Page 218 of Nanny and the Beast

She stares up at me. I see the forgiveness in her eyes. She’s so quick to forgive me, but I will make sure that I never hurt her again, even if it’s unintentional.

“I’m sorry I didn’t explain it all earlier,” I say. “Iknow my words were hurtful, and I let you believe that I meant them.”

“I’m sorry, too,” she says. “I should have confronted you directly that night.I was just really, really hurt, and I was too heartbroken to even think straight. My insecurity got the best of me.”

She lowers her gaze.

“Emma, look at me,” I say.

She lifts those pretty eyes. My heart fractures at the sight of her tears.

“I lost it when I saw you slumped on the ground last night,” I say. “I thought I lost you, and even the thought of that gutted me. I don’t want to live in a world without you, Emma. I loved you then, and I love you now.”

I drop down to one knee and hold the ring up.

It’s not how I planned it, but I don’t want to waste another precious second.

“Will you marry me?” I ask.

47

EMMA

Will you marry me?

Those four words echo in my ear.

I can’t believe this is actually happening. I let fear and doubt consume me. I told myself that good things don’t happen to me. I was so scared that it was all in my head.

But it wasn’t.

He feels the same way about me.

He’s kneeling before me now, holding the most beautiful diamond ring I’ve ever seen. I would have been happy with a paper ring if it meant that I could have our love back.

It was all a misunderstanding. He was trying to protect me this whole time.

He’s the only man who ever looked out for me like this.

“Yes,” I say. “I’ll marry you.”

He slides the ring on my finger. I’m not surprised that it’s a perfect fit. Klaus is anything if not detail-oriented.

He clasps my hand in both of his and kisses it. And then he stands and holds the back of my neck.He tugs me closer until our bodies are flush together, until I can barely breathe.

Finally, he kisses me.

The ground beneath me falls away. I feel like I’m levitating, like I have wings.

Everything in me reaches for him, finally resting in the knowledge that he never really meant to hurt me. I assumed the worst about him, but none of it was true.

My heart squeezes hard in my chest. I didn’t think it would hurt this much to love another person. The intensity of my emotions is still frightening, but it’s okay.

It’s okay because he loves me too.

Our hearts were scared to love, but this