Page 75 of Once Upon a Prince

“Well, you said it to Cheryl that you did. I just happened to hear it. It wasn’t the way I wanted to hear you say it but hopefully it’s the first of many.”

“It is. I’ll say it every day for the rest of our lives if you let me,” I said.

Dax smiled down at me and said, “Nothing would make me happier, except maybe one thing.”

“What is that?” I asked.

“If you would be my wife.”

I was shocked by his statement. We had been together for a short time; it should have felt like it was too soon. But as I looked into his eyes and saw how serious he was, I knew it wasn’t. Everything might have happened faster with us but that was because it was supposed to. I wanted to marry him. I wanted to have a life with him and I wanted it to start as soon as possible. I felt like I had been putting my life on hold since my father died. I had been living in fear and in the shadow of my stepmother. I didn’t want to do that. I didn’t have to do that now. I wanted my life to be the way I wanted it to be.

There was only one person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. There was only one man who understood me, loved me, cared for me, and made me a better person. That man was standing looking at me anxiously as he waited for my answer.

“Was that a question?” I asked.

“It was more of a demand, but I can rephrase it in the form of a question. I can even hold off on asking. I can do it right, the way you deserve to be asked. I can throw you a ball worthy of how wonderful you are. I can announce it for all the world to hear. I can take you back to Buenos Aires to where I first kissed you on the balcony and propose to you there if you like. I will do whatever you want me to do if it results in you being my wife.”

I looked at the man that I loved. I knew we were going to have a complicated but wonderful life together and love filled me. He had given me so much, he had given me the world, he had helped me see what type of woman I wanted to be, and the type I could be with him. He was willing to give me anything I wanted and I knew he would every day for the rest of our lives. As I looked at him, I knew I didn’t need the big proposal, I didn’t need the fancy ball or being whisked off to some romantic place, all I needed was him.

“All I need you to do is ask me,” I said.

“Will you marry me?” he asked.

“Yes.”

THE END

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