Jase’s grin grew wider. “Yeah they are disgustingly romantic, but I love when they both talk about each other. You see the love in their eyes, their smile. Hell the way their voice changes. I’ve always looked at that and wished like hell I would be lucky to find it.”
My heart rate spiked as Jase looked away. “For the longest time I thought I wasn’t good enough for you.” His eyes met mine. “You’re so beautiful, Taylor. Not only on the outside, but on the inside as well. The thought of you looking at me like my mother looks at my father . . . it’s something I have never wanted so badly before in my life like I do with you. After all the shit I put you through, I wanted to stop here . . . in this spot were true love first found each other. To tell you I swear I will do everything in my power to make you the happiest woman on earth if you let me.”
Tears pooled in my eyes as my heartbeat filled my ears. No one had ever made me feel like Jase had. Even when he pushed me away, he had a way of letting me know how much he loved me.
I searched for the words to say. His eyes focused on my face for some kind of clue to what I was thinking.
“I . . . I’ve never been so happy as I am right now. I keep saying it, but I feel like I’m in a dream that I never want to wake up from.”
Taking my hands in his, he smiled the most beautiful smile I’d ever seen. In that moment I knew, we would be together forever. “God I feel the same way. I love you, Taylor.”
“Oh, Jase,” Throwing myself into his body, he wrapped me up in his arms and lifted me off the ground. “I love you too.”
A horn honked as Jase put me down and we both turned to see a Ford F-350. “Who’s that?”
“My dad.”
“Oh,” I mumbled.
“Come on, he’s probably wondering what in the hell I’m doing and praying I’m not asking you to marry me.”
Marry me.
The idea made me happy and scared me at the same time.
The window rolled down and I almost gasped when I saw Jase’s father. He was an older version of Jase. His blue eyes stood out against the black cowboy hat he had on. I imagined he had dark hair under the hat and would look even more like Jase when he took it off. Turning to look at Jase, my mouth dropped open. They looked almost alike. “I know. Everyone says I’m a mini version of my father.”
“I’d say,” I replied so only he could hear.
“Dad, this is Taylor Atwood. Taylor, this is my father, Layton Morris.”
I attempted to reach up and in to the truck to shake his hand and failed. Everyone laughed as I made a face and felt my cheeks heat up. “I guess I’m shorter than I thought.”
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Taylor.” Layton looked over to Jase. “What are y’all doing on the side of the road?”
Jase pointed back to the fence and the exact spot we were standing at. “I was showing Taylor where you and Mom met.”
Layton’s eyes lit up and I could see the love for his wife on his face as he glanced over to the spot. “One of the best days of my life. That’s a good spot.”
“Yes, sir, I’m sure it is,” I said peeking back over to it.
“Well, get her back in the truck and head on to the house. I’m sure your mother is wearing the floors out waiting to finally meet Taylor.”
With a light chuckle, I looked away and then to Jase as he replied to his father, “Yes sir, we’re right behind you.”
Placing his hand on my lower back, I got that silly feeling in my stomach again as he led me to his truck.
After helping me up into the truck, he stepped up and slid his hand behind my neck, pulling my lips to his. With a fast kiss, he whispered, “One down. One to go.”
My hands shook as I walked up the stairs to Jase’s parents’ house. His father must have floored it to get here and in the house before us.
Stopping short of the door, I grabbed onto Jase’s arm and pulled him to a stop. “Wait. I know you said before you told your parents everything, but . . . what if they don’t like me?”
Jase cupped my face with his hands and gave me a panty-melting smile. “Yes. They know everything and they are happy we’re together. It’s the past. All we have in front of us is our future. That’s all we concentrate on from this point on? Okay?”
Pressing my lips together, I nodded my head. “O-okay.”
With a kiss on my lips, he took my hand in his and we walked through the front door. Standing in front of me was Layton, Walker, and a gorgeous woman I was assuming was Jase’s mom, and a beautiful brown-haired, blue-eyed woman holding a little boy who was trying with all his might to get down.
All eyes were on me as I focused on the baby for a little too long. “This is Nickolas and all he wants to do is get down and crawl,” Jase said with a chuckle.
Smiling, my eyes bounced between everyone.
“Holy hell. Nothing like overwhelming her with a welcome committee,” Layton said while giving me a reassuring smile.
“We were just so excited to meet you, Taylor. I hope you don’t mind if I asked Walker and Liza to be here when you got here,” Whitley said.