yes to being in love with you, yes to being your wife. Yes, to it all, Jack. Forever."