Page 34 of His Daring Girl

“Please don’t ever keep things from me again. I’d rather know than to feel like I can’t trust you.”

I rise off the ground, pulling her into my arms. “I promise it will never happen again. You can trust me fully, babe. And this ring…” I reach for her hand and finally slide it onto her finger, watching it sparkle under the moonlight. Seeing it on her hand brings me comfort. She’s mine now. No one else can take her from me. “This is a symbol of that trust.” Never again will I let anything come between me and my girl.

Her eyes drop to her hand and the curve of her lips finally start to tip up. “It’s so beautiful.”

“You’reso beautiful.” I hug her tighter, feeling like I want to hold on for dear life. “Can we go to the hotel now, babe?” I just want to be alone with her.

“Please,” she nods, her lips quirking up into a sly little smirk. “By the way, you owe me makeup sex now.”

I lean down and swoop her up into my arms. It’s time for me to start groveling.

CHAPTER 26

Ruby

Life Lesson #1: A dare can turn into a dream.

“I’m so excited for you, Ruby!” Presley’s practically bouncing through the screen. “Let me see the ring.”

I hold my hand up to the camera and she lets out another squeal.

“It’s so freaking big. Holy shit! He did good.”

Yes, he really did. It’s huge. Everyone in my class noticed it and asked me about it the moment I walked in. Which I think was Chase’s point. He wants to make sure every guy on this campus knows I’m taken. I teasingly told him I was going to get him a ring so the girls knew he was taken too, and yesterday, when he came back from picking up breakfast for us, he was sporting a platinum band. He told me that his heart is already married to me and now everyone would know it.

He has no idea how much that gesture meant to me.

“So, when are you guys going to get married?’

“I don’t know. We haven’t even talked about it yet. But I think it’ll be good if we wait a bit.” We have so much going on right now and adding in wedding planning to the mix seems like a little too much. Besides, I don’t necessarily want to get married and then after we say, “I do,” have to hop on airplanes to go our separate ways again.

“Yeah. I think that’s a good idea. I still think he needs to grovel a bit for that crap he pulled.”

Presley was furious when I told her about what happened. For as much as I get her point, I also understand where Chase was coming from. He was terrified I’d be insecure about something insignificant and that my worries would fester and come between us. Even still though, I’m still with Presley on this one. He should’ve told me the truth no matter what.

“Don’t worry.” I smile. “I made him grovel all weekend.”

“Good.” She giggles. “So, even though you’re waiting a bit, can we still go wedding dress shopping when you’re home for break?”

“Yes!” I cannot wait to try on dresses. “And you need to try on dresses too, because when it does happen, I want you as my maid of honor.”

“Ruby! Oh my goodness, I’m so honored.” I’m the one who’s honored. She’s been the best friend a girl could ever ask for.

There’s a knock on my door. I look up from my phone, wondering if Charity may have forgotten her keys. She’s been so scatterbrained lately, it wouldn’t surprise me.

“Hold up a sec. Just need to get that.”

I leave my phone on the bed and go to open it. “Did you forget your keys, Mis…” The word stops on my tongue. Chase is standing outside my door, holding a giant bouquet of roses and wearing the biggest smile.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, feeling my stomach fluttering so fast. I just left him last night, and now he’s here.

“I got some good news today, babe, and I wanted to share it with you.”

So he flew all this way? “You could’ve just picked up the phone.”

He shakes his head. “Are you going to let me come in, Ruby?”

I open the door wider, pinching myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.

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