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Riley drummed her fingers on the plastic table and resisted the urge to check her phone for the fifty-millionth time in thirty seconds. Where was he? Steam had stopped rising from the coffee cups in front of her—one untouched and one mostly drained—at least half an hour ago.
It had been two weeks since they told each other I love you, and the rush of knowing he felt the same still hadn’t worn off. She didn’t know that it ever would. He’d all but moved in since. He grumbled this morning about having to go to work for the first time in forever, but she could tell he loved the idea.
Traffic hummed in the background, and the line of cars to the drive-up coffee shop dwindled. As the clock crept up on six, fewer people wanted another shot of espresso, regardless of how bad traffic was.
She surrendered to the desire to constantly know what time it was and pulled up her email. The feedback, rejections, and requests were trickling in from the queries she’d sent out. The rejections still stung, but none had brought her to tears yet like the first one, and the encouragement was enough to fuel her. Nothing had gone further than initial interest yet, but she was hopeful.
A familiar pickup pulled into the parking lot, and she kept her attention on her phone, pretending not to notice but unable to hide her relieved smile. Zero of her focus was on the message in front of her. Instead, she was on full alert, listening to the approaching footsteps.
“I think your coffee got cold.” She tried to sound irritated when she knew Zane was within earshot.
He crouched in front of her, placed one hand on either side of her face, and pressed his lips to hers. She closed her eyes and sank into the kiss with a tiny sigh, flushed when he pulled away.
“I’m more worried that I kept you waiting than about the temperature of my coffee.” He dropped onto the bench next to her, arm pressed against hers. “I’m so sorry I’m late. The one day rush-hour traffic is a bitch in this valley has to be one that matters.”
“I guess I’ll forgive you today.” She leaned her head against his shoulder.
He brushed his lips over her forehead. “You’re generous like that. I’ll make sure to let the other commuters know you’ll be irritated if they hold me up in the future.”
She laughed and shifted in her seat so she could see him, but not enough to break the contact. “How was your first day of work?”
He tried to give her a casual shrug, but the smile that threatened to break out told her he thought he was about to be funny. “My boss is an asshole slave driver.”
She sighed and rolled her eyes. She had heard Scott use that line more times than she cared to count.
“What?” He looked miffed. “I thought it was funny.”
“Yeah, so does he.” She tried to sound irritated at having someone new repeat the line, but she couldn’t keep her smile off her face.
“I get paid to laugh at it, so I’ll think it’s funny for longer.”
She shook her head. “That’s not what you get paid for, but I’m glad you have a new boyfriend.”
He stuck out his tongue at her. She poked the tip with her finger, and he sucked it back in. She kissed him deeply, loving the tingle it sent through her and the pressure of his hand against the small of her back.
“How did it really go?” she asked when they broke apart.
“It’s too early to tell, but so far so good.” He paused for a moment, as if considering his next words. “I got to have lunch with the boss’s wife. Didn’t know that was a perk. I think you’d like her. She’s almost as sexy as you, but kind of uptight. She reminded me a lot of you.”
She nudged his shoulder with hers, not able to stop laughing. “You’re being a dork. Why did you have lunch with Kenzie, and why didn’t you invite me?”
“It was a private meeting. I needed her opinion on something.”
A sliver of doubt wormed through her. Why was he keeping secrets? It had to be nothing; she trusted him. Besides, if it involved Kenzie, it had to be okay. She pushed the uncertainty away. Only way to find out was to ask. They were done not speaking up. “Do I get to know what about?”
He drummed his fingers on the table. “What do you think she’d say if she knew how many ways we’d abused her Ethan Allen dining set?”
“She’d be horrified, especially if we scratched the finish.”
He shrugged. “I was hoping she’d give it to us as a wedding gift. We get more use out of it than she does.”
The sentiment warmed her, but she didn’t dwell. Part of her assumed marriage was an eventuality, but there was no reason to push it. “She’s rich now, so she’d better buy us a not-used gift when that day comes.” If. She’d meant to say if. Not when. Oops. Too late to take it back now.
He drummed his fingers faster. “I’m sorry I don’t have any candles. Or champagne. Or violin music.”
She looked at him, not hiding her confusion. “Um... I’m not worried about it?”
“I really hope Kenzie was right. And the same size.”
She shook her head and blinked, trying to make sense of his half-sentences. “Is it just me, or are you babbling?”
He slid from the bench and dropped to one knee, and her heart leaped into her throat. The fake proposal from a few weeks earlier came rushing back, taunting her. This was going to get old fast if he kept doing it. She clenched her jaw, not wanting to hope, but unable to help herself.
He grasped her fingers in his. “Riley Ann Carter”—a nervous tremor ran through his voice—“you are the most beautiful, brilliant, and incredible person I’ve ever met.” He pulled a small box from his pocket, and her heart flipped in on itself. “I don’t know what I would do without you in my life.” He locked his gaze on hers, his sincerity distinct in his eyes. “So I’m hoping—” He swallowed and opened the box. A simple band with a stunning diamond setting winked back at her. “I’m hoping you’ll do me the honor of becoming my wife.”
“Yes.” The answer was out before she could think about it. She didn’t need to think about it; she already knew. She bent over and kissed him hard, memorizing the moment, burning every single detail into her memory. “Yes, and a million times yes again.”
He slid the ring on her finger, and it nestled perfectly into place. Having a twin had advantages she’d never realized. “Kenzie really helped you pick this out?”
He shook his head. “She let me borrow her finger for sizing. I already knew which one you wanted.”
Of course he did. She never should have doubted it. She pulled him to his feet. “I didn’t think they still made this design.”
He tugged her up. “It was in the retro settings. Apparently, we’re retro now.”
“I don’t care what they call it.” She draped her arms around his neck, snuggling close, focusing on every inch of him and the way they molded together. “I love it. I love you.”
He nipped her earlobe and hooked his thumbs in her back pockets. “So, in case your sister doesn’t let us keep the table, want to give it one more spin?”
She laughed and tilted her head back, loving it when his soft lips found the hollow at the base of her throat.
His words vibrated against her skin. “I’m going to assume that means yes.”
The End
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For Jared & Mikki’s book, His Hacker is available now.
Archer & Tori’s book, His Cosplayer, is coming soon.
If this is your first Love Games story, make sure to check out the other books in the series, including Scott and Riley’s story, His Reputation.
And you can check out the rest of the Love Games series on my website.
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