Finding Love: Incident at the Candy Apple (At the Candy Apple Series Book 2) by Elodie Parkes

the flowers. “Hi, wow those are lovely.” She kissed him quickly.
    Jake’s heartbeat sped up as nervousness joined the excitement he felt. He knew she loved him and they’d talked about living together, but so far he’d given her space to settle into their relationship. Jake gave her a tender smile. Even if she says no now, I’ll wait for her to be ready. In fact, I’d wait for her forever. He gave her the roses and watched as she turned and put them onto the kitchen counter.
    She stepped close to him and reached her arms around his neck. “I need more kisses. Sometimes I think about kissing you all day, until I’m desperate for your mouth on mine.”
    Jake crushed her against him. He kissed her hard until they both fell apart to breathe. “I won’t tell you what I think about doing to you all day, until I’m desperate.”
    Ellie smiled happily. “You can show me instead, unless you’d like to eat dinner first.”
    Jake still held her close. He wanted her to find the ring. “I think maybe we should eat, since you’ve taken the time to make it. Can I help with something?” He let her go.
    “Okay, you can get the chicken out of the oven. The plates are warm. I just put the potatoes in a dish.” She handed him the oven cloth.
    Jake put it down for a moment and shrugged off his jacket. He tossed it through the open door onto an armchair in the living area, and then picked up the thick cloth to take the dish from the oven. “How about you put your flowers in water?” He asked over his shoulder as he deposited the hot dish of chicken on the stovetop. He could hardly wait for her to find the ring.
    She’d been to the dining table with a dish of vegetables and the salad bowl. She brought the plates to the side of the stovetop. “Okay, you serve up the meat.”
    Jake couldn’t take his eyes off her. He left the chicken standing and watched her find a vase from a kitchen cupboard, fill it, and bring the roses to arrange. They were hand tied and had no wrapping, but the message card flapped on one of the stems. Jake sighed wishing she’d hurry up and find the ring.
    Ellie took the card off the stem and dropped the twist of green florist wire onto the counter. She opened the card and stared for a moment—then she turned to Jake her eyes wide.
    He gave her a small smile. “Will you marry me?”
    Ellie sped across the short distance between them, she stopped in front of him holding the ring still taped to the card, and leapt at him.
    Jake caught her, laughing. He moved away from the stove and sat her on the counter.
    She opened for him to stand between her legs, her skirt riding higher on her thighs.
    He kissed her as she gazed at him. “Well, will you?” He hugged her close. “And … and, move in with me … soon … this weekend, will you, please?”
    Ellie’s fingers trembled as she freed the ring from the tape. “Yes, yes, I will.”
    Jake helped her take the tenacious tape from the white gold band. He slipped it onto her finger and then held her face to kiss her. “I’m so in love with you.”
    Ellie returned his kiss and then looked at the ring on her finger.
    He followed her gaze. The big diamond glittered in the downlights.
    She raised her gaze to his. Her eyes glistened with tears. “I love you, too, my lovely, sweet, Jake. I can’t imagine life without you.”
    Jake slid his hands into her soft hair. Love filled his heart and turned him to mush. He kissed her. Lust mingled with love as she held his face and returned his kiss until a soft murmur escaped him. He picked her up to carry her to bed. They could eat later.
     
    The End