The Scale (Martha's Way) (41 page)

He freed one hand from her grasp and reached to touch one of
her loose curls. Minka had long given up on the idea of taming them. He inched
closer and slid an arm around her.

“I’m sorry for hurting you. That was not my intent,” he said,
his voice gruff and glib at once. “I was sure I needed to let you go, but I’ve
regretted every second of it.”

He closed the space between them and their bodies touched.

“I’m sure of a few things, as a matter of fact.”

She let out a soft moan; the heat in his voice burned her
skin. Minka closed her eyes as his lips touched her head then her ear.

She shivered in his arms and this time the low, mournful
sound came from Jason.

“I was thinking,” he said, now trailing kisses along her
neck.

The cool air didn’t help any. Her body was a pool of heat. She
moaned and tried to turn to give him all of her, but he held steady. She
couldn’t help it; Jason would always make her body quiver.

“I was thinking you should make Martha’s Vineyard your
permanent home too.”

His voice was husky and downright sexy. And it was making her
head spin, so much so that his words didn’t register at first.

 
“Jason.” She
gasped, realizing there was a proposal of some sort coming.

“I figure we have the love part covered and, since we don’t
seem to care about using any protection,” he teased against her lips, “it’s
only a matter of time until you’re pregnant.”

“So this is about me getting pregnant?”

He kissed her then, a deep, sexy kiss with promises of what was
to come for the rest of their lives together.

He pulled his lips inches away from hers. Minka’s hands
automatically went to his chest, holding him close.

“This is about me asking you to marry me and be my wife,” he
acknowledged. “Minka Greene, will you be my wife?”

She pulled him to her and kissed him.
A
hard and very sure kiss.
A kiss that promised a
lifetime together, their infinity.
When she finally pulled away to fill
her lungs with some of the cool, crisp October air, Jason pulled her back
against his chest.

“Is that a yes?”

She smiled. “One hundred percent yes.
Je t’aime
, Jason Montgomery,” she said in French, showing off the
few words she had picked up from him.

“And I love you,
ma chérie
.”

He produced a small, dark velvet box before her. Minka froze
as he opened it to show her a classic Emerald cut diamond engagement ring set
in a platinum band. Minka’s fingers automatically touched the delicate band.
Something so simple held so much hope.
A future.

Jason removed the ring and gently slid it onto her finger.
To her surprise, it fit perfectly. He lowered his lips to the ring, then the
back of her hand.

“How did you guess my size?”

He grinned. “I cheated. I recruited Lily and Keely.”

“They know?”

“Everyone knows. Although Adam thought you should run while
you can and say hell no.”

She could picture the happy-go-lucky Adam teasing his friend
affectionately. She laughed and nestled into his arms.

“I take it you’re about to be my brother-in-law.” Keely’s
voice echoed in the darkness of the garden. Minka shifted her head in that
direction and noticed all of them were standing there smiling, waiting to
congratulate them.

Jason’s father was the first to embrace her, welcoming her
to the family. Her sister hugged her and whispered “I love you” and promised to
gladly cut a few pieces of Jason if he ever hurt her. Then the others followed
with hugs.

After everyone disappeared back inside the gallery, Minka
remained in Jason’s arms in the garden. Earlier she’d dared to ask if she could
be any happier. Oh, how wrong she was.

A thousand emotions twirled inside of her like the autumn
leaves winding and whirling fantastic trails in the most exquisite and
delightful way. She couldn’t help smiling. Not only because she was about to
marry the only man she could ever love, but because she had reached that point
where she was now independent of fears yet dependent on love. Every now and
then when she caught her reflection, someone beautiful greeted her. When a
stranger smiled at her, she smiled back and made eye contact. She now laughed
with her family.

She had finally reached that contentment in life along with
a sense of well-being. Because of the balance, she was ready for the next
chapter of her life with Jason Montgomery. She would forever love his
gentleness and how, in his own way, he managed to teach her to love herself.

“I love you so much,” she whispered in the darkness.

His hands caressed her arms. He had since given her his
jacket. “I can hear you say that for the rest of my life.”

“That’s a good thing, because you have me forever.”

He kissed her, sealing their now and forevermore.

*The End*

About the
Author

Author of contemporary sensual, empowered romance,
with fun relatable characters.
I’m also
a wife, and mommy to two energizer bunnies.
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When I do have time to breathe, I like to run, hike
with my camera at hand, and work on my gardening and knitting skills. I
promised my husband I’d knit him a scarf…that was 5 years ago.

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