Page 38 of Blue Lines and Lullabies

“It doesn’t matter.”

“What?” I blurt out incredulously. It took me an entire month of searching every damn jewelry store in Denver before I found this sucker.

“I know you, Gabe. I know you probably picked a perfect ring for me, and I’ll wear it proudly. But right now, I just want to hold you,” she whispers.

This woman.

“Promise me you’ll put it on soon?” I ask.

“Okay, but why?”

“Because I really want to make love to my fiancée when she’s wearingonlymy ring.”

Cassie shudders in my arms. “Oh my.”

Oh my indeed.

Cassie

I’m engaged!

Squeezing my arms tighter around Gabe’s neck, I feel my body trembling with shock and adrenaline. I had no idea he planned to propose tonight. We’d discussed marriage, but nothing concrete. I wonder if Gabe waited until he thought I’d be ready, or if he chose to do it once the Wolves won the Cup. Either way, I’m so dang excited I’m marrying Gabe Dawson.

“Do you really not want to see your ring?” Gabe chuckles against my neck.

“Of course. I don’t care what it looks like, though. I’ll love it no matter what,” I whisper.

“I know, but I searched for a whole month to find this one. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was meant for you.”

“Are you going to put it on my finger?” I ask.

“I’d like to, yeah,” he laughs.

I unwind my arms from his neck and step back to see him whip a box from his pocket. “Did you have that in there all night? How did I not notice?”

“No,” he smiles. “It was over on that shelf by the door. I grabbed it when we walked in.”

As soon as Gabe opens the box, I gasp, throwing my hands up to my mouth in shock. I was honest when I told him I wouldn’t care what it looked like. Any ring coming from him would be beautiful just because Gabe picked it out for me. But this ring … this ring is spectacular. “Gabe, it’s gorgeous!”

He carefully removes it from the box and grabs my left hand. “I went to ten different jewelry stores. Nothing screamed you, Firecracker. I saw some pretty rings that I knew you’d probably be nervous about wearing because the diamonds were big. You aren’t flashy, or showy. You’re classic. Regal. Composed. This ring, to me, showcased all of that.”

Gabe slowly slides it onto my finger, and I can see my hand shaking. “I’ll admit, I know nothing about diamonds, or engagement rings.”

“I didn’t either, until I started looking,” he chuckles. “The band is platinum. The main diamond is cushion cut and is around two carats. The pavé diamonds on the band add an additional carat.”

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper.

“I also picked up a matching wedding band that fits the ring. I didn’t grab anything else because I thought you’d like to pick out my ring.”

My eyes whip to his. “Oh, absolutely. I’m thinking I’d like to match this one. Lots and lots of diamonds.”

Gabe’s eyes widen comically. “Uh, Firecracker —”

I burst out laughing. “I wouldn’t do that to you. I know you, too, Gabe. You’re not flashy. I’ll get something plain for you.”

His big sigh of relief echoes in the room. “Thank fuck.”

I cup his face, yanking him down to mine for a kiss. Stopping the kiss, I say, “I do believe I was promised some lovemaking.”

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