Page 40 of The Rancher's Unrequited Love

Something.

Oh God.

In the past week, he had doggedly shoved off all memories of the day he had proposed to Guilia, and in his determination to forget everything and pretend that part of his life had never existed—-

God.

He truly had fucking forgotten.

Ethan charged down the stairs despite knowing that he was most likely too late—-

And he was.

Anah was standing next to the pick-up when Ethan made it to the garage.

Tears running down her face, she smiled shakily at him as she whispered, "Yes." There was a box in her hand, and a diamond ring inside it. "I'll marry you."

Chapter Seventeen

IT'S GOING TO BE FINE. You can fix this. You're not going to lose her.

The words might as well be Ethan's entire vocabulary, with the way he had to keep repeating them to himself, each time fear stabbed his heart. He would see Anah smile, and it fucking terrified him, just thinking how it could be the last time he might see her smile, if she ever found out the truth.

And since just about everything in his life reminded Ethan of her these days—-

A bitter smile played over his lips.

Everything had become a crippling reminder of what he would lose.

Because Anah was his life.

Had been so since probably the first day they met, if he hadn't been so damn determined to do what was right.

The passenger door opened, and Ethan forced himself to relax as Anah jumped back into the seat next to him.

"Sorry about that," she said sheepishly.

"What did you forget?"

An impish smile curved over her lips, and a wave of terror threatened to drown him.

"This!"

A diamond ring winked at Ethan as Anah wiggled her fingers at him.

"I thought I'd leave it at first, but then I changed my mind..." She turned to him, dark, doll-like eyes shining with love, and Ethan's fingers tightened around the wheel until his knuckles turned white. "I want everyone to see it," Anah said shyly, "because I want everyone to know I'm yours."

Ethan took hold of her hand, and his eyes closed as he pressed his lips to her knuckles.

It's going to be fine. You can fix this. You're not going to lose her.

But he was wrong.

IT'S GOING TO BE FINE. There's nothing to fix. You're not going to lose him.

Anah repeated the words over and over in her mind while she pretended to read her textbook. She had lied about having a test to study for, and Ethan, distracted by the various road blockages he suddenly needed to circumvent because of an early morning flashflood, had only nodded and promised to get her to school in time.

The urge to look his way suddenly struck her, and Anah quickly flipped to the next page.Don't cry, Anah. But the words had already started to swim, and her gaze began to blur.

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