Embracing Today, a firefighter romance: (The Trading Yesterday Series, #3), Kahlen Aymes [essential reading txt] 📗

was thinking hard or trying not cry and was just another thing that I loved about her. The soft smile on my face deepened but the emotion of the moment overwhelmed me.

“There are so many things I want to say to you. I wish I would have met your Uncle Leonard, but I know he had to be one hell of a man to raise a little girl on his own, especially because you turned into the woman you are. I wish I could thank him; I wish I could ask his permission to marry you. Since I can’t, I have to hope that he’d approve of me.”

A tear dropped from her eye and tumbled down her cheek, followed by another as she nodded. “He would.”

“I want to say thank you for your heart, your kindness, for letting me protect you, and for protecting me, too. Thank you for loving me and letting me love you…. For trusting me with your today and your tomorrows. You know that I love you more than anything in the world, and I want to take care of you for the rest of our lives. I can’t even fathom growing old without you.”

I took the box my mother had given me earlier in the evening out of my pocket and opened it, then knelt down on one knee. The vintage ring was a large cushion cut stone mounted in a white gold filigree band. The matching wedding ring would remain in the box for now.

“This is my grandmother’s ring, Marin. I’ve been waiting for the right person to give it to, and I know with all my heart and soul that person is you. So, Marin Marie Landry, will you do me the honor of becoming my bride?”

The room was silent except for the super soft strains of the song. “I will. Yes!” she cried brokenly. I slipped the ring onto the third finger of her left hand before standing to lift her off of the floor and take her mouth in a passionate kiss.

The room erupted in shouts, cheers and thunderous clapping. My heart felt as if it would burst. She’d already said yes, but now, in front of all of our family and friends it was official.

The song the band was playing got louder and I realized I was still holding the microphone in one hand even as I held Marin close and kissed her.

I pulled my mouth from hers and she buried her face into the front of my shirt and chest. I was grinning from ear to ear as I leaned over and handed it back to the front man of the band.

“This song is dedicated to Ben and Marin and it’s called ‘Better Today.’”

It was a country song that I loved and that I felt would suit the moment. I never let go of Marin as the song began and we started to sway. I cupped her face with one hand and used my thumb to tilt her chin upward. “I figured I’d better make it official, since our wedding is in December.” I grinned down at her, before sobering. She was so beautiful, and she was mine. “I love you so much,” I murmured, before I lowered my mouth to kiss her again. I nudged her upper lip with my lower one, wishing I could devour her, increase the pressure and let my tongue dance with hers.

“Ben,” she sighed, her fingers gently sliding down the line of my jaw. “Later. The kids.”

“I know,” I agreed, placing my forehead on her own. I was rethinking my decision to sleep in the bouncy house with the kids tonight. I bent and kissed the side of her neck since she was denying me her mouth. She smelled like spring and vanilla. “I wish we could be alone tonight. I should have thought this through a little better.”

“We have years of nights to make love to each other. I adore these children and they helped you make this evening so special.” Her lips found purchase on my jaw and I wished the rest of the world would disappear and we were alone. “We can’t take this away from them. They are so precious to me. You, too.”

“You’re right, but I guarantee nothing once they’re asleep.” Marin let out a soft giggle. “I’m glad you love kids so much.”

“Yeah, I remember. Five or six, you said?”

Happiness exploded inside me like a bomb. I smiled as she nuzzled into the open neckline of my shirt.

“Oh, at least.”

She nodded and looked up at me; a lazy smile gracing her lips. “At least.”

MARIN

The crowds had gone home, and our family and friends were all delivered to their respective cabins to bed down for the night.

Ben and Dylan made sure the fire was out while Remi and I went inside to get ready for bed. Ben and Dylan came in to wash up before I sprayed all of our long-sleeved T-shirts, leggings and sweats with bug repellant before loading up with blankets, pillows and sleeping bags, then heading out to one of the bouncy houses still set up in the yard. Ben had shut the generator off on the second one and it was deflated, so the whir of one was the only thing that interrupted the sounds of crickets, grasshoppers and the occasional bird or the hooting of the Barn Owl that lived in the stable. After ghost stories and fairy tales, and a full day of excitement, Remi and Dylan were finally asleep.

As I lay in Ben’s arms, I remembered the words he whispered on the dance floor, I relived every magical moment of the evening. After our slow dance, we went outside by the fire for a few minutes alone, then he had spirited me away from spying eyes until we were around the back of the stable, out of earshot of the party.

“Remember, the first time we made love was in this stable,” he’d whispered. I closed my eyes, remembering the perfection of