The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [163]
He seriously considered going home and choking Sawyer. But first, he had a few things to straighten out. “You should have told me you were leaving.”
“You,” she said, beginning to show her own pique, “haven’t shown the slightest interest in talking to me lately!”
“Because I asked you to marry me and you had the nerve to say no.”
A loud gasp rose from their audience.
Morgan pretended he hadn’t heard them. “Do you know how many other women I’ve asked to be wife? Do you? None!”
“Well, I’m honored,” Misty sneered, then poked him in the chest and her own voice rose to a shout. “But I’m not marrying a man who doesn’t love me.”
He sputtered in renewed outrage. “Who the hell says I don’t love you?”
Misty caught her breath, panting, then said with deep feeling, her gaze intent, “Who says you do?”
Morgan growled, ran a hand roughly through his hair, then he picked her up. He held her at eye level and said, “Damn woman, I asked you to marry me! Why would I do that if I didn’t love you?”
Someone on the sidewalk—it sounded like Ceily—called out in a laughing voice, “Yeah, why would Morgan do that?”
Morgan jerked his head around to face them all. “Can’t you people find something to do?”
“No!” was the unanimous retort.
Morgan growled again. “Nate, arrest anyone who doesn’t scatter.”
Nate promptly looked dumbfounded. “Uh…”
Misty regained his attention by saying softly, “You just want to help me, like you helped that woman with the flat tire, and the dog, and the school kids and the elderly.”
Morgan walked to her car and plunked her down gently on the hood. He braced his hands on either side of her hips, then leaned in so close his nose touched hers. “Listen up, Malone. I didn’t ask the damn dog to marry me. I didn’t ask Howard or Jesse to marry me.”
Jesse shouted, “He’s speakin’ the truth there.”
Misty opened her mouth twice before she got words to come out. She spoke so softly, Morgan could barely hear her. “You said…you said you were looking for a wife.”
He gave a sharp nod. “You.”
“But…” Her voice faded to a shy whisper. “You said you wanted three children.”
“Three total.” His hand covered her belly, and he smiled. Breathing the words so no one else would hear, he explained, “This one and two more. I was trying to hint to you that I’d be a good father.”
“Oh, Morgan.” She cupped his face, and tears filled her eyes. “I already know you’d be an excellent father.”
He straightened and put his hands on his hips. “I swear, if you start crying again, Malone, I won’t like it.” He drew a breath and added, “Hell, it just about kills me to see you unhappy.”
She sniffed loudly. “I’m very happy.”
“So you won’t cry?”
“I won’t cry.”
A fat tear rolled down her cheek, making him sigh in exasperation. The woman was forever turning him in circles. But since she seemed in an agreeable mood for a change…“Tell me you’ll marry me.”
She nodded. “I’ll marry you.”
She started to put her arms around his neck, but he held her off. “Not so quick, Malone. I told you I love you. Don’t you have something to say to me?”
With everyone on the sidewalk cheering her on, she grinned around her tears and said, “Morgan Hudson, I love you so much it hurts.”
He scooped her into his arms for a fierce hug, then turned to the crowd, laughing out loud. “You heard her. Consider me an engaged man.” Then to Misty, “Damn. Do you think we have time for me to go home and get dressed before we go see your lawyer? I’d probably make a better impression that way.”
Epilogue
MORGAN HAULED MISTY into his lap after her father had left. She protested, saying, “No, Morgan, I’m too fat now!”
Three months had passed. She was rounded with the child growing inside her, but still so sexy he could barely keep his hands off her. Every day he loved her more.
He kissed her cheek and smiled. “I promise to bear up under the weight.”
Honey, a little subdued and cuddled up against Sawyer’s side, said, “Misty, you look wonderful. Not at all fat.”
Gabe laughed. “When I start looking like you two did, you’ll have to give me some pointers so I can