Page 130 of Love Without Demands

“Cruz!” I shrieked in delight. “What are… I thought you were at work!”

My boyfriend was decked out in full pirate regalia, looking sexy as hell in the dark leather costume. He hadn’t shaved, and his scruff added to the rakish look. “I came to save my wench,” he told me with a wink.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Captain Raven,” the Johnny Depp lookalike drawled, sauntering toward us.

Cruz, or apparentlyCaptain Raven, turned and squared off with the other pirate. “Hummingbird, you old drunk. I heard you’re kidnapping women again.”

“Yeah,hic,” he retorted with a hiccup, “what are you gonna do about it?”

Cruz put one finger on the man’s forehead and pushed with little effort, causing Hummingbird to fall comically to the ground, much to the hilarity of the crowd. Then a thick arm looped around my waist, binding me to my man.

“Hey, Tink.” His blue eyes sparkled down at me.

I was smiling so big my cheeks hurt. “What is all this? And how did you pull it off? And also, I may be crazy, but I’m pretty sure I just saw your brother Eli holding Noelle.”

“You’re not crazy; Eli’s here,” he assured me.

My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for the guy in the red cap again, but froze when they fell on a grinning couple near the front. “Mom! Dad!” They waved, and my mother dabbed at her eyes as my mouth gaped open. I turned back to Cruz. “Why are my parents here?”

“I asked them to come,” he said simply, a smirk on his handsome face.

“But… why… and how did you get my dad out of Missouri?” My head shook side to side in confusion.

“Because I told him he definitely wouldn’t want to miss this,” Cruz said, dropping to one knee in front of me.

Oh. My. God.

Not even both hands covering my mouth could hide my smile.Unlike when whatshisface had proposed, I had no reservations about what was happening here. I was absolutely, one hundred percent, all in.

“Yes,” I shouted, and the entire crowd laughed, including Cruz, who was now holding a black velvet ring box.

Cruz’s dimples popped out on either side of his brilliant smile even as he rolled his eyes. “Would you let me ask the question first, please?”

“Okay, but then I’m going to say yes.”

“Good to know,” he chuckled before taking my hand and kissing my knuckles. “Lehra, the very first time I met you, when you called my lips pretty pillows and told me about puke coming out of your nose, I think I started falling in love with you.”

My cheeks flushed, and I. Could. Not. Stop. Smiling.

“But it was more than just your charming conversation that drew me to you,” he said with a wicked grin.

The happiest tears in the world slid down my face. My man was so sweet and funny. And hot.Good god, he’s friggin’ hot.

Cruz closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the back of my hand as his chest heaved with emotion. When he raised his eyelids again, his eyes were swimming with unshed tears.

“Lehra, you became my best friend, and that’s what you’ll always be. But I love you more than my own life, and I hope you’ll also do me the honor of being my wife.”

He lifted his brows, and I whispered, “Can I say it now?”

“Please.”

“Yes!” I shouted for the whole damn world to hear, causing raucous cheering from the crowd.

With a smile that could light up Manhattan, Cruz popped open the box. The ring was a halo style in a rose gold setting, and I’d never seen anything more beautiful in my life. Sliding it onto my finger, my fiancé stood and swept me up into his arms, twirling me around and around as we kissed.

My tears mingled with his, but they were tears of pure joy. Because I was marrying my best friend… the man of my dreams.

“Damn, bro. I’m glad your wench said yes since you rented out this entire restaurant,” Monty quipped. “This could have been a really awkward meal.”

---