Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
He grinned. “It wasn’t just a simple kiss, was it?” He skimmed his knuckles over her cheek.
She shook her head. “No. It bound us. More and more, you let me see who you are inside.” She touched his shirt over his heart. “You’re such a good man. And I kept asking myself whether or not I could believe in what I saw.”
She looked him in the eye, her face full of an emotion he didn’t dare name. “You made it impossible for me not to fall in love with you. I knew it on the island but was too afraid to say it out loud. Then Theo pulled a gun, and the whole ride to the cabin, I thought, what if I waited too long? What if I’d never be able to tell Knox how I felt about him?”
His heart slowed as he waited. Reaching out, he stroked her cheek. “Say it now.”
Her smile grew wide. “I love you, Knox Sinclair.”
His heart began to beat faster as she said the words that made everything right in his world. “And I love you, Jade Dare.”
Her sparkling eyes and wide grin lit him up inside, and he decided it was time, feeling more certain of her answer now than when he’d initially purchased the ring.
She leaned forward and her lips met his. Their connection went soul deep, because they were finally on the same page. In no rush, he kissed her for a long time, their tongues twining, their lips locked.
Finally, he was ready. He broke the kiss, then grinned before rolling off his side of the bed to stand. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the box that had been poking at him all day—a reminder that they had a future once she was back home with him. He walked around to her side of the mattress.
“What are you doing?” She wrinkled her nose in confusion.
He dropped to one knee. “Jade, there is nothing I want more than to spend the rest of my life with you. And before you say anything, I want you to know that I would have asked you to marry me even if you weren’t pregnant with my baby. That’s a bonus for us both. But I love you more than life itself. Will you marry me?” He lifted the top of the box.
Her eyes opened wide, her gaze on his and not the ring. As much as he appreciated her lack of materialism, he really wanted to see her reaction.
“How? When did you go shopping?” she asked.
“I took Asher with me earlier in the week. Now will you please answer me? And look at the ring?”
Keeping her gaze steady on his, she said, “Yes. I will marry you.” Then she glanced down and squealed in excitement as she looked at the ring he’d picked out just for her.
“It’s a heart… I love it.”
He stood and pulled the ring out of the box, then slid it over her finger. “I picked a heart because you own mine.”
“It fits,” she said, wriggling her fingers.
“Thank Lauren.”
Laughing, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his neck. “This is one wedding I promise will go off without a hitch.”
“Damn right.” He lifted her so he could sit, then settled her on his lap. “I’d planned to pop the question after your doctor’s appointment tomorrow, but something made me grab the ring and keep it with me today.”
“Intuition,” she murmured. “I’m glad we’re here and alone when you did.”
He thought about the type of affair they might have. “Are you set on the idea of a big wedding?” he asked.
“God no. After all I’ve been through? I just want to say I do,” she said.
He toyed with a long strand of her hair, happier than he could ever remember being. “Good.” He didn’t want a spectacle, though he’d give her anything she desired. “I’d like to do it before the baby is born if that’s okay with you.”
“Yes.” She threaded her fingers through his hair as they talked. “And while we’re at it, I’d like to get married before I start showing.”
He placed his hand over her flat belly, excited to see her grow bigger with his child. “I’m sure you and Serenity will get started planning soon.”
Anticipation lit up her expression. “Speaking of relatives, you have a choice.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”
“We can make phone calls now, telling our families the good news…” Her voice trailed off.
“Or?”
“We can do this.” She straddled his lap and pushed him back onto the mattress. “Take just one more night for ourselves before we spread the news.”
He pulled her down until their lips met in a kiss, giving her his answer. Not only would she always come first with him but kissing her would always be his favorite pastime.