I peeked up at Will, and he was smiling at the lady.
He is up to something.
“I’m Cassie, Kip’s wife. Let me show you where you’re going to have dinner.”
Will started following her, but I grabbed his arm.
“Dinner?” I shook my head. “Will, did you plan this or something?”
He gave me that panty-melting smile of his as he winked at me. He took my hand and pulled me along as he followed Cassie up a flight of stairs.
The house was just as I remembered it. The log beams through the house gave it such a rustic feeling. The deer, moose, turkeys, and ducks mounted all over the walls screamed hunting lodge.
“This place is amazing,” Will whispered.
I giggled. I knew he would love it!
Cassie walked up to a set of double doors and pushed them open. I let out a gasp as I walked into a grand ballroom.
“It’s more beautiful than I remembered.” I turned and looked at Will. “Grace and I used to pretend we were princesses, and that our Prince Charming was going to scale the castle walls and set us free…but not before he danced with us.” I let out a sigh as I shook my head. “Silly romantic dreams.”
Cassie walked past us and pushed a button. Classical music began playing as she walked up to another sent of French doors. She turned and gave me the sweetest smile before turning back and opening the door.
The lodge house had a wraparound porch on the first floor and the second floor. My mouth dropped open when I saw the white lights hanging down with a round table in the middle of the deck. It had a white linen tablecloth on it, and the table was set for two. In the middle of the table was a beautiful arrangement of flowers, and two tall candles were lit. It was stunning.
I walked up to the table and then turned to Will. “Will…” I whispered.
Will
Lex’s eyes looked amazing against the backdrop of the blue ocean. When she turned and looked at me, I thought it was the first time it really hit her that I had planned all of this.
“Will…” she whispered.
I walked up to the table and pulled out one of the chairs. “Lex, will you do me the honor and have dinner with me this evening?”
She sucked her lower lip between her teeth and nodded her head. “Yes,” she barely said.
I pushed her chair in and then handed her the napkin. When our hands touched, the bolt of lightning shot through my body. Lex’s eyes widened, and she began breathing slightly harder. She’d felt it, too.
I sat down opposite of her and placed my napkin on my lap. I glanced out and looked at the amazing view. When I peeked back over to Lex, she was looking out over the ocean as well.
“The sunset is going to be breathtaking,” she said with a smile.
“That’s not the only thing that is breathtaking this evening.”
Lex’s chest began moving up down faster and heavier. “I love you, Will. This is all so beautiful”
“I love you more, Lex.”
The evening progressed along as Cassie brought us out salads first, then soup, and finally grilled salmon and steamed veggies. I hardly ate any of my food because my stomach was in knots. I hadn’t made up my mind if I wanted to ask her on the beach or up here. I was leaning more to staying here and then taking her to the beach with a blanket like Mr. Shelton had suggested.
The sun was slowly starting to sink further down. Lex kept looking over and watching it. We had a perfect view of the west sky.
Cassie cleared the plates. Then, she came back and placed two glasses of champagne down on the table. Lex was so focused on the sunset that she didn’t even see the glasses.
“Oh, Will, look at how the sun is reflecting off the water.” She stood up and moved to the rail.
Perfect.
I stood up and pulled the ring from my pocket. I walked up behind her.
I got down on one knee and took in a deep breath. “Lex, baby, I need to ask you something.”
When she turned to look at me, she was surprised to see me kneeling down. Her mouth dropped open, and her hands slowly moved to cover her mouth.
I saw the tears beginning to build in her beautiful blue eyes.
Alex
My heart had never beat this fast or this hard in my life—not even that day next to the small pond when Will had asked me to marry him.
“Lex, I know we’ve already told each other how we feel when we were at the pond. I want you to know that everything I said that day holds true today, if not more. You are my life. You are my world. And I love you fiercely. Alexandra Eryn Mathews, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife—but not until you’re finished with college and well on your way to being an independent woman?”
I pulled my head back and looked at him. “What?”
Will chuckled as he looked at Cassie and then back to me. “Your dad. When I asked him if I could have your hand in marriage, he said I had to make it very clear that you were to finish college first before I could officially make you mine.”
