Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
“Brighton,” he spoke gently. “Look at me.”
I did. And I was relieved to find his eyes weren’t nearly as cloudy as I expected them to be. In fact, there was something else there. Something that looked kind of like a small glimmer of hope.
“I like it,” he said.
“You do?”
“Yes.” He kissed me on the temple. “It’s just like you to think of something like that.”
I curled against him and smiled. That went way easier than I expected. Things really were different between us.
“I just have one concession,” he added.
I frowned, thinking maybe I’d spoken too quickly. “What is it?”
“The last name- it’s dead to me for a reason. I’ll never be Jacob Lockhart again, and our baby can’t be associated with that name either.”
“Why not?” I asked.
“Because…” He ran an anxious hand through his hair. “There are still people out there who could use that against me. When my father’s business started to tank, he made some bad decisions. I still don’t know the extent of them, and I’d rather not ever find out.”
“Oh.”
It made sense, what he was saying. But it also worried me. “So, would we ever be in danger?”
“No,” he said adamantly. “But I can never be too careful, and I wouldn’t ever take any chances with you, Brighton. I will always do whatever it takes to protect you, you know that right?”
I did know that. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that Ryland would protect me no matter what. And it only made me love him more. “I know.” I nodded.
“You are the most important thing in my life, and soon there’ll be another. We’re going to be a family.”
His words socked me in the gut and brought tears to my eyes. I knew how much that word meant to him. And if I didn’t, I could see it clearly on his face. This was his second chance at life. And I would do everything in my power to bring Ryland Bennett happiness. We both settled back against the hammock, and silence engulfed us. It was the good kind. The comfortable kind. I was listening to his heartbeat, drifting off to sleep when his fingers trailed over my cheek and turned my face towards him.
“Do you like it here?” he asked.
“Of course I do.” I smiled up at him. “This place is amazing, Ryland. I could stay here forever with you.”
My words seemed to fill him with relief. But then he looked nervous again as he reached into his pocket.
“Brighton, we’re having a baby together. I can’t tell you how fucking incredible that is. I never thought I would want these things, but I do. I want them with you.”
I reached up and stroked his cheek. He looked so passionate about what he was saying I just wanted to tear his shorts off and bury him inside of me again.
“There isn’t anyone else I would want it with either,” I told him.
“Good,” he said. “Because I have something else to say.”
He paused for a moment and blew out a breath. I’d never seen Ryland look so nervous, and it was freaking me out a little.
“I want you to be my wife.”
I was dumbfounded, and even more so when he pulled a velvet box from out of nowhere. He held it towards me with the strong fingers I had come to love, and I realized what was happening. I felt dizzy, and I had to sit up. He followed with an anxious expression. I still hadn’t touched the box. I couldn’t seem to get my body or brain to cooperate.
“Brighton?”
“Are you… proposing to me?” I squeaked.
It was his turn to look dumbfounded. “I thought I’d made that clear.”
“There wasn’t really a question in that statement,” I remarked. It was such a Ryland proposal. I wouldn’t have expected anything different from him, nor would I have wanted it.
He looked at a loss for words, and it was the first time I’d ever seen him struggling with what to say. I put him out of his misery by biting my lip and nodding. “Yes, Ryland. I’ll be your wife.”
“Jesus,” he cursed in relief. “I really thought you were going to say no for a minute. Goddammit, Brighton, I love you so fucking much.”
I laughed when he pulled me across his lap and started peppering me with kisses. He was like a little boy on Christmas morning, and I felt exactly the same way. My heart was going to burst with happiness. He pulled out the box and opened it, taking my breath away when I saw the blood-red stone nestled within. It was cushion cut and ensconced in black gold, and the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen, apart from him.
“Oh my God, Ryland.”
“It’s a red diamond,” he said. “A little bit of darkness for your light.”
“Do I even want to know how much this thing cost?”