Lexi's POV
I swear since we got back from Nashville last week Brantley had been nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. I immediately put my face in my palm. I just sounded like my mother! He had come in the kitchen earlier after working on something outside with Kolby saying he had to go to Athens and pick something up.
He kissed me on the cheek, grabbed his bike keys and called out that he would be back later. I stood there stunned for a minute as I heard the bike rev up and take off. Well ok then. I headed upstairs to our room to unpack the last few of my things I'd brought back from Tennessee.
We had argued briefly on the way home over Jana. I hadn't exactly been thrilled with him for not telling me that she had tried to call him once the news of our relationship broke. But after talking it out and him swearing that something like that wouldn't happen again I thought we had settled it.
Arggh... I swear when that man gets home I'm making his tail sit down and tell me what's bothering him or I'm one upping his mama's threat and changing the code to the gun cabinet.
I hung the last shirt up in our closest and walked over to pick up my Kindle off my nightstand. I made my way downstairs to the back deck. I had Meghan March's latest book Real Dirty calling my name. (FYI...the inspiration for the lead in that book is mighty familiar 😉) I got curled up on the porch swing and dug in. I got lost in my own little world like I was prone to do when I was reading.
Brantley's POV
I had made it back from Athens right on time. I walked into kitchen to set my keys down and listened to see where Lex was at in the house. Not hearing anything, I walked quietly to the open French doors that led to the back deck. Sure enough, she was curled up on the swing with her Kindle in hand. I leaned against the door and watched her. She had on a loose pair of purple shorts, her hair piled up in a messy bun and I couldn't help but smile as I read the words on the black tank top, Bottoms Up.
I looked at the time and quietly backed into the house to go finish what I was doing. I slipped up the stairs to change out of my riding clothes and grab a quick shower. Whole time I was in the shower, I couldn't help but grin thinking about Lex and how lucky I was to have her in my life. I dried off and slipped on a pair of jeans and a plain white t-shirt before splashing on some of my cologne then padding out of the bathroom barefoot.
I went down the hall to the music room and pulled the bag I'd hidden in there the other day before we left for Nashville. I walked back into our room and unloaded that bag where it needed to be. I looked around and smiled to myself. Perfect or at least I hoped so. I made my way back downstairs.
I noticed the sun was slipping behind the trees as I paused in the kitchen to connect my phone to the outdoor speakers on the deck. I queued up the playlist I needed as I hit a switch on the wall and made my way toward Lexi.
Lexi's POV
I was so lost in my book, I didn't realize the sun was setting until I saw a light out of the corner of my eye. Sitting up I stretched my back and looked around and noticed hundreds of twinkling white Christmas lights wrapped around all the columns and poles of the deck giving the growing twilight a soft glow like fireflies.
I sat my Kindle down and couldn't help the gasp I let out. I heard a quiet chuckle and saw Brantley walking on bare feet toward me with a soft smile on his face. I didn't even know he had made it back. He pulled his phone out and tapped on the screen before sliding it back into his pocket and reaching a hand down to me.
As he pulled me to my feet I heard the opening cords of a familiar song. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close starting to sway to the music. I twined mine around his neck and looked up at him with a soft smile on my lips as I followed his lead. I couldn't help but mess with him a little.
"What are you up to Mr. Gilbert?" I asked teasing him. He leaned down and kissed me softly on the lips before pushing me out and spinning me back around with my back against his chest and he sang softly into my ear as we swayed to the music.
And I'll fall for you every day
I'll cherish the moments that time can't erase
We'll be the love song
I promise you we're gonna sing
Girl when you fall into me
I turned back around and looked at him and smiled.
"Using your own song. Smooth moves babe." I felt him chuckle as I rested my head on his chest. As the song ended another began and he wrapped his arms around me tighter as I tucked my head under his chin. He took my left hand off his shoulder and entwined our fingers together and held them to his chest as he sang to me again.