I couldn’t help it. I let out a sob and a laugh at the same time.
Will swallowed hard and looked away and then back at me.
“Um…I mean, I know you already said yes once, but you’re kind of freaking me out here, Lex.”
I nodded my head and dropped to my knees. I placed my hands on the sides of his face and brought his lips to mine. “Yes. I’ll marry you. A million times yes, Will.”
I pushed my lips to his as I wrapped my arms around his body. We deepened the kiss and soon got lost in each other.
When I heard Kip clear his throat, I pulled back some.
“I love you, Will.”
Will smiled, and for the umpteenth time this evening, my heart melted again as I waited for his response.
“I love you more, Lex.”
He removed my promise ring and placed it on my right index finger and then slipped the solitaire oval diamond onto my finger as I began crying harder.
It is perfect.
The ring was simple, nothing extravagant, just like I’d asked of him. A beautiful oval diamond ring was flanked by four smaller diamonds on each side, all placed on a white gold band. Another sob escaped my mouth as he leaned in and gently kissed me.
He pulled back and smiled as his eyes searched my face. “This was the first ring I saw. I knew the moment I saw it, it had to be yours.”
“Oh, Will, it’s so beautiful. It’s perfect, beyond perfect.”
Will’s eyes filled with tears. I began to see the reds and purples of the sunset reflecting in his eyes. We both stood up as the sun slipped below the horizon, ending one of the most amazing days of my entire life. Will placed his hands on the sides of my face and gently wiped the tears away.
Raising his eyebrow, Will asked, “Would you do me the honor of taking a walk with me on the beach?”
I giggled and nodded my head. “It would be my pleasure.”
Will
Lex and I headed down to the beach.
Cassie came running after us, calling out my name. “Will! Wait!”
Lex and I both turned to face her.
“You forgot this.”
I looked down at the blanket in Cassie’s hands and let out a nervous laugh. “Thank you so much.”
I turned back to see Lex blushing. I placed my hand on the small of her back and led her down to the beach. The west sky was still filled with the most incredible colors, yet the stars were beginning to make their presence known as well.
We walked up about ten feet from the shore.
“How’s this?” I asked Lex.
“Perfect.”
I laid the blanket down, only to find out Cassie had given me two blankets. I set the other blanket to the side and sat down as I held my hand out for Lex. She slowly sank down. I placed my arm around her, and she snuggled up next to me. She fit perfectly as I pulled her closer to my body. She shivered, and I reached for the other blanket and covered us both up.
“Thank you,” Lex said as
she turned and looked up at me.
I grinned and asked, “For what?”
“For loving me always.”
My heart began to beat harder in my chest. I had to close my eyes and open them again quickly to make sure this wasn’t a dream. The waves crashing against the shoreline along with Lex’s body slowly moving with each breath reminded me that this was far from a dream. Not even a dream could be this perfect.
I gently kissed her. Pulling back only slightly, I spoke against her lips, “I’ll love you for the rest of my life.”
“Never leave me, Will.”
“Never, Lex.”
“Do you promise?”
“I promise you, baby. Never.”
I stood on the beach and looked out over the dark blue waters. The sun had already begun to sink beneath the horizon, and I smiled, knowing Will was probably asking Alex to marry him right now.
I slowly inhaled the salt air through my nose and then blew it out. I loved it down here. Something about the wind and the sound of the waves hitting the shore calmed my nerves and helped me forget.
I knew the moment he walked up behind me. I could feel his energy. I closed my eyes.
I can’t do this anymore.
My heart cannot take the pain any longer. I needed to tell him I had decided to go back to Zack. I’d already sent Zack a text message saying I needed to talk to him. I didn’t love him like I loved Luke. I’d never love anyone like I loved Luke.
He stepped closer, and my breathing increased. I longed for his touch, for his lips to softly brush against mine, and for him to whisper he loved me.
“Hey, Lib.”
His voice made my heart drop and my stomach flip.
I took a deep breath and turned to face him. “Hey, Luke.”
His smile was forced. Something was on his mind, like something was on mine.
“Do you think Will’s popped the question yet?”
I gave him a weak smile in return. “Yeah, probably.”
