Page 38 of Hot & Bothered

Then he dropped to the floor to one knee, reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box.

She gasped and her hands flew to her mouth.

“Peyton Elizabeth Doucet, you are my Sun card.”

She giggled behind her hands as the backs of her eyes began to burn.

“Waking up next to you everyday, even when Mercury is in retrograde, gives me no confusion or frustration. Because I know I am exactly where I should be. You are two of my favorite people.”

Her laugh was far less lady like this time.

“Your twins balance me out better than anybody has ever been able to, and all I want to do is make both of you as happy as you make me for the rest of our lives. Will both of you marry me?” Even though his eyes were tired and dark bags hung beneath them, there was excitement and love shining through the fatigue. His smile was hopeful and warm and without even answering him, she threw her arms around his neck, dropped to the floor and kissed him.

“I kind of need an answer,” he said, breaking the kiss.

She smiled with twisted lips at him. “Yes, you impossible Libra. Of course, I’ll marry you.”

Then she sat back on her heels. He opened the ring box and pulled out the most gorgeous pear-shaped diamond on a rose gold band that she’d ever seen. He slid it onto her finger and it fit perfectly.

“My parents know, then?”

He nodded. “I asked them for their blessing last week. They asked when I planned to do it. I said today—though I had plans to do it somewhere more romantic, but work got in the way—so they said they’d have us over for dinner.” His smile faltered. “I’m sorry I didn’t do it somewhere more romantic. I at first thought we’d go walk Dallas Road, and I’d do it on the beach there. But it’s really fucking cold and windy.”

“It was perfect right here.” Tears stung her eyes. “Everything about this was perfect.” Beaming up at him, with her heart so full of happiness, she wasn’t sure anything could top this moment.

His lips squished to one side. “I got a text message on my drive home.”

“Yeah?”

“From Tiberius of all people.”

Over the last two years, they’d kept tabs on Tiberius and Michaela. They weren’t involved in their recovery and getting them back on track in society, but they checked in to make sure things were okay. They needed to maintain a boundary for their own mental health, and it was one Tiberius and his sister respected.

“Oh?”

He smiled. “They’re doing great. He got a job doing camp work in the oil fields. Two weeks on, one week off, fly in fly out kind of stuff. They’re living in a two-bedroom apartment in Prince George, and Michaela has enrolled in college. Just a couple of classes for now, as well as a part-time job as a barista, but they’re doing really well.” He grabbed his phone and brought up his text messages, turning it around to show her a picture of Tiberius and his sister. They were smiling and sitting in matching black and red flannel pajamas in front of a small Christmas tree. “He said he hopes we’re doing well.”

Fresh tears ran unchecked down her cheeks and her smile hurt her face. “Well, that news is just the cherry on top of this glorious sundae. I’m so happy they’re doing well.”

He nodded and set his phone down on the coffee table. “Me, too.” His gaze flicked to her open laptop. “I don’t want to disrupt you if you’re busy.”

“Ummm,” she bit her lip, “getting proposed to is the absolutebestkind of disruption and one I definitely welcome. I’ve probably re-read the same paragraph six times. My brain was going numb.”

He stood up and helped her to her feet, backing her up toward their bedroom. “I’m pretty sure there is some kind of rule where youmustconsummate the engagement, otherwise it’s not legitimate.”

“Is there now?’

He lifted her sweater over her head. She allowed it. “Mhmm.”

But they bypassed their bed and went straight into their en suite bathroom. She was out of her leggings, bra and underwear in true Jace fashion—very quick and efficiently. He stripped himself just as fast and turned on the warm water in their steam shower.

Stepping in together, they let the warm water sluice over their bodies. She rested her hands on his shoulders, unable tonotlook at the rock on her finger.

“You like the ring?” he asked, following her gaze with his own.

She spun the ring around on her finger with her thumb. “I love it.”

“What did the tarot card you pulled today say?”

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