Page 163 of Counting On You

“Yes.Therest.” I bend down on one knee, and as my hand squeezes inside my pocket, her eyes narrow.

“Kade,” her voice is a shaky whisper now. “What are you doing?”

“Only something I should have done a long time ago.” My gaze interlocks with hers, holding it, bathing in its warmth and love. “Remember the day I said I liked you?”

She nods slowly.

“I was lying. I didn’t just like you. I was falling in love with you. And I still am, Victoria, more and more, every single day.” I clear my voice to get rid of the sudden hoarseness in it. “I want to brand you as mine. I want to be able to call you my wife. Treat you like my queen. Respect you not only as the mother of my child, but also as the one person I get to spend the rest of my life with. And I hope you want the same, but not because I’m the father of your child.” I exhale a slow breath as I try to recall the speech I carefully prepared—but can’t remember a single word. “I need to know that you want more of me in every way I can give you. That’s why we’re standing here. That’s why I built this tree house. Because the god honest truth is, I can’t imagine another woman by my side. Will you marry me, Victoria?”

She inhales a sharp breath and her expression changes before my eyes.

I take it all in.

Suspicion. Shock. Surprise. Wonder.

And happiness.

So much happiness.

“Yes.” She nods slowly, then with more fervor. “Yes, I do.”

I cock my eyebrow. “You sure? Because you haven’t even seen the ring yet? And that might be a dealbreaker for some women.” I wiggle the box in my hand.

“Yes, I’m sure. Very much so.” She wipes at the delicate tears trickling down her cheeks, but as she does so, more seem to take their place.

I open the box, holding up the ring.

“I’m so happy.”

“Because our very own love story has become true?”

“No.” She shakes her head. “Because you just showed me that sex is overrated, and love is a cure.” She catches my amused expression. “And of course, because this is the most beautiful ring I have ever seen and I so want it on my finger.”

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