Team: Echo by Honor James

any sort of thought process. “D,” he didn’t know what
he wanted to say. Staring into her eyes he felt uneasy. “Are you
really sure you want that?” he asked, more terrified of her answer
than anything ever before in his life.
    “ God yes Mikhail. More than you can possibly know,” Daisy
blurted out heavily. “Mikhail I love you so much. I just don’t
think you even understand how much that I do love you honey. You
are always so down on yourself and thinking that you don’t belong
but you do. You are a part of my heart and it would kill me if you
walked away ‘for my own good’ and we both know that you would do
just that. Love you, but it’s the god honest truth.”
    She knew him way too well and she was right, he would walk
away from her for her own good. It would kill what little good
still resided inside of him but he’d do it for her. “Aren’t you
supposed to be on one knee? And where’s the ring? I’m not seeing a
ring. And seriously, a country bar Daisy. Is this your idea of
wining and dining me into agreeing to marry you?”
    Daisy was dead serious when she spoke. “We can go tomorrow
and pick out a ring if you want one and if it will make you happy I
will get down on my knees and beg if that’s what it takes. Please
Mik, love me forever? Be mine?”
    “ I don’t wear jewelry,” he reminded her softly. He was really
not sure about it but he nodded anyway. “I’ll marry you Daisy if
you are truly sure about this. As for my love, you’ve had that
since the moment I met you and you’ll have it to my dying day
D.”
    Daisy threw herself into his arms and buried her face in the
curve of his neck. “I love you so much Mik. I want this. God I want
this more than I can tell you. I will marry Gareth in a private
ceremony that is only for our family but you, you are the one that
I want on the marriage license.”
    Holding her to him he nodded. “If that’s what you want love
I’m not going to deny you,” he murmured quietly. Stroking her hair
he pressed a kiss to her neck before drawing back to kiss her lips.
Pressing his forehead to hers Mikhail stared into her eyes. “We
should get back in there before one of them decides to drag
Penelope up onto the bar to dance.”
    Daisy laughed. “Oh she would do that all on her own. Trust
me. She doesn’t need to be led into temptation, that woman can and
will do it all on her own.” She paused and looked up at him. “Are
you sure Mik? I want this, I want you, but are you sure that you
want me? Marriage is forever, there is no divorce in our
vows.”
    “ I may be a commitment-phobe, Daisy, but I am always sure of
you,” he said with a slight smile. “And divorce isn’t in my
vocabulary when it comes to you. I don’t think I could ever give
you up once I have you. I’m a possessive bastard D so be sure you
want that in your life permanently.”
    “ I couldn’t be more sure of anything if my life depended on
it. I love you Mikhail and I want forever with you. You are my
rock, you are my soul and I’m damn well keeping you,” she muttered.
“So what do you say about us ditching the kids, getting a hotel
room and celebrating?”
    “ We can if you’d like, but I need to let them know we’re
leaving or god help us all,” he said softly. Digging in his pocket
he held out the keys to his truck. “Why don’t you go hop in the
truck and I’ll let them know we’re ditching them?”
    “ Sounds like a plan to me.” She took the keys from him and
smiled. “I love you Mikhail, now hurry your ass up and please tell
the boys not to break Penny. She’s going to be my maid of honor at
our wedding you know.”
    “ God help us all,” he muttered, waving her off to the truck.
He didn’t move though until she was safely ensconced. Only then did
he turn and go back into the bar and towards the table. Signalling
Penny he leaned in. “D and I are ditching you guys, she wants to
get a hotel room for a private night. Are you good with these
guys?”