Page 98 of Lock 'em Down

“How long have you been carrying around that ring?” I wonder.

“Over a week. I was going to propose in Honey Harbor,” he admits.

I wince, realizing I ruined his proposal. But, if you ask me, this one was better. It was spontaneous and a little bit desperate. Just like us.

“You should probably call my dad,” I point out.

Leif chuckles. It’s quiet at first but as it picks up momentum, his shoulders shake, and it turns into a full-out belly laugh.

“What?” I ask.

He shakes his head and resettles me on his lap. “Oh, Knox. I already have. Your family’s been waiting for you to tell them we’re engaged for days now. Well, jury’s still out on Cheryl. I think your dad was nervous she’d spill the beans.”

My mouth drops open. “Seriously?” Now, I understand Rhett’s warning in a different way.

“Seriously.”

“I’m so sorry, Leif.” I laugh with him. “I made a mess of things. We did… I mean, we did everything out of order.” I hold up my hand with the beautiful, elegant diamond shining. I inhale sharply as I admire it. “This ring is stunning.”

“You’re stunning,” Leif says. “And we did everything right, Cami. Right for us and our story. That’s what matters.”

“That’s all that matters,” I confirm, kissing him again.

Then, Leif lays me out and we make love on the kitchen floor in the middle of the day. It’s not hurried or frantic. It’s not sweet or gentle.

It’s pure bliss. Exhilarating and centering and promising.

It’s the start of a new chapter in our love story. A story that’s perfect for us.

Twenty-Six

Leif

“It’s good to meet you, Ben,” I say, shaking Cami’s dad’s hand.

“Good to have you here, Leif,” he replies, giving me a firm shake.

Cami’s sister Jenna pulls me into a hug, Rhett gives me a solid slap on the back, and Cheryl beams.

Today, I meet the family. Tomorrow, we head to Crosslake. And in two days, I marry the woman of my dreams.

Cami slips her hand in mine and draws me deeper into her childhood home. It’s wild that she grew up only a handful of streets over from my house. Our paths could have crossed an infinite number of times, yet we met on a random night in Vegas.

If that’s not fate, I don’t know what is.

“Are your brothers and Annie in town?” Cheryl asks as I take a seat at the dining table. It’s already set with a beautiful spread to welcome Cami and me home to Minnesota.

“They’re all arriving today,” I say, grinning. “Mom’s over the moon.”

“I bet!” Jenna says, sitting across from me. “Mom hates when Cami, Rhett, and I are away at the same time.”

“And that was such a short window,” Rhett admits. “Jenna and I live nearby, and Cami stayed local for college.”

“Yeah,” Ben says, sitting at the head of the table. “Now it’s time for Cami to spread her wings.” He tosses his youngest daughter a wink.

“Can’t believe you’re getting married first,” Jenna says.

“I can’t believe you’re getting married at all,” Rhett jokes, smiling at Cami. He turns his gaze to me. His eyes are filled with amusement, and I know that he’s happy for his sister. While he wasn’t thrilled about our Vegas wedding, it was born out of concern for his sister’s happiness. I can appreciate that because I’d feel the same way about Annie. “You sure about this, Leif? There’s still time to make a run for it!”

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