"Marry me, be my partner in life and crime and let's get these fuckers together baby"

I looked down at the gorgeous antique white gold band that is pavé encrusted with diamonds. A large rectangular diamond sat in the center was surrounded by more pavé diamonds. It was insanely gorgeous and probably cost a fortune.

This is not what I expected when I woke up today.

As much as I wanted to say yes, I just couldn't in this moment. It was just too much to think about with Rex and Ryan still to deal with.

I looked down into his eyes and smiled before I sighed deeply.

"Cole, I...I want to say yes more than anything and drive to the strip right now to have Elvis marry us, but with your dad and Ryan to deal with still...and up until twenty minutes ago I still wasn't sure if I could trust you" I saw the smile fall from his eyes so I quickly continued

"Can you ask me again when it's over? We meet with Ryan tomorrow, we still have to figure out what to do about your dad, it's just-"

Cole grabbed my hand and pulled me down on the floor with him in a quick jerk, making me give a little yelp at his unexpected action.

He rolled me over, laying me on my back as he climbed on top of me. Then he grabbed my left hand and brought the ring up in front of us to look at.

"I'm gonna marry you one day

Hailey Ann Scott. I never thought I would want to get married because I just knew there would never be a woman that I would willingly want to spend the rest of my life with, but now that I've met you, I don't want there to be a day in my life that you aren't in it. I'll love you until the day I die and if there is a life beyond death, then I'll love you then too. That's my promise to you, so keep the ring on and give me your answer when you're ready" he said holding my eyes with his until he got his answer.

I got so lost in his pretty ocean colored eyes that were swirling pools of blues, and everything that he just said that was straight from his heart, that I could barely give him my answer. But I loved Cole with everything I had, and I knew I would marry him, so I agreed.

"Okay" I barely whispered before his lips met mine.

When he pulled away his eyes dropped from mine.

"I do have a slight confession to make" he looked at me like a child who knew they were about to get in trouble.

Before I could say anything he sat up and pulled me on his lap so I was straddling him and he wrapped his arms tightly around my lower back. I would assume so he could hold me to him while he made his confession if I got pissed at what he said and tried to get away.

"We really aren't meeting Ryan tomorrow" he paused and gauged my reaction to that statement. Confused I furrowed my eyebrows at him but didn't say anything and let him continue.

"When you started to spin, I knew it would make you do whatever it was you were going to do, so I told you that we were meeting him so you'd make your move. Then it would be over, and you'd believe that I didn't have anything to do with the night at Lana's, or anything else to do with what my old man concocted"

I felt relief wash over me and just as I was about to talk, he kept going.

"Do you really think I would ever let you be in a room with him again? Even with me next to you I would never put you through that. I know you might be pissed, but I just needed you to do whatever it was you were going to do, so you could finally 100% trust me when you put the pieces together" he waited for my response this time.

I smiled at him and put my hand to his face and rubbed my thumb along the stubble on his jaw while looking in his eyes. He never looked away. I have never been able to look into anyone's eyes and hold contact like I can with Cole.

"I'm not pissed, I'm relieved that I don't have to see him or be near him. I know now that I can absolutely trust you. I swear to God Cole, if this had turned out differently, I would have-pain Cole, lots of pain to your dick if I found you with another woman" anger raged through me at the thought but his eyes looked so full of love looking back at me that I calmed immediately.

"You're all I can handle babydoll. I don't want anyone but you, you crazy bitch" he smirked at me and put his hand behind my head

"when are you going to get that through your pretty head? Come here" he pulled me by the back of my head to his mouth and took me hard and full of emotion until we both had to come up for air.

"I have to say, you really have gotten to know me, without me even knowing it. You know me so well, you know what I am going to do before I do it" I leaned to kiss his full lips again, sucking on his full bottom lip before letting him go.

"Tell me...what do I want right now?" I whispered before kissing him hard, nibbling and sucking on his lip. My hands wondered his body and settled between his legs where I rubbed him firmly wanting him right here and now.

His two strong hands gripped the fleshy globes of my ass. I put my arms around his neck and pushed myself down against him as he rocked me back and forth over his hard bulge making my head fall back at the feeling of the friction.

His right hand came up from my backside and went up under my shirt and went directly to my boob.

He laughed darkly

"What you want, and what you're gonna get is gonna be two different things Hail. As much as I want you right here and now" he pushed up my shirt and brought his head down to my pebbled nipple and swirled his tongue around it, making me moan and beg.

"Please Cole" I kissed along his neck to his spot I know so well making him groan.

"Gloria is right out the door baby"

"Then why are you getting me so-

He pinched my hardened nipple making me gasp mid sentence.

"Just fuckin with you a little" he smirked his sexy smirk and I punched him in the arm.

"You had to do what you needed to do to trust me and I get that, but you put people in danger and can't just run off like that. It puts you and others in danger" he told me sternly.

I huffed and slumped down in his lap

"So you're going to use sex to punish me? That's fucked up

He cut me off with a kiss

"No baby, we have work to do, then we can have all the time alone we want. Right now we're gonna get our shit together. Hop up" he patted my butt and I got off his lap.

"Let's go talk to Gloria and wait for the rest of the guys to get here. Then we're gonna drop in on my old man tonight, my mom is gonna help with the plan. Believe me, Gloria is no one to cross and Rex and Roxie have done just that. She's a southern bell on the outside, but in the inside she has the mind of serial killer" he whispered and cocked an eyebrow at me as he tapped a finger to his temple, his tone made me believe he was serious.

"She will kick your ass while blessing your heart and she hates Roxie more than you do. With her help, and with Ghost and the prospect, we will come up with something to deal with him. Then when we come down from all of this we finish with Ryan, and then...well, whatever the fuck we want baby" he smiled at me and grabbed my hips bringing me close to him in front of the door we were standing in front of.

I looked into his eyes and all I could see was honesty. I knew I could trust Cole now and this was almost over.

I'm so tired of running and hiding.

I stood up on my tip toes and gave him one last kiss before we went back into the living room.

"Thank you for not disappointing me Cole and being the person I can trust. I love you" I wrapped my hands around his neck.

His big hands reached down to just under my butt and lifted my up so my legs wrapped around his hips.

"I love you too and I promise you I'll never break your trust" he promised as he held heavy eye contact with me until I leaned down attaching my lips to his.

I could feel the passion of his words in his kiss.

"Let's go before Gloria busts in here. The guys will be here soon" Cole said as he put me down on the ground and took my hand before opening the bedroom door to go back out and talk to Gloria.

I would hold him to his promises today.