I wipe them on my pants so my fingers aren’t slippery. I quickly tear open the bag, then slip my hand inside my pocket and find what I’m looking for. I manage to get it into the box of cereal and withdraw a handful of the sugary, cinnamon squares when Rian comes around the corner, basket tucked into her side.
Her brows knit together and her perfect, pouty lips turn down when I stuff the handful of cereal into my mouth. “What’re you doing?” she asks, incredulous.
“I got hungry.”
She drops the basket with the eggs and the cinnamon rolls into the cart and snatches the box from me. “You haven’t even paid for that yet!”
“What do you think is going to happen, the grocery police are going to take me away in handcuffs? It’s not like I can’t afford to buy it.” I try to stick my hand back in the box, but she shifts it out of my reach. “Besides, there’s a prize in that box, I wanted to see if it was any good.”
She inspects the box, looking for the advertising that indicates there’s something special contained within. “There’s no prize in here.”
“Yeah, there is, look inside.”
Her eyes narrow, but she reaches in and pulls out the tiny box, now covered in a dusting of cinnamon and sugar. “What is this?”
I pluck it from her fingers, take a deep breath, and hope like hell she’s ready for this.
I flip open the small box, revealing the contents as I drop to one knee. Her eyes go wide and the Cinnamon Toast Crunch slips from her grasp, landing on the linoleum and scattering across the floor around us.
“Rian Mission Sutter, a little over a year ago you came crashing into my life, and every single day since then has been better than the last. I love you, I love everything about you, even your obsession with Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and I plan to spend the rest of forever loving you. Will you marry me?”
Her fingers flutter to her mouth, a tremulous smile turning up the corners. “You’re proposing?”
“I am.”
“Here?” She motions to our surroundings, including the mess of cereal at our feet and the sudden crowd gathering at the ends of the aisle.
“I figured we might as well go back to the scene of the crime.” I really hope she plans to say yes soon, considering this isn’t the private moment it started out as.
“I love you. Of course I’ll marry you.” Tears make her eyes glassy as I push to a stand, cereal crunching under my feet.
“She said yes!” I shout to our audience, including a teenage employee armed with a broom, looking less than impressed.
A few cheers and whistles of approval follow as I slip the ring on her finger, my hands almost as unsteady as hers.
“It’s beautiful, perfect.”
“Just like you.” I cup her face and tilt her head up, brushing a kiss over her lips. “You had me worried there for a second.”
She arches a brow. “You thought I’d say no?”
“I was banking on a yes. I mean, we’ve been living in sin for a year already, and we co-own a business together. I know chemistry is a big deal, but with the whole two of ten on the compatibility scale, I was a bit worried, yeah.”
She laughs. “God, I love you.”
“Just remember that when you find the empty boxes of Cinnamon Toast Crunch in the cupboard.” I kiss her through her laughter.
She tastes like love. She feels like my future. Rian is the beginning and the end. She’s the fight I won’t give up. She’s the forever I won’t let go.
ALSO BY HELENA HUNTING
Shacking Up
Hooking Up
Eye Candy
PRAISE FOR BESTSELLING AUTHOR HELENA HUNTING AND HER PREVIOUS NOVELS
“Fun, sexy, and full of heart … a laugh-out-loud love story with explosive chemistry and lovable characters. Helena Hunting has done it again!”
—USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow
“The perfect combination of sexy, sweet, and hilarious. A feel-good beach read you won’t want to miss!”
—New York Times bestselling author K. Bromberg
“Characters that will touch your heart and a romance that will leave you breathless.”
—New York Times bestselling author Tara Sue Me
“Heartfelt, hilarious, hot, and so much sexiness!”
—New York Times bestselling author Tijan
“A love story like no other.”
—New York Times bestselling author Alice Clayton
“Emotional, sexy, captivating. A beautiful story.”
—New York Times bestselling author Emma Chase
“Helena writes irresistible men. I loved this sexy, funny, and deliciously naughty story!”
—USA Today bestselling author Liv Morris
“The story came alive so vividly in my mind.… My heart raced, I laughed out loud, I just was completely drawn in from the very beginning.” —Aestas Book Blog
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy. Her novels include Shacking Up, Hooking Up, and the popular Pucked series.
Visit her website at: helenahunting.com, or sign up for email updates here.
Thank you for buying this
St. Martin’s Press ebook.
To receive special offers, bonus content,
and info on new releases and other great reads,
sign up for our newsletters.
Or visit us online at
us.macmillan.com/newslettersignup
CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1: Angry Hot Guy
Chapter 2: Double Trouble
Chapter 3: Negotiations
Chapter 4: Date
Chapter 5: Globes of Goodness
Chapter 6: Beach House Sixty-Nine
Chapter 7: Beach Babes
Chapter 8: Just Beachy
Chapter 9: Seaweed Attack
Chapter 10: The Orgasmator
Chapter 11: Embarrassment Forever
Chapter 12: Fates Align
Chapter 13: Negotiations: Round Two
Chapter 14: Dancing in the Sand
Chapter 15: Cuddle Fuck
Chapter 16: Relationship Goals
Chapter 17: Wheeling and Dealing
Chapter 18: Flipping Out
Chapter 19: Baby Brother Tantrums
Chapter 20: Counter Offers
Chapter 21: Alternate Locations
Chapter 22: Shopping Trips
Chapter 24: Gnome Sweet Gnome
Chapter 25: Free Fall
Chapter 26: Un-know
Chapter 27: Empty Bed
Chapter 28: Truths
Chapter 29: Mission
Chapter 30: Little Gifts of Love
Epilogue
Also by Helena Hunting
Praise for bestselling author Helena Hunting and her previous novels
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
I FLIPPING LOVE YOU
Copyright © 2018 by Helena Hunting.
All rights reserved.
For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
www.stmartins.com
eISBN: 9781250183989
Our books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, ext. 5442, or by e-mail at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.
St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / June 2018
St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.