I’ve Got a Crush On You Bonus Epilogue
Sawyer
When I opened my first dog daycare, I imagined I’d spend most of my time behind the desk or in my office. I didn’t count on a day like this: me, standing in a room with twelve clever canines of different colors and sizes, trying to corral them into some kind of order.
“JJ! C’mere, boy. Sit.” I point to the spot where I’m hoping the playful Jack Russell mix will sit, but he’s too excited, having just been reunited with eleven of his barking besties after being wiggled into a bright-red canine-sized sweater with the letter A on the front of it.
“You sure you don’t want me to help? She’ll be back from her lunch break any moment now,” Zuri says from behind the counter, a half smile twisting her lips, but I glance at my watch, then shake my head.
“Katrina said she’d stall her at The Sweet Spot for at least another ten minutes. I’ve got this.” I turn around and survey the dogs, then clap my hands. Twelve sets of ears prick in my direction. “Okay, doggos. We’ve been working on this for months. No more time for jokes. You know the drill. In your line.”
I make a show of moving my arm in a straight line, just like I’ve done during training, and I hold my breath as one, two, three, then four dogs move into their places, five, six, and seven moving along with the other five too—right as the door opens behind me.
I whirl around. Chloe’s walking into the daycare looking like a summer dream, her red hair piled in a bun on top of her head, her blue top sloping off her shoulder revealing skin I want to kiss.
“I forgot my wallet and—what’s going on?” Her hazel eyes twinkle with mirth as she scans the scene before her. “Are you coordinating an impromptu fashion show?”
I turn back around. Twelve dogs stand in a line, their matching sweaters spelling out the words I want to ask her more than anything in the world.
Well, almost spelling it out. JJ and Baxter have swapped places.
Chloe frowns, putting the dots together as she reads the letters on the dogs’ shirts. “Wall you—”
“Wait! Turn around and close your eyes,” I tell her.
“Okay.” Laughter teases her voice as she does as she’s told, twisting to face the door. “But if this is the start of some kind of dog performance revue, I hope you’ve invited my mom. This is the sort of thing she’ll want onstage ASAP.”
“Not quite,” I reply as I pick up the pint-sized JJ and shuffle him into Baxter’s spot, then move Baxter over to JJ’s. Finally, I stand at the end of the line next to Captain and ruffle the goodest boy’s hair. “Wish me luck, buddy,” I whisper, and he nose-bumps my side in solidarity.
I take a deep breath and close my eyes for a moment, letting the enormity of what I’m about to do settle over me. I hadn’t thought I’d ever be in a place where I wanted to ask this question again—but I do, and it couldn’t feel more right. If this was a business deal, I’d enter it without hesitation. This is the kind of sure thing I never walk away from.
Here goes everything.
“Turn around,” I say.
Slowly, Chloe spins to face me.
I see it—the moment her eyes track over the dogs, reading the letters on their shirts and spelling the words out. Even the dogs seem to be holding their breath, no barks, howls, or yaps coming from the usually vocal crew.
“Will you marry…” Chloe reads aloud quietly, her voice almost reverential.
“Me,” I say as a tiny gasp escapes her luscious red lips, and I drop to one knee. I pull out the ring box from my pocket and flip it open. “Chloe, you’re everything I’ve ever dreamed of in a woman. You’re confident, funny, smart, and sexy—and so damn addictive. No matter how much time we spend together, I just can’t get enough.”
In front of me, Chloe presses a hand to her chest, blinking as tears glitter in her eyes.
“You’ve helped me become a better version of myself—one I hope is worthy of you. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Working with you, living with you…and loving you.” I smile and hold the ring higher, offering it up to her along with my heart. “Chloe Rivers, will you marry me?”
“Yes!” she squeals, and she races through the door and into my arms, sending me toppling backward. Our lips meet in a kiss that feels like champagne and hope and our future, and I never want it to stop.
Canine chaos erupts around us as the dog line breaks and the good puppers come hunting for treats, but Zuri calls them over to the desk, giving us a moment.
“How long did it take you to train them to stand in line like that?” Chloe asks when we finally come up for air, laughter bubbling in her voice.
“A while,” I admit, then wrap my arms around her again and hold her close. “But I learned all my training tricks from the best.”
“You did.” She smiles confidently as I slide the princess-cut diamond ring onto her finger. “Fits perfectly.”
“Like you and me.” I press a kiss to her forehead, then stand and hold out my hand for her, helping her to her feet.
“Do you have any plans for lunch?” Chloe asks me as she links her fingers behind my neck and whispers in my ear, “I don’t have any clients for another few hours…and I’d love to be on the menu.”
I lift her up into my arms. “Zuri! Cancel my meetings,” I call as I carry Chloe out of there, headed straight to my car. “There’s an important item on my agenda that’s just come up.”
And later in the afternoon, as I feast on my fiancée and fuck her till we’re both boneless with pleasure, I couldn’t be happier.
Want more unputdownable rom com?
You’ll love the first romance in the Darling Springs series! IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA is a spicy forbidden small town romantic comedy where a lavender farmer falls for her unexpected bodyguard while sharing only one bed! Download now for FREE in KU!
You can also escape into Darling Springs where the town’s first introduced in the brother’s best friend/fake dating romance The Accidental Dating Experiment, available to download now in KU!
Share:
