Page 103 of Guarded from Treachery

His face breaks into a grin. “Ladies first.”

I wrinkle my nose at him. “Fine.” Then I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I don’t mind if Levi calls himself that. Uncle. I… I like it.”

“You do?”

“Yes. Because… Well. I don’t know how you feel about it. But I would—” My throat goes thick. Tears threaten. In a rush, I blurt out, “I would really like it if the baby called you Dad.”

Matt’s expression goes perfectly still. He swallows hard before asking, “You would? Want me to be the dad? For real?”

“Only if you wanted to. I know it’s a lot to take on. And I understand if you’re not ready. Or you need to think about it. But?—”

“Oh, Isla.” He pulls me onto his lap and buries his face in my hair for a second. When he lifts his head, his eyes are shiny. “Of course I want that. I’ve been thinking about it for ages, but I wasn’t sure… I didn’t want to rush you. With everything else… I thought I should wait.”

“But you do? Want to be little Dove’s dad? Or Eagle?”

“Yes.” It’s rough with emotion. “Yes, Isla. So much. Nothing would make me happier—” He stops. Swallows again. “Actually. Somethingwouldmake me happier.”

Lifting me off his lap, he leaps out of bed and practically sprints to the closet. Less than ten seconds later, he rushes back to me, this time with something small clasped in his hand.

Hope blossoms in my chest.

As he sits back down on the mattress, he takes my hand. “I love you, Isles. With all my heart. When I met you, there was just something… I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Worrying. Wishing I could see you again. I think I just knew from the start that you were the one.”

Tears sting my eyes. “Matt.”

“But I don’t just love you,” he continues. “I love the baby, too. And I’ve been thinking… how much I want us to be a family. A real family.”

Then.

He holds out his other hand. Unfurls his fingers.

In his palm is a small, deep blue velvet box.

Just the size of a jewelry box that would hold a ring.

The hope takes wing, fluttering madly.

He flips the lid open to display a sparkling diamond inside.

The sun catches off the facets, spinning sparkles around the room.

“I know I won’t say this right,” Matt starts. “But… I love you. And I want to spend my life making you happy. Taking care of you. Not because you can’t. I know you can. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met. But everyone needs a break sometimes. You deserve to have someone to lean on when times are hard. When you’re tired. Stressed. Sad.”

“Oh,Matt.”

“And I want to celebrate with you, too. Share the happy moments like holidays and birthdays and triumphs. I want to celebrate Dove’s first step. Her first tooth. I want to celebrate how wonderful of a mom you’ll be.”

He pauses. Takes a breath. “I don’t know much about being a dad. Or a husband. But I’ll do whatever it takes to be a good one. If you’ll give me a chance, I’ll spend my life doing my best to make you happy. To protect you. And love you with every cell in my body.”

“Matt.” My voice wobbles. “Are you asking…”

Moisture shines in his eyes. A dry chuckle slips out. “See. I told you I’d mess up.”

“You didn’t.”

Matt’s features go solemn as he holds my gaze. “Will you marry me, Isla Nightingale? Be my wife? And grant me the honor of letting me be Dove’s dad?”

Hot tears run down my cheeks. But they aren’t sad ones. They’re happy.

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