Page 99 of Peaches & Pistols

“Relax, honey. I’ll take care of everything.”

Cuddled up between clean sheets, I never thought I’d ever be this happy. Domestic and peaceful and shit.

Mia props herself up, gazing at me from my chest while I tickle her back. We’ve barely spoken since we finished, but it hasn’t been uncomfortable. Every moment with Mia provides comfort I didn’t know I so desperately needed.

Light from the bedside lamp casts shadows across her features, her golden hair piled into a messy bun. But it’s the look on her face that does me in. Pure, unconditional, endless love.

"I'm so fucking in love with you Mia. Marry me." It just comes out.

We're still naked for god’s sake but I don’t care. This perfect woman I get all to my own giggles with glee and says, “Yes!”

Simple as that. No hesitation. No asking if there’s a ring. No theatrics. Just, yes.

I shift her from my chest and take the few steps to my closet. My thumbprint opens a biometric safe, where one of the most important items of my life has been waiting for this moment.

Unluckily, or luckily, I don’t know, I never saw the ring Carter got her. But from what Mia’s told me, it was ostentatious and gawdy and she hated it.

Working with the jeweler in Denver that Reid and Connor worked with, I found something that suits her perfectly.

Crawling back into bed, I re-situate Mia on my chest exactly as she was.

“Mia, I’m far from a perfect man. My hands are dirty even though my conscience is clear. I’m sorry for proposing right after sex, in the least romantic way possible, but I couldn’t wait another seco—” She stops my apology with a finger pressed to my lips.

“This is perfect. You’re all I want. I would’ve said yes anywhere, anytime. I want to marry you, Greyson Clark.”

There’s nothing I want more than to lay Amelia Carter to rest when I marry her, making her Mia Clark and adopt Everly as a Clark.

I take her left hand and open the velvet box the best I can one-handed.

Slipping the ring on her finger is surreal. How is it possible I’m getting everything I’ve ever wanted? After everything I’ve done, the universe is rewarding me with Mia.

In its permanent place, Mia’s engagement ring twinkles in the lamp light. A rose gold band holds a peach sapphire, with white sapphires on each side—representing our past, present, and future. As we laugh and kiss and chat late into the night, one thought dominates my mind.

She’s mine.

33

I’m engaged…and I’m still married.

Just seven months ago, I got Everly and I out of hell, but I’m still married to the devil. So why did I accept a proposal from the man of my dreams?

Charlie, what am I supposed to do? Am I making the same mistake twice?

The absence of her response stabs my heart the same way it does every time I catch myself “talking” to her.

I’ve been attending Delilah’s women’s group at the ranch for a couple months and it’s helped me regulate my emotions. But this is a whole new level of mixed emotions.

I love Greyson wholeheartedly in a way I never loved Carter. But both men promised me safety and stability. Am I jumping from one cage to another?

“There you are.” Greyson’s deep voice and hand to my shoulder scare the ever-loving shit out of me and I jolt, sloshing coffee everywhere.

“Shit. I’m sorry, honey. I thought you heard me. Stay right there, I’ll get a towel.”

Greyson rushes to grab a few hand towels from beneath the sink, focusing first on drying the coffee splotches on me—and repeatedly checking that I wasn’t burned. He cleans the rest of my mess and brings me a fresh cup of coffee.

“Thank you. Sorry, I was lost in thought,” I say to the creamy swirls in my mug.

We don’t need to head out to the ranch to get the girls until later today. Cecelia has grand plans for her grandbabies.