Page 87 of Until

Alex deserves someone who gives him that spark.

CHAPTER 35

Carina

ONE DAY UNTIL RYAN’S BIRTHDAY

Ryan opens the door and steps to the side so I can enter. The entire living room is covered in candles and flowers as if we were in a magazine spread with romantic settings.

“You did all of this yourself?” I ask.

“I did, but with a little help. Lydia told me peonies are your favorite flower, and Odessa told me you’re a sucker for candles.”

“You called them?”

“I did.”

“But why?”

He lowers onto one knee and takes my hand as he looks up into my eyes.

“To get their blessing. Carina, from the moment I saw you, you set my heart on fire. You are the spark.”

A lump forms in my throat and tears begin to fall onto my cheeks. He stands and wipes away my tears.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “Is this too much? Too soon? I don’t want to rush anything, but I don’t want to spend another day without knowing you’re mine.”

“It’s not that,” I say. “It’s just that I thought you didn’t want to marry me. I know you need to get married, or you’ll lose your inheritance. I thought for sure you would have proposed by now. Or at least spoken about it.”

He lets out a slow breath. “I don’t care about the inheritance. I don’t care about the money. All I care about is having you in my life. I didn’t want you to think those other things mattered more, so I waited. I’m sorry my inaction made you feel like that.”

“Shhh, forget about it. Get back down on your knee,” I say as I point to the floor.

I clasp my hands together in excitement as he laughs and lowers himself down on one knee, my hand back in his. His eyes locked onto mine. I’m waiting for him to ask me to marry him, but instead, he’s silent.

“What’s wrong?” I ask. “Did you change your mind?”

“No,” he laughs softly. “I had a whole speech memorized, and now I can’t remember where I left off.”

“That’s sweet, but you can tell me the speech another time. Just ask me.”

“Just ask you?”

“Yes, just ask me the question,” I say.

One corner of his mouth jerks up, and his eyes twinkle.

“Okay, if that’s what you want,” he says. “I’ll just ask.”

“Yes, ask me.”

I’m so excited I’m ready to burst out of my skin.

“What do you want for dinner?” he asks.

“What?!”

He bursts out laughing, and I smack his shoulder playfully.

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