I narrow my eyes, half-heartedly trying to be stern–but failing miserably. “Don’t you start bein’ all sweet and nice and lovely. I think I’m all tapped out of that from Cooper men at the moment.
Jude chuckles. “I’m only ever goin’ to be sweet and nice and lovely to you, wifey. It’s my job. My oath. That’s never gonna change, so you better get used to it.”
Sliding my arms around his neck, I tangle my fingers in his hair and pull his head down to rest on mine. “I can’t wait tomarry you again and have my brothers stand up for me, and your father walk me down the aisle. I want everyone to know just how much I love you and how happy you’ve made me.”
“Fuck, Em. You make me so damn happy too.”
“Must be why the mountain put us together then.”
Bringing his lips to mine, he kisses me soft and slow with just a brush of his tongue before pulling back, making me grumble at him under my breath.
“We’ve got all the time in the world, Em. A lifetime, in fact.”
I raise my brow. “But you haven’t given me the chance to ask you to marry me yet.”
That’s when Jude’s rare, but damn-hot cocky grin comes out. “We’re already married.”
“I want a weddin’ night,” I whisper. “I want the real deal with you. All of it. I want to do it right this time.”
“Then that’s exactly what you’re goin’ to get, wifey.” His lips twitch. “So are you gonna ask me?”
“What?”
“Ask. Me. Wifey,” he says against my lips.
I smile, not shifting back an inch. “Will you marry me, Jude Henley Wilson-Cooper?”
He stares deep in my eyes, showing me everything I’ve ever dreamed of seeing. “Always.”
Chapter 22
Jude
A week after visiting Mom and Cap, we’re driving convoy style behind the two small moving trucks currently being driven bybothsets of our twin siblings. EJ and BJ in one, Cass and Sutton in the other. Our destination—Timber Falls.
Em has been quiet and contemplative during the trip so far but I know it’s not because she doesn’t want this, it’s all of the ‘what if’ questions on her mind.
She’ll share her feelings and talk things through with me when she’s ready. Until then, I’ve put her in charge of the road trip soundtrack to help distract her. We’ve also been entertained by the bickering twins—yes, they have even been sniping at each other–over the two-way radios we’ve got running.
Just after we pass the sign telling us we’re ten miles from home, Em shifts in her seat, glancing down at our joined hands resting on the seat between us. Feeling the cold silver of her wedding ring against my skin, I can’t help but smile.
“I didn’t expect this,” she murmurs. “Comin’ back here with you, not realizin’ that it would feel different regardless.”
My brows bunch. “Different?”
“The last time I drove home it was with a sense of dread because I already knew how the trip would end.” I nod. “Thistime, I have no idea what’s goin’ to happen but it doesn’t scare me.”
“No?”
She shakes her head. “Because this time I’m doin’ it with myboyfriendat my side.”
I glance her way and raise a brow. “That’s cute, Em. But have you forgotten that I’ve had an upgrade since I agreed to be your boyfriend?”
“You have?” she gasps. “Why didn’t anyone tellmethis?”
That gets her an eye roll. “Were you dissociated when you not only asked Cap for his blessin’ to marry me–despite us already bein’ married–but also insisted on proposin’ to meagainin front of Mom, just so they could share in the experience of you makin’ me tear up?”
The next day, we found a jeweler and got the date engraved on our rings. We also may have found the nicest hotel with vacancy, put a do not disturb sign up, and lost ourselves in each other until morning.