Wild Love (Rose Hill, #1)(109)

I want to throw myself at his knees and beg him to please marry me.

But instead, I lean in close to him, sucking in the scent of his signature cologne, and murmur, “Maybe I should say no. Teach you a lesson.”

Cora gasps, and West laughs.

Ford’s eyes flash with amusement. “Sure thing. Say no. I’ll chase you down, force this ring onto your finger, and teach you a lesson of my own, Rosie.”

Now I smirk. “That actually sounds pretty fun.”

Before Ford can finish rolling his eyes, I dart out of the bathroom right past him.

I fly out the front door to the sound of my brother’s and Cora’s laughter as Ford clearly tries to get his bearings. The minute I’m out the door, I burst into a full sprint, grass tickling my feet as I use the hill to my advantage, running down toward the water.

Toward my dock.

I can hear Ford’s breathing behind me. A breathless laugh as he chases me down.

My footfalls rattle across the dock’s wooden boards as I barrel toward the lake.

And he follows.

“You’re trespassing, Junior!” I shout back at him, a sort of maniacal laughter lurching from my throat.

His long arm captures me around the waist as he hauls me to him, mere feet from the end of the dock. “Try to get rid of me then, Rosie. I dare you. I’m making everything that’s mine yours anyway. I’m even renaming the studio.”

My brows furrow.

“I wanted to name it after the town I’ve come to love. But…”

“But Rose Hill Records is kind of uninspired?” Ford’s eyes roll. “Yes, you’ve mentioned that.”

“So, what are you calling it?”

He swallows and watches me so carefully. His tongue darts out and he presses it between his lips. It hits me that he’s nervous. This man actually thinks I might not marry him.

“Wild Rose Records. After the girl I’ve always loved. But as my business partner, I need your input.”

I blink. My heart thuds harder. Fuck me, that’s romantic. Being considered my boss bothered him. Ethically and romantically. He flinches every time it comes up—especially with how I came to need a job in the first place.

He shifts his feet, waiting for me to respond. “I know it’s not Rosie or Rosalie. But Wild Rosie Records sounds?—”

“Kinda dumb,” I finish for him as I sniff and slide my hands up over his broad chest. “I love it. I really love it. But I’m not giving you half my dock. I refuse,” I toss back as he stares down at me, shaking his head, green eyes twinkling.

“Rosie, shut up and marry me,” he growls with a touch of desperation in his voice.

Then he yanks my hand off his chest and shoves the ring onto my finger.

It’s so us.

I’d laugh if I weren’t so entranced by the way it sparkles when I wiggle my fingers.

“Yeah. Yes. Definitely. I definitely want to marry you.

Very much.”

He breathes out a laugh. “Thank god.”

Then my fingers curl into the soft cotton of his shirt and I tug his mouth down to mine. He kisses me and I feel like I could float away.

But I don’t.

I hold him tight… and pull him straight into the water with me.





Dear Diary,

Tonight, I had a bunch of girlfriends over. We were at Ford’s parents’ place because they’re away tonight, which meant we could have the entire house to ourselves. I’m sure half of them only showed up because they’re secretly obsessed with West.

Anyway, Tarah brought her Ouija board, and I was convinced it was super stupid. Obviously, ghosts aren’t real. But then the five of us started playing, and I swear the piece moved. Of course, Ford had to walk in and see us playing it.

Just the easiest ammo for him to shit on me with.

So, I invited him to play with us, right? Thinking that if he were in on the game, it would neutralize his evil plans.

Except Tarah looked just a little too excited about having him join us. She moved over immediately to make room for him and smiled all stupid-like at him.

Which meant I was stuck kneeling, facing Ford and his annoying, condescending smirk while she stared over and made moon eyes at him.

As if Ford would ever be into a girl who likes Ouija.

Next thing you know, this bitch will be trying to read his tea leaves or his palms or the veins on his ballsack.

I didn’t miss the way she got her fingers all over his, either.

Kinda made me hope that we could actually conjure a ghost. One that would break her fingers for me.

Anyway, we asked the spirits if one of us was going to die young (if I were a worse person, I’d wish for it to be Tarah) and then it slowly landed on YES.

Which would have been stupid except the lights cut out right then, and I lost my shit.

I played it off after, like I was cool. And I’d never admit it anywhere but here, but I was shit-scared.

I don’t think I’ve ever screamed so loud in my life, but it was SO dark and SO sudden. I turned to run, but Ford was there. He must have stepped straight over the board, straight through the chaos of screaming girls, to get to me.

He reached for me, and I went. I clung to him.

He’s a lot less scrawny than he used to be. I’m not sure when that happened, but his arms have muscles now. And he even smells good.