Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 147415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 737(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 491(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 737(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 491(@300wpm)
“Oh my God.” Destiny makes a strangled sound and stops cold, bobbing in the water.
That's my cue to take over.
I pry the box from her frozen fingers and open it.
It’s a pearl engagement ring, a custom design.
I even found that pearl myself years ago on a trip to New Zealand. It was just after the legal circus following Serena’s death, when I took a solid month island hopping around the Pacific to clear my head.
The pearl was my only keepsake. The only thing that made me forget my demons for a few minutes. The large, striking pearl washing up on the beach was truly a unicorn event and it made me marvel.
Who knew I was actually finding an engagement ring for my future wife?
Or maybe it found me.
Now, as I watch her eyes glistening with a thousand emotions, I finally understand why.
“Shepherd,” she says again, her voice hushed and fingers trembling as she holds them to her lips.
Her wide eyes dart to my face.
Okay, showtime.
I take a deep, rattling breath and—
Fuck.
Silence.
I must've planned this in my head a hundred times. Exactly what I’d tell her and how I’d ask.
I love you.
I need you to be mine for the rest of our lives.
Will you marry me?
After the real dolphins mingling with our robot, it feels a tad anticlimactic.
Still, there’s no turning back now, and she needs to know how much she means to me.
“Destiny Lancaster,” I say, trying not to choke.
They’re filming this from the drone’s camera eye, too. I decide I won’t mind it years from now if we play this back and I have to watch myself going to pieces.
Just as long as she says yes, dammit.
Just as long as this Destiny is mine, now and forever.
She grips my hand like the little mind reader she is, willing me to carry on.
“I love you more than life itself,” I tell her. “You know me. I’m not good with big, feely speeches and I’m not perfect with fancy words, but you already know you’re the most precious thing in my life. The second closest treasure is that pearl, and it’s got nothing on you. I want you to take it. I want to make you mine every day I’m breathing. I want to come home to you. I want the laughter, the tears, the love, the sex, the disagreements that’ll have us ripping our hair out. I want everything. I want all of you, Dess, and I think you know I’ve already handed over all of me.”
Her eyes are huge and sparkling and she doesn’t say anything.
Radio silence.
I’ve had more affirming food orders.
Maybe I’m overzealous, but I take her hand and slide the ring on, still beaming a question into her eyes until it burns.
It fits too well, the pearl’s shimmering contrast with the tan of her hand.
Then I wait, looking at her with my heart in my throat, aging a year every second until the woman I love finally says yes.
She doesn’t say anything, though.
She squeals so loud my ears are ringing.
Her hand shakes as she clamps it over her mouth and she stares at the ring on her finger for a heartbeat too long.
I kiss her jaw, smiling as she melts into me.
“Dess,” I murmur. “I need words. Was that a yes?”
She laugh-cries and presses her face against my neck. “You never asked properly!”
“I can’t get on one knee while we’re in the water, brat.”
“Fine. I’ll settle for the question then.”
“Oh, all right.” I catch her chin in my hands and look down at her as she grins. “Destiny Lancaster... will you marry me?”
There’s the slightest pause as she stares up at me with her whole heart, and my nervousness evaporates.
“Of course I’ll marry you!” she rushes out.
Then we collide like shooting stars in a mess of lips and tongues and hunger that probably isn’t appropriate for the video I’m filming for posterity.
When we pull away, I’m grinning so wide my face hurts.
“You planned it all, didn't you? You took me to the ocean so we could get engaged?” she demands.
“Had to pick a place you love.”
“There are dolphins.”
“I know. It all went off without a hitch, everything except for them butting in. Rude little pricks.”
She beams at me, and I smile back just for her.
“Just so you know,” I tell her, nodding to the cameraman. “You’re on video. The drone’s equipped with cameras on all sides.”
“What? You didn’t!” She clutches me and laughs madly before we turn. All the guys are lined up on my charter boat, Captain Juan and the rest who came along to crew it. They wave to us wildly and one guy whistles as I call, “Thanks, wingmen! I appreciate your help.”
I don’t think they can hear me, but they get it just the same.
“So, what now, fiancé?” she asks sweetly.
“Now I’d better tell your dad you said yes so he can stop worrying. He thought I only had a fifty-fifty chance.”