Page 60 of On the Ropes

Abbey smiled and squeezed his hands. “I am too.”

He let go of her hands and presented the spa bag to her. Oh, it’s for me. “I got you all the spa products we used here and some others. I like the lavender scent on you. Take a look.” He pressed her to look inside the bag.

Abbey appreciated the gesture, since she liked the products too, but they didn’t have time for this. She didn’t want Jake any more upset than he already was. Luke’s insistent gaze had her taking the items out one by one. “Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body scrub, facial wash, and scrub. Thank you, Luke. I love all of this, but we need to get going.”

He shook his head, holding the bag in front of her still. “There’s one more thing in the bag, baby.”

Abbey didn’t think so. She was pretty sure she’d taken everything out. She felt around what seemed like an empty bag to the very bottom. She gasped in surprise. A little velvet box? No, it couldn’t be, but that didn’t stop the tears from streaming down her cheeks.

Luke chuckled and took the little blue velvet box out of the bag and held it in his hands. “No reason to cry, princess,” he whispered.

Luke flipped the box top open and inside was the most beautiful if not most enormous princess-cut diamond engagement ring Abbey had ever seen. The center stone had to be ten carats with ten small diamonds set down along each side of the band. Even the center stone prongs had diamonds set inside them. She assumed, knowing Luke, it was a platinum setting. It must have been the bathroom lighting, but she’d never seen anything sparkle so brightly. He wants to marry me.

“In case you were wondering and so you can brag to everyone we know, a seven-carat princess-cut center stone, two carats’ worth of round side stones and almost another carat’s worth of round stones around the center stone prongs, platinum, and all the stones are colorless and flawless. Flawless, just like you.” Luke removed the ring out of the box and took her left hand in his, his warmth enveloping her.

Abbey shook. Her heart pounded in her chest. Oh my God. This was it. Luke was proposing.

“This reboot weekend hasn’t gone exactly as I had hoped, but one thing hasn’t changed. I love you, Abbey. More than anything in this world. I always have and I know in my heart and soul I always will. You’d make me the happiest man in universe if you’d agree to be my wife.” He looked at her. Hope and expectation gleamed in those sparking blue eyes of his.

“You want to marry me?” Abbey didn’t know why she asked him that. She wanted to marry him. Had dreamed of this day since they day they met so many years ago. She was nervous, maybe a little afraid too.

Luke kissed the palm of her left hand and slid the ring onto her ring finger. Perfect fit. Of course. “Shacking up with you and having babies isn’t an option for me, princess. You’re mine. I want a ring on your finger and the paperwork to prove it. Will you marry me, baby?”

“Your ten minutes are up, asshole!” Jake pounded on the door.

“Fuck off! I’m busy! Baby? Will you?” Luke chuckled, waiting for her reply.

Abbey giggled as Jake continued pounding on her suite door. Poor guy. He’d have to wait a minute. She wrapped her arms around Luke and squeezed tight. “Yes, I’ll marry you. I love you so much. Of course I will.” Abbey felt Luke sigh in relief. Did he think she’d say no?

“Luke, I mean it! Open this door right now. I’m serious!”

Luke stood and helped Abbey off the couch. He took her by the hand and led her to the suite door. “Hold your fucking horses a minute! Here we come.”

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