Page 67 of Taking The Virgin

“No.”

He tucks my hair behind my ear, looking into my eyes as if he’s finally allowed himself to get lost in them, just as I’ve gotten lost in his so many times.

I’m not sure why he’s here if it’s not for another arrangement. I’m afraid to ask, so I say, “What if you run away again when things get tough?”

Now there’s something in his gaze I really haven’t seen before. Peace.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he says firmly. “And when I say it, I meanit.”

He gets down to one knee, and as I grip the flowers, he reaches into his jacket and produces a velvet box. He opens it to reveal a shining diamond ring. The thing is enormous.

More tears gather in my eyes, but they’re not even remotely sad or angry. They’re tears of rapture.

I faintly hear the screen door of the house opening as he lifts the box with the ring in it tome.

“Juliet Hope, I love you with all my heart and soul. Marry me. Be with me. Love me as much as I loveyou.”

All of my fear has flown, and I know what I want. I alwaysdid.

I nod mutely, then burst out with my response. “I love you, Owen,” I gasp. “Of course I’ll marryyou.”

As I fall down into his arms, he catches me, then sweeps me into a delirious kiss that has my mind filled with cheers.

Heat roars through me in every way—love, adoration, fulfillment. Today is the first of many days withOwen....

Then, gradually, I realize that the cheers aren’t in my head—my brothers and sisters are the ones yelling with glee, running to us like a wild bunch. When I break from the kiss, Owen softly dries the rest of my face with his knuckles, and I look up at my family.

“Told you she has a boyfriend!” Jazziesays.

Then my crazy siblings mob Owen, asking a million questions. They’re hugging me at the same time, shaking me and demanding to know what’s going on, even as they’re laughing because I’m so damned happy.

But Owen keeps holding me tight, keeping me upright, just as he’s alwaysdone.

And just as I’m going to continue to do forhim.

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