Page 117 of Every Beat of My Heart

Her forehead creased. “I thought it meant that you didn’t want kids.”

“I want kids with you. You know how much I love them.”

She ran a hand through my hair. “I always wanted more kids, just not with Eric.”

“How does Owen feel about it?” Everything hinged on his feelings. I wouldn’t do anything that made him uncomfortable. I didn’t want him to think his feelings weren’t being considered.

“He’s worried he’ll be too old for them, but I think it will be perfect. He’ll be the protective older brother. Can you talk to him about how important his role will be?”

Pleasure flowed through me at the confidence in her words. “I will. There’s nothing better than siblings. We all came together after Mom died.” There were moments when I felt pressure to be or do something different, but they had my best interests at heart.

Her hands stroked the back of my neck. “There’s no one else I want to walk through this life with than you. You were unexpected but the best thing that’s ever happened to us.”

“I feel like that’s my line,” I joked.

“I was trying to be serious.”

I sobered. “So was I. You see, I had this whole thing planned out. I talked to Owen for his permission to ask you, and then I talked to Fiona and Aiden about stealing their thunder.”

Her brow furrowed. “What are you talking about?”

I took her hands from around my neck and held them while I slid to one knee.

Claire gasped.

“Claire Coleman, I love you with my entire heart. There’s no one else I want to walk through this life with.”

She smiled when I repeated her words from a few seconds ago.

“Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

She nodded, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears. “Yes.”

She tugged me to standing, and I pulled her against me and kissed her. When I pulled back, I said, “I had this whole thing planned, and you tried to steal my thunder by saying all my lines first.”

Claire gazed at me with affection. “Did you really talk to Owen?”

“He asked why I waited so long.”

Claire laughed. “We’ve only been dating a few months.”

“I guess he feels like we’re a sure thing.”

“Where’s the ring?” Teddy shouted from our table.

I flipped him off, then dug the box out of my pocket. “If you care about things like this?”

Claire grinned. “I actually do.”

I couldn’t help teasing her. I held the box just out of reach and slowly opened the lid. Inside was a simple diamond solitaire surrounded by a cluster of diamonds. I had plenty of money in savings for this and the house since I’d lived at home my entire life. And I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my money, showing my fiancée how much I appreciated her.

“I love it,” Claire said as I slipped it on, then lifted her hand to kiss the diamond. “The next wedding we attend will be ours.”

“I can’t wait,” Claire said, and I didn’t mention that my dream was to get married on the Calloway property. Maybe in front of our new house. But there’d be plenty of time to talk about the details later.

When we broke away for a second time, Fiona stood next to us, holding Aiden’s hand. “Congratulations, little brother.”

I let her hug me. Then I said, “I’m not little.”

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