I started walking along the beach, and Luke followed. My phone beeped in my pocket, and I pulled it out. It was Zack.
Luke let out a laugh, and I looked over at him. He was walking next to me but looking ahead.
“Do you remember the time we put salt in your mom’s sugar container and Alex put three huge scoops in her oatmeal?”
Luke somehow always talked me into doing his crazy pranks with him.
I smiled and nodded my head as I said, “Yeah, I remember.”
Luke started talking about how he’d gotten grounded for that prank as I opened up Zack’s text.
Zack: Libby, I’m so glad to hear from you. Baby, I understand you were confused, but I’m here. I’m waiting for you if you want to make this work.
I quickly hit the Home button on my phone and pushed it back into my back pocket. My heart was pounding.
Shit. I shouldn’t have texted Zack.
No, I did the right thing. Didn’t I?
My head was spinning, and Luke was talking about damn pranks.
I stopped walking and turned to him. I shook my head. “I really need to be alone right now, Luke. I have to think, and I can’t think with you living in the past.”
His smile dropped, and he nodded his head. I turned and started walking again.
The moment his hand touched my arm, I felt the most amazing rush sweep through my body. I almost wanted to whimper with the way his touch affected me. Zack’s touch never did this to me.
I looked up into Luke’s eyes. He had the most beautiful green eyes. I could see why women melted when he looked at them. I quickly looked away.
I can’t do this anymore. I can’t.
“Luke, I can’t stand here and pretend like nothing is wrong. Everything is wrong, and I…I need to move on with my life, and I can’t with—”
He held up his hand and shook his head. I stopped talking. His eyes searched my face and then moved to my lips. I instinctively licked them, and he snapped his eyes back up to mine where he searched them intently.
I held my breath and waited for what he was about to say.
“Libby, I have something I need to tell you.”
Look for SAVING YOU Coming Early 2015
First and foremost, I have to thank God. If it weren’t for his blessings, none of this would even be possible.
Darrin and Lauren—I think you both know how much I love you. Thank you for being so supportive. It means more to me than you will ever know.
To my readers/friends—Without you, none of this would be possible. I wake up every day, and I’m stunned that I have such incredible people in my life. Thank you for the words of encouragement. Thank you for buying and sharing my books. Thank you for leaving reviews. Thank you for telling your friends and family about my books. Thank you for lifting me up when I need it most. I’m so blessed to be able to follow a dream that I’ve had since I was sixteen. To be able to share the crazy stories floating around in my head is just amazing. I love you all, and from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your support.
Mom—I miss you.
Kip Moore “Young Love”—Will and Alex in the Prologue.
Kris Allen “Out Alive”—Gunner talks to Will.
Love and Theft “She’s Amazing”—Will tells Gunner about his feelings for Alex.
Gloriana “Best Night Ever”—Will and Alex dance at a party.
Dan + Shay “First Time Feeling”— Will and Alex make love for the first time.
Hunter Hayes “Still Fallin’”—Will and Alex dance at the river party.
Sam Hunt “Raised on It”—Everyone is dancing at the field party.
Miranda Lambert “Automatic”—Alex and Gunner ride horses together.
DJ Snake and Lil Jon “Turn Down for What”—Grace dances at Blake’s birthday party.
Jason Derulo “Wiggle”—Grace and Blake dance at Blake’s birthday party.
Jason Derulo “Stupid Love”—Alex and Blake dance at Blake’s birthday party.
Lean Turner “Pull Me Back”—Alex pushes Will away.
Brad Paisley “Then”—At the pond, Will tells Alex he wants to marry her.
Dan + Shay “19 You + Me”—Will and Alex make love on the beach.
Colbie Cailliat “Stay with Me”—Will has a picnic at the clubhouse.
Hunter Hayes “Still Fallin’”—Will and Alex dance before he tries to make love to her, and she panics.
Dustin Lynch “Where It’s At”—Will dances with his cousin at the barn dance.
Nat King Cole “Send for Me”—Will and Alex dance at the barn dance.
One Direction “You & I”—Will and Alex are at the barn dance.
Keith Urban “Without You”—Will asks Alex to marry him.
Cascada “What Hurts the Most”—Libby and Luke in the Epilogue.