Free The Bachelor's Perfect Proposal (Bliss Series Book 2) by Michelle Jo Quinn Page A

anything changes.”
    In a matter of minutes, Veronica’s friends and family had cleared the area, loading the items on Mateo and James’ trucks. With the floral arrangement that was supposed to go on the table propped against her hip, Lily strode up to me. She lifted an arm and squeezed my shoulder.
    “Let’s just hope she gets back fine,” she told me. I cursed myself silently for not thinking that, and for only letting jealousy get hold of me again. “Knowing my daughter, she tried everything she could to get back here on time. She would have wanted to see you tonight, and she would have been ecstatic, cried even, with what you’ve done. She would have said yes.” Lily smiled and patted my arm one more time before heading back to the truck.
    “You riding with us?” Mateo asked.
    “I’ll take the ATV back.”
    “Are you sure? It’s getting dark.”
    I stared up at the skies again. “Yeah, I’ll ride behind you guys. I’ve got a torch,” I informed him. I could tell he wanted to say more, but he decided not to and ambled back to his truck.
    As I swung a leg over the four-wheeler seat, I felt a drop on my arm. I let out colorful expletives as the heavens opened up. Lily had been right.
    I cursed Mother Nature.

In His Arms
    VERONICA

    I was exhausted . My stubbornness against sitting and waiting and letting the storm pass had brought me back to where I wanted to be...twenty-two grueling hours later.
    When I arrived at Levi’s penthouse, the place was quiet. Too quiet. And there was a chill in the air. I paused by the door to disarm the alarm on the screen and swiped at it with my forefinger, ordering the Smart House to draw the curtains open and let the natural light in. Following that, I tapped on buttons to start a soothing music and ignite the fireplace.
    Peace. Comfort. Home. And everything smelled like Levi.
    Too exhausted to even charge my phone, I plopped my sore butt on the sofa, placed my head on top of my folded arms, tucked my legs in and drifted off to sleep.
    Soon enough, Levi would be home. Soon enough, I would be back in his arms.

    I was cradled in a soft cocoon, a warmth that smelled of nature and the rain. I wished the storm would go away. A steady tattoo swayed me back to sleep. Far too often, the rain would pelt my windows, but this was calming, steady and soothing. Like a beat of one’s heart.
    That was when I challenged myself to open my heavy eyelids. “It’s you.”
    He might have sensed me stir, might not have heard me. Levi glanced down, and the twinkle in his eye was a revelation of what he wasn’t saying out loud. His breath wasn’t labored as he walked up the stairs to the second floor of the penthouse, with my legs slung over one of his arms. I reached my hands up and intertwined my fingers behind his neck. I ruffled the ends of his thick, wet hair.
    “Where have you been?” I snuggled against his chest, feeling the coolness of his soaked shirt, waiting for his reply.
    “I went for a run.”
    “It’s raining,” I guessed, burrowing my nose on his chest. Levi and rain. How intoxicating.
    “Yes, I got caught in it.”
    We made it to his bedroom. It was distinctly Levi. Male. Powerful with tiny hints of sweetness and charm. Dangerous in all aspects, particularly for a weak heart like mine.
    He laid me on top of the bed. My body arched against the silken sheets as I reached for him. “Don’t go. Stay. I missed you.” A pout hinted on my lips. He kissed it away.
    “I missed you too, more than you could ever know. But I have to change out of my wet clothes and shower.”
    “Take me.” With a slight pull of my hand, his head bowed back to me, and Levi let me know just how much he did miss me. His kiss was deep, urgent, and desperate, almost telling me I’d been gone far too long.
    “Bath sound good?”
    “It sounds perfect.” My man was great at many things, one of which was throwing me deliriously fantastic baths. He picked me up again and padded to the en suite