Page 97 of Wilde In His Arms

Nick left all his concerns about the case, the children still out there, and whether or not Javier Lopez would stay true to his word, behind him.The FBI would hold Javier accountable and find those associated with him.

Nick was free to move on and focus on what was most important.His new life with Aria.

Chapter forty-two

Laterthatevening,Nickfound Aria in the backyard.She’d bought four turquoise-painted Adirondack chairs and placed them in a circle around a new fire pit in the garden.She was seated in one of the chairs, reading a book, and didn’t seem to see him walking toward her.

He and Mason had found what he was looking for downtown, then he’d taken a drive out to her parents’ ranch to talk to them before coming home.

He wished Stacy could be here for this, but thought it better that they start their new life together, just the two of them.

Well, and Mason and Lyric, who were coming up behind him, recording everything.

God, Aria looked beautiful in a simple pink T-shirt and a long deep blue skirt that hugged her curves.Her feet were bare, her hair hanging past her shoulders in loose waves.

The second she spotted him, her bright blue eyes lit with joy and her smile nearly made his heart stop.

He was so nervous, but excited.He leaned down and handed her the huge bundle of flowers and kissed her, long and deep.“I missed you today.”

She buried her nose in the blooms and inhaled deeply, smiling with joy and contentment.“I didn’t think you’d be gone so long after you left with Mason this afternoon.”She studied him.“Everything okay?”

He brushed his hand down her long hair.“Better than okay.I have you.”

She smiled again.“And I have you.”

He took her hand and tugged, silently asking her to stand with him.

She set her book and the flowers on the arm of the chair, then stood.She spotted Mason and her sister in the distance.“What’s going on?”

He touched his finger to her jaw and turned her face back to him.“Just look at me, sweetheart.”

She grinned, a sultry look in her eyes.“I never get tired of looking at you.”

“I love you so much.More than I ever thought possible to love someone.”

“I love you, too.It’s why I can’t stand to be apart from you.”

“Then let’s never be apart.”He sank down on one knee, ignoring the ache in his injured thigh, and instead looked up into Aria’s astonished face, the tears brimming in her eyes, her smile as happy as he’d ever seen it.“I don’t want to spend another day without you.I want to wake up to your loving smile and fall asleep to your beautiful face.I want to build a life and a family with you.So, please, make me even happier than you already do and say you’ll be my wife.Will you marry me?”

She’d been nodding since his knee hit the ground.“YES!”She leaned down and kissed his lips.“Yes.”She kissed him again.“Yes.”She really kissed him, sliding her tongue along his, and sinking into the moment and the way they both loved to be this close, this connected.“Yes,” she whispered against his lips and kissed him again.

Nick stood and took her into his arms, holding her close and loving how desperately she clung to him.Then he realized he’d made a mistake and stepped back, holding her at arm’s length.“I forgot the ring.”

He pulled the black velvet box out of his pocket and held it up in front of him, then flipped open the lid.

Aria’s eyes went wide.She looked from the ring, to him, and back again.“Nick, it’s beautiful.”

Nick plucked the ring from the cushion, took Aria’s left hand, and slid the ring into place.It fit perfectly.He kissed her knuckle right over the ring, then stared into her beautiful blue eyes.“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

They fell into another kiss, her arms wrapped around his neck, her fingers in his hair.

He was so excited and happy, he picked her up off her feet and spun her around and yelled, “She said yes.”

Aria laughed.“Of course I said yes.”She buried her face in his neck and hugged him hard.

Mason and Lyric rushed to congratulate them.They shared a round of hugs, then Lyric held up her phone and showed them the picture she’d taken.“I’ve got your engagement announcement right here.”In the photo, Nick and Aria were kissing and Aria’s hand was on the back of his head, her engagement ring sparkling in the sunset light.

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