Page 207 of Surprisingly Us

He stares at me a moment, then starts shaking his head. “I’m not breaking up with you.”

“Oh,” I say, sitting back down on the bed, now a picture of serenity. “Okay, then you may proceed.”

His lips twitch as he stares at me with reverence in his eyes. “Thanks.”

Rhys drops to his knees in front of me and takes my hands. His right knuckles are bruised and swollen from his fight with Jerrod at the hospital. I hate that they got physical, and I’m hoping at some point they can talk their issues out.

“You’re right. I was scared. Fucking terrified when I thought something happened to you.”

I lift a hand up to brush a rogue hair off his forehead. “Something did happen to me but I’m okay.”

He nods. “I love you, Colette. Lettie. Princess. All the versions you are to me.”

“I love you, too.”

“I don’t want to just see where this goes because I know exactly where it leads. You and me, together. I want a million first dates with you. In fancy clothes at a gala or wearing sweats on the couch. I want to dousfor the rest of our lives.” He pulls a velvet box out of his pocket and opens it. Sparkling up at me is a breathtaking diamond with smaller diamonds surrounding it. And it’s princess cut. “When I saw this ring, I knew it was meant to be on your finger. It’s the one I want to put there now and make everything about us real. I know things have happened quickly between us, but for how long we’ve known each other, I’d say we’re moving at a snail’s pace.”

I laugh and with the movement of my cheeks, I feel the wetness there. I hadn’t even realized I was crying.

Rhys’s eyes are filled with emotion, too. Then, he leans back on one knee and takes my hand in his. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes! Yes, of course I will.” I bounce on my toes, my enthusiasm bubbling over.

He places the ring on my finger, and it fits perfectly. Then, I wrap my arms around him and he pulls me in for a kiss.

“What do we do about the other ring?” I ask.

He shrugs. “Keep it. Sell it. Donate it.” He kisses me again. “It could fund your tutu making supplies for decades.”

“Yeah, it could.”

“Oh, and I’m really glad you said yes or this might have been awkward.”

He pulls a folded-up paper out of his back pocket.

My eyes widen. “What is this?”

“The deed to your parents’ house at Lake George. I bought it for you.”

My chest squeezes, emotion returning to my eyes. “You did?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh my god, Rhys. Thank you!” Then the dam bursts and he holds me close as I cry happy tears.

“Wait. If you bought my parents’ lake house and you still have yours, how will we know which one to stay at?”

His smile widens.

“We’ll take turns.”

“And with everyone’s expanding families, it will be nice to have more space, for the next generation.” Remembering our conversation when we babysat the twins, I look up at his handsome face. “Do you want a next generation?”

He squeezes the back of my neck, and with a sexy grin pulling at his lips he responds, “With you, yeah, it’s a no brainer.”

“And until then, you’ll be Uncle Rhys. I know how much you enjoy that.”

“It’s a pretty good gig.” He drops a soft kiss to my lips.

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