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  “What about Brewski?” he asked, his eyes alight with amusement. “Little Brewski? Kind of catchy, don’t you think?”

  “No alcohol names.”

  “Both those suggestions are better than half the names in that tome your mom gave us.”

  “You mean, besides Cletus?”

  “Oh God.” He hung his head. “I forgot about Cletus. That's a life sentence.”

  “Kind of like Shiraz,” I said, hoping I’d made my point.

  “Cletus,” he mumbled, shaking his head as he started picking the same sweet melody as before.

  I nodded towards his guitar. “I like that. It’s nice.”

  “I know. Can’t get it out of my head.”

  “Does it have a name?”

  A playful smile pricked his cheeks. “I can’t name it until I know if it’s a boy or a girl.”

  “What about gender-neutral names?” I asked. “Like Charlie or…Peyton.”

  “I don’t hate Charlie.”

  “It disturbs me that that feels like progress.”

  “Don’t worry,” he said. “We’ve got plenty of time. And if we can’t decide, we’ll always have Shiraz and Brewski to fall back on.”

  I sighed. “Small mercies.”

  “Speaking of progress, would you toss me a pick?” he asked, lifting his chin towards the black metal tin at my end of the coffee table. “I’ve been working on another little ditty you might like.”

  I gripped the back of the couch so I wouldn’t dump Otis on the floor as I reached for the case on the table. “Little Ditty,” I muttered, thinking that would be even worse than Shiraz as I settled back against the pillows. “Any pick in particular?” I asked, popping the tin open.

  But when I dropped my eyes, there were no picks to be plucked. There was just a single, platinum ring with a big, fat halo diamond in the center of it. I looked up at Finn, and he cleared his throat before sweeping his hands across the guitar strings in an attention-getting strum.

  “I only want to play naked pancakes with you,” he sang.

  “Maybe knock you up another time or even a few.

  “Will you marry me, baby? Please say I do?

  “I only want to play naked pancakes with you.”

  I stared at him, closing my mouth when I realized it was hanging open. “Was that a serious proposal?”

  “No,” Finn said, setting his guitar aside. “But this is.” He rose off the couch, took two steps towards me, and pinched the ring from the case in my hands. Then he dropped to one knee and lifted it between us as his eyes found mine. “I know it doesn’t seem all that long ago that you strolled into my bar, sat on my stool, and had your life changed forever by my enchanting personality and dulcet tones.”

  I laughed through my smile.

  “But falling in love with you has been the greatest adventure of my life, and I never want it to end.”

  I swallowed the swell of emotion rising in my throat.

  “And for the record, I’m not asking because you need to marry me,” he said. “You don’t need to. I’m going to love you forever either way.”

  I bit my lip and blinked to clear the tears pooling in my eyes.

  “But if you want to,” he said. “I’d love to call you my wife.”

  I licked my lips and tried to memorize the loving expression on his face, the way it felt to hear him say those words. “I don’t want to get married,” I said finally.

  His smile wilted.

  “To anyone but you,” I said, reaching over to lay a hand on his cheek.

  His face flooded with relief, but his eyes were full of fire like he was going to get me back for that when I least expected it. “That was wicked.”

  “I didn’t mean for it to come out like that,” I said, laughing as I shooed Otis from my lap so I could turn towards him. “I meant, yes, of course, I’ll marry you. Who else would have me in this condition?”

  He scowled, grabbed my left hand, and slid the ring up my finger. “Now you leave that there and think about what you did.” He tutted as he shook his head. “Torturing a man like that. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

  “Punish me?” I asked hopefully.

  He laughed like he was two steps ahead. “Till death do us part,” he said, leaning forward to give me a kiss.

  And when his lips met mine, I could feel the intensity behind them, as if he’d been far more nervous to ask for my hand than he seemed. But he shouldn’t have been. After all, I’d been saying yes to him since he first asked me to stick around for one more drink on that fated New Year’s Eve.

  And as our bodies expressed what our words couldn’t, I felt light all over, like a dandelion seed dancing on a warm breeze. Yet as special as the moment was, I knew it was just another yes on a long list of the many I would give him.

  Because he’d done what I thought no man could do. He stretched my heart until there was room enough for him. For this. For us.

  And as the diamond settled on my finger, I was so glad I’d never settled, so glad I’d waited for my prince to come.

  Because someday had finally arrived.

  NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  Thank you for reading this book.

  If you enjoyed it, please leave a review (and tell your friends!).

  Reviews help indie authors so much, and I’d be grateful for your support.

  Want to connect?

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  I’d love to hear from you!

  Thanks again for curling up with this story.

  Writing for you is my happily ever after.

  Happy reading,

  Xo Hazel

  O T H E R B O O K S

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  O T H E R S E R I E S

  B Y H A Z E L K E L L Y

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  Standalone romantic comedies about couples who were always meant to be more than friends

  Beta Brothers Series

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  The Tempted Series

  A seductive story about a woman who risks everything when she falls for her billionaire boss

  Club Abbott Series.

  A suspenseful romance about a high stakes game of pretend that goes wrong in all the right ways

  The Fated Series

  A sweet story about two best friends whose relationship takes a sexy turn

  The Wanted Series

  A fiery story about what happens when two strong willed opposites attract

  The Craved Series

  An uplifting story about a young woman whose life changes forever when a handsome stranger sweeps her off her feet

  The Devoured Series

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