Page 124 of Wrecked

“Oh, really?”

“You just won yourself one big, huge proposal. Now, you’re just going to have to wait. And it’s going to be torture because, if there’s one thing I have that you don’t, it’s patience.”

He has a wicked gleam in his eye.

This man will be the death of me. This man has given me new life. This man has wrecked me beyond belief. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

EPILOGUE

ADAM

“All right, all right, all right! Who’s ready to party tonight?”

See that woman up there? The one with the long blonde hair and baby-blue eyes. She’s wearing the tightest-fitting jeans and a flannel shirt that’s tied around her naval—that delicious spot I was running my tongue over just this morning. That’s my Leah.

She standing on the bar, getting the room to chant along with her. The place is packed and has been almost every night since reopening after she closed down for a week’s worth of renovations while the place transformed into McConaughey’s. The long bar is still the same, but the room has been painted a dark maroon. Black-and-white pictures of Matthew McConaughey line the wall opposite the bar.

I’m currently standing next to a photo of him wearing an astronaut’s uniform. It’s kinda creepy, the way his eyes look through the picture and into your soul.…and, now, I know I have been spending way too much time with Leah. She’s converting me into a McConaughey fan.

That’s okay. That woman is my life. I might not be here to protect her from every little thing that comes her way, but she’s proven that she is stronger than I ever gave her credit for. I’m a lucky bastard.

I’m making my way to the back of the bar. She’s created a lounge area with dark brown leather sofas and large trunks that act as tables. There’s a DJ booth in the back and she moved tables around the dance floor, which makes it a great intimate place to dance.

There’s a poster in the back with the upcoming theme nights. She’s decided to rotate them every Saturday night. This weekend is Cops and Robbers. I have no idea what she has up her sleeve for that one.

Her mom and dad are here tonight, as are Emma and Luke, who are both home for the weekend. They told her they were in town to see the bar, but the truth is, I invited them.

It’s been only two months since my half-assed proposal to her in the tree house. I told her I had patience, but the truth is, it’s been killing me, waiting for the perfect time. She’s been working crazy hours, and with my long shifts, it’s been hard to plan.

That’s not to say I haven’t messed with her a few times.

Last week, I dropped down on one knee, looked up into her eyes, and then bent down to tie my shoe before getting up and walking away. She threw a pillow at my head.

Yesterday, we were at the newest property for Homes for All Souls, and on a dusty window, I wrote out the words, Leah, will you move over?

She called me an asshole and left the room.

Tonight, the stars have finally aligned. I have her family here, in the place she loves the most. I walk up to the DJ booth and grab my bag I stored in there. I take off my shirt and throw on the black leather vest that took me a ridiculously long time to find because, apparently, no one wears leather vests. Not surprised.

I put the black Stetson on my head and place two hands on the ledge in front of me. I bow my head and take a few deep breaths.

“Having second thoughts?” Luke asks from the doorway.

I look up at the kid. “The things I do for your sister.”

He gives me an encouraging nod. “Go get ’em, cowboy.”

I stand up and walk out of the room. I am most definitely a man in love because there is no way in hell I would do this for anyone else but Leah.

She’s still up on the bar, pouring shots and having fun. I walk through the crowd to the center of the dance floor, and Ron asks the people who are dancing to move back. The bartenders start clearing things off the counter. Juice escorts the dancing bar patrons down, leaving a very confused Leah.

The song she was dancing to is cut short, and in its place is a heavy metal song—“Calling Dr. Love” by Kiss. It’s the song Matthew McConaughey strips to in Magic Mike. When she hears it playing, she looks around, confused, until she sees me in the middle of the dance floor, wearing black leather pants, a matching vest, and the Stetson.

Yes, I’ve McConaughey’d myself for her.

Have I mentioned that my mother is here tonight?

I shake my head and do the routine Suzanne and I practiced.