People say I'm just a rough boy
I ain't no good for you girl
It's a dead end street,
Tryin' to love me yeah, I'll wreck your world
I can see why they're all talkin'
Lookin' back at my past
I've got a bad name, but a man can change
I'm livin' proof of that
Til my last day
Til my last breath
Of everyone that can, I can love you the best
Til my last day, I'll be lovin' you
All the way up, til they lay me down
Six feet under, the cold hard ground
Til my last day, I'll be lovin' you
Baby I might meet all my friends
Shoot the bull, have a beer or two
But you know I'll be the first one to leave
In a hurry to get to you
Somewhere deep inside your angel eyes
I found a place to rest, don't ever doubt that
I'll be around, and baby don't you ever forget
Til my last day
Til my last breath
Of everyone that can, I can love you the best
Til my last day, I'll be lovin' you
All the way up, til they lay me down
Six feet under, the cold hard ground
Til my last day, I'll be lovin' you
Darlin' yes I will
Til my last day
Til my last breath
Of everyone that can, I can love you the best
Til my last day, I'll be lovin' you
All the way up, til they lay me down
Six feet under, the cold hard ground
Til my last day, I'll be lovin' you
Oh babe, til my last day
As the song was coming to an end Brantley leaned down and gently captured my lips with his. I could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he deepened the kiss and felt my knees start to grow weak. The love I felt for this man couldn't be described. I was so intent on the kiss I didn't feel him shift his hand and slip something onto mine until he broke the kiss and looked down at me.
It was then I noticed a sparkle out of the corner of my eye. I looked down at my hand then up into his eyes as tears began to form in mine. He lifted my hand to his lips placing a soft kiss on my knuckle right above the most beautiful ring I had ever seen, before sinking slowly down to his knee before me.
I covered my mouth with my free hand as the tears spilled over and down my cheeks. He looked up at me and took a deep breath.
"I write songs for a living baby girl but I couldn't come up with words efficient enough to tell you how much I love you. I borrowed a song from a buddy to help me out. But I can promise you no one is ever going to love you the way I do," he said as his eyes teared up slightly. "I want to spend every day of the rest of my life showing you. Alexandria Rae Myers, will you do me the honor marrying me?"
I nodded my head as he stood up pulling me to him. "Yes, yes I will."
He leaned down and kissed me slow and deep before bending his knees and scooping me up into his arms bridal style. I snuggled as close to him as I could get when he pulled his lips away to walk up the stairs.
When he reached our room he slowly set me on my feet at the foot of the bed. A slow grin spread across my face as the tears pooled in my eyes again as I looked around the room taking in the LED candles casting a glow around room. He had placed them what looked like everywhere along with red roses petals making a trail on the floor and on the bed.
"I love you," I said looking up at him. "It's beautiful."
"Nowhere near as beautiful as you baby girl," Brantley whispered huskily as he pulled me into his arms running his hands lightly up and down my back making me shiver as he kissed slowly down the side of my neck to my shoulder. His hands reached for the hem of my tank top and slowly pulled it up and off. I smoothed my hands down his chest before grasping the edge of his t-shirt and doing the same.
I leaned forward and place open mouth kisses across his chest as he gently unhooked my bra, slowly sliding it down my arms.
Each article of clothing was discarded with such tenderness and care it stroked a fire that I was sure was going to consume me. When every last piece was removed from us both, he gently laid me on the bed and followed me down to stretch out on top of me and looked down at me. I reached up and traced his lips and cheek with my fingers before taking my hand and pulling him down to meet my lips. We continued that way with slow, soft caresses and deep kisses until the desire blazed through both of us.
Brantley took my hands and threaded our fingers together as he slowly raised them above my head as he slowly slid inside me. We both gasped at the connection.
We'd been together countless times and different ways but this felt different. The connection was so much deeper and stronger. It brought tears to my eyes and they almost spilled over when I looked up into his green eyes and saw such a deep-seated love there. He kept up the slow steady pace gliding in and out of me but going deeper with each stroke. I could feel myself getting closer to the edge as I tightened my legs around his hips causing him to gasp against my lips as he sank in further. I couldn't take the intensity anymore and went over the cliff with him right behind me his lips never leaving mine. The tears did fall then.
I knew he tasted the tears when he pulled back slightly and looked at me. Unlacing his fingers from mine he took his thumbs and stroked the tears away.
"I love you baby. And I thank God every day for bringing you into my life and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."