Page 131 of Puck and Prejudice

“No, it’s not. It’s perfect… and the answer is yes.”

My pulse is pounding in my ears. She said yes to my unspoken question, and it feels like I’m dreaming.

“Are you sure? I won’t hold it against you if say no after I blundered this proposal.”

She traps my face in her hands. “You didn’t ruin the moment, Jacks. If anything, you made it even more special. I love you with every cell in my body. You’re everything I didn’t know I needed or wanted. You came out of nowhere and stole my heart. It’s yours now whether you want it or not… forever.”

My vision becomes blurry, and it’s only when I feel something wet on my cheeks that I realize I’m crying. “You’re my whole universe, Izzie.”

She leans down and kisses me, but I need to be closer, so I wrap my arms around her and flip her onto the ground.

“Jacks! The grass is wet.”

“We brought towels.” I slant my mouth over hers possessively, and she melts against me. My pulse is still thundering in my ears, but the nervousness is gone. I remember every single word from my speech, but I can tell her later. All I want right now is to drown in her taste and touch.

“Can we at least move to the blanket?” she asks as I start to unbutton her shirt.

I stop, then a realization comes to me. “Shit, I think I lost your ring.”

“Wait, there was a ring?”

I slide off her and look for the velvet box. “Yes, of course I got you a ring.”

She sits up and searches the perimeter as well. “As far as proposals go, this one is unforgettable.”

“Great. You’re mocking me,” I grumble.

“Duh, of course. Oh, I found it!” She fishes the black box off the ground and opens it. “Oh my God.”

“What? You don’t like it?” I scooch closer.

She covers her mouth with her hand and doesn’t answer me.

“Izzie?”

Hell. Did I mess up the ring as well? I even asked Jane for assistance. It’s a vintage-inspired floral diamond ring that she assured me Izzie would love.

She looks up and I see then she has tears in her eyes. “It’s beautiful.”

Relief washes over me. “Oh, thank God. Can I put it on?”

She nods.

I take the delicate ring out of the box and slide it down her finger. “Perfect fit.”

“You’re my perfect fit,” she replies.

A lump lodges in my throat. Hell, I might start crying again. I reach for the back of her head. “Come here, fiancée.”

“Fiancée… is this really happening?” she asks before I can kiss her.

“Yes, my sweet Izzie, it is.”

Epilogue

JACKSON –TEN MONTHS LATER

Ican say without a shred of doubt that asking Izzie Bennet to be my wife was the best decision I’ve ever made. We’ve been living together for a year, and every day, my adoration for her grows. I love her passion, her tenacity, and the care she shows for all her patients. She even won over Aunt Catherine, despite her tendency to curse like a sailor when she’s cheering for the Lions.

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