Page 92 of Check You Out

“I bring news.” She rushes over to the counter, and I meet her there. “You know, you’d think that working in a café would make you physically fit, but apparently that’s not considered cardio.” She clutches her side, gulping in air. “I need to exercise more.”

Aidan rises from his chair and walks over. “Oh, for fuck’s sake, Nicole! Out with it! What happened?”

She holds up a hand. “I’m getting there.” She closes her eyes and breathes heavily for a few seconds. My gaze meets Aidan’s, and he shrugs. After what seems like forever, Nicole swallows and starts talking. “So, I bring news.”

“So, you said. What happened?” I signal for her to hurry it up.

She grins, holding up her hand. “Ok, ok. So, Mayor Harrington was in the café ordering a cappuccino when she got a phone call, and she ended up bumping into Mr. Greene, and he spilled his iced coffee. Luckily only on himself. She was wearing this gorgeous cream dress that would’ve been ruined if it was—”

Aidan switches to his teacher’s voice. “Nicole! Focus!”

Heat floods my core. I will never not find that deep timbre sexy.

She clenches her fist and nods. “Right, right. So anyways, Mayor Harrington got a phone call at the café today, and she ordered me to come here and tell you.” She swallows. “The library has received full funding and will remain open indefinit—”

I squeal and throw my arms around Aidan’s neck. He clutches me to his chest and stumbles back against the counter for balance. “We did it! We did it!” I laugh onto his shoulder.

“You did it,” he murmurs into my ear. When I finally land on the ground, I’m beaming. I look up into his captivating brown eyes and feel dizzy. “I love you so much, Charlotte. You are the reason the library is open.”

A blush creeps up my face. “I don’t know about that.”

Aidan smooths my mussed-up hair. “Come on, you organized the committee. You rallied this community. You did this.” His dimples pop as he smiles. “You are incredible.”

He pulls me closer and kisses me deeply. I melt in his embrace. Joy radiates through me.

The library is saved, and I’m in love with an incredible man who loves me with all his heart.

The bell above the door twinkles as Nicole tiptoes out.

Epilogue

Aidan

2 Years Later

“Is this right?” I ask Charlotte, leaning closer to her as we stand in front of the mirror, making last-minute adjustments. “I should’ve gotten a clip-on tie.”

She raises an eyebrow, her hands reaching up to my throat to adjust my tie. “I think so. I’ve never tied a bow tie before.” Turning away from me, she reaches up to her golden-brown locks and shakes them out. Whiffs of soft lavender and vanilla drift up to me, and I practically drink it in. Two years together, and she still smells beautifully intoxicating. Blood courses right to my groin.

“How long are we staying at this thing?” I ask.

“We can leave after cake,” she replies. “Xander told me there’s going to be a quiet room in the library so you can escape from everyone.” She gazes up at me with her wide blue eyes. Heat simmers through my veins, running thick with desire and need.

Damn. I love this woman.

“He’ll probably end up joining me halfway through.” I grab her elbows and pull her into my arms, tipping her mouth up to mine, kissing her hard. Charlotte lets out a laugh as our bodies press against each other. “When do we have to leave?” I breathe into her. “You’re stunning.”

She swats me away. “We’re leaving now.”

I groan, closing my eyes and tipping my head back. “By the time we get back, we’re going to be so exhausted.” I bring my face back down to hers to kiss her again, softer this time.

“There’s always tomorrow,” Charlotte says with a husky voice. “It’s supposed to rain, and Sarah’s manning the store. We can read, drink tea, and do other things. Nicole’s got a new scone flavor I want to try,” she teases. But I know she means lingering in bed and making love.

“That would be nice.” I step back from her, my body growing chill at the lack of warmth. “When we get married, I don’t want any of this big wedding shit. No speeches.” I pat the pocket of my suit, where my best man’s speech is folded neatly and tucked away. “No crazy outfits.” I pull at the collar of my tux and grimace. “Definitely no people. Well, just a few. Like my parents and your mom.”

My stomach flips over itself after the words come out. We’ve been together for two years, and we’ve discussed marriage. She told me what kind of ring she wants, and I bought it. It’s been sitting in my bedside table drawer for a week.

We agreed on a formal proposal when we first discussed the topic of marriage. I want to do it. Charlotte deserves a romantic surprise, but the anxiety hits me like a freight train. What if it’s not perfect enough? What if something happens and I drop the ring? What if when I drop the ring, lose it, and we spend hours trying to find it, only to accept that it’s lost forever? What if someone eats it? I haven’t gotten it insured yet.