Page 55 of Hope & Harmony

“Yes!” I sobbed.

When I peered up, his dark eyes flashed at me in the glow of all those phones.

“You mine, forever?”

I pushed up on my toes and cried, “Yes!” just before I kissed him.

No one could hear us over all the crowd noise but us.

And maybe Jesse, who was still standing nearby.

We melted together and then Jude swung me up in the air. I floated backstage in his arms, my face buried in his neck as I fought back the torrent of emotions that rose up, swamping me in so many feelings I didn’t even know how to deal. I just gripped him tight as he swept me away.

I didn’t want to cry in front of everyone.

I felt the members of the band rush past us as they headed back onto the stage and people crowding around, congratulating us, patting Jude on the back.

Onstage, Jesse announced, “SHE SAID YES!” The crowd exploded, and Dirty ripped into one of their classic hits, “Love Struck.”

The song choice was perfect.

I wondered vaguely if Jude selected it, just for this moment.

He didn’t even pause to absorb or enjoy the congratulations.

He just ignored them all as he carried me along the winding corridors, like I was the only person who mattered right now. One of his guys held open an exit door for us and once Jude had walked us outside, he set me on my feet next to his Harley and kissed me so damn thoroughly I would’ve fallen right over if he wasn’t holding me up.

As always, I could just cling to his solid support and know he’d never let me fall.

When he came up for air, he dug his fingers into my hips, crushing me against him as he looked me dead in the eyes. His dark irises burned with devotion. “From now on, I’m keepin’ you where you should’ve been all along,” he swore to me. “Right by my side.”

He said it devoutly, like a promise sworn with sword and blood, and I knew it meant everything to him.

ThatImeant everything to him.

I forced out the words around the knot in my throat. “I am by your side, Jude. Always.”

He took hold of my left hand, which was clinging to his leather vest. He lifted it, so gently, to his lips, as my fingers shook. He kissed my ring finger, then slid a diamond ring onto it.

It appeared to be platinum. With a princess-cut diamond flanked by smaller stones.

It took my breath away.

That he’d bought this for me… Planned this for me. For us. This beautiful moment, beyond my wildest dreams.

Our eyes crashed together and he paused with the ring at my first knuckle. I could feel him holding his breath.

“Will you marry me, V?” he murmured solemnly.

I laughed softly, mostly because I was bubbling over with emotion and had no idea what to do with it all. “You already asked me that.”

“No, not officially.Theyasked you. So the whole world would know who you belong to, and what that means. So the world would see how protected you are.” He swallowed, and my bones turned to mush. If I wasn’t still clinging to his vest with one fist and wedged between his hips and his bike, I would’ve melted to the ground like so much useless goo. “But I’m askin’ you now. I want you to be my wife, V.”

“Yes, Jude,” I said breathlessly.

He slid the ring into place, and I felt the distinct shift in him. The resolute calm. Thepeace. It was in the softening of his shoulders and the way he looked at me, with such relief.

Was he actually…nervous?

---