Page 123 of And Then Came You

“Any other plan I should know about?”

When her amber eyes meet mine, all the fear falls away.

It’s now or never, Sam.

“Actually, there is.” Scrambling to my feet, I grab the ring from my satchel, taking a fortifying breath. So, it isn’t this grandiose proposal, but deep down, I know this is the right time.

Lexi eyes me as I saunter back into the room with far more bravado that I feel. “What’s going on?”

A gasp flies from those beautiful lips the moment I sink to one knee, and I grasp her hands, knowing she’s my lifeline. “When I was in Greece, I missed the hell out of you. You’re the first time I’ve ever felt that kind of longing.” Forcing a grin, I let out a nervous chuckle. “I realized I want my life with you. Just you, and our kids, because I really want a family, too. I know it’s soon, but Lexi, I know it’s right. I’m not scared to ask you, but I’m terrified of your answer. Either way, I want you to wear this, as a symbol of how much light you’ve brought into my life.”

Flipping open the box, the ring does its job, shining more gloriously than the sun. “It’s exquisite, Sam,” Lexi breathes, a few silent tears sliding down her cheeks. Then, much to my surprise, a laugh bubbles up, complete with her beloved snort.

“What is so funny?”

“I have no idea if you’re asking me to marry you or not.”

I collapse forward, laying my head in her lap as the laughter overtakes my body. I’m such an ass. In my whole long diatribe, I forgot to ask her to be my wife. “I didn’t have time to plan this the way I hoped.”

When I raise my head, the love of my life is smirking at me, a twinkle in her eye. “Plan what, exactly?”

She will not let me slide. Why am I not surprised? Pouncing on her, I tickle her sides until she’s howling with laughter. As she quiets, I grasp her chin, a permanent grin on my face. “We’re getting married. Soon. Not next year or two years from now. Soon. Is that definitive enough for you?”

“I like this plan. Anything else, Mr. Bernard?”

Why not let it all hang out? I’ve come this far. “I’m taking you raw until I put a baby in you.”

This time, instead of laughing, she scoots out of my grasp and into the other room. Crap, I may have pushed too hard. We never even discussed kids, and now I’m telling her we’re having them, regardless of her opinion.

“Lex Lex?”

Lexi stands behind the couch, wrapping her arms around my neck, and placing a pregnancy test into my hand. A positive pregnancy test. “You’ve succeeded, just in a different order. This is what I wanted to talk to you about.”

My hands tighten around her, bringing her petite frame over the couch and into my arms. Feeling a flood of overwhelming emotion, my gaze flits from the test to her beaming face. “You’re pregnant?”

“Maybe.”

“Don’t mess with me. Are you pregnant?”

She twines her hands around my neck, pressing that talented mouth to my neck. “I am. What are you going to do about it?”

I squeeze her to me, a feeling of euphoria washing over my soul. This is what it means to find the one. Lexi awakened this happiness in me the moment our eyes connected at the convention. She made my life have meaning and now, I have purpose. “I’m going to march you down the damn aisle before you start showing. How’s that for an answer?”

She sits cocooned in my arms, the happiness ebbing from every pore. There’s never been a woman more beautiful, and she’s all mine. “I like it. Baby steps.”

“You know it, E.T.”

Epilogue

Lexi

In the end, the woman who captured Samuel Bernard’s heart wasn’t the heiress, the influencer, or the beauty queen.

It was me.

The world still views Sam as this perfect specimen, and they’re right. But while they ogle his physique, I’m enamored with the important aspects of my man. He’s wickedly witty and stubborn to a fault. It’s not unusual to hear his whoops of excitement when the Patriots win yet another game, knowing full well I’ll have to endure hours of ribbing afterward. He’s also the worst cook in the world, but one look at his rueful grin and I’ll forgive him for ruining another frying pan.

People ask me how I won Sam’s heart. I tell them the only answer I know is true. I was the person who actually sought it out. His impossibly good looks and tattooed physique are but the wrapping. It’s his heart that holds me fast.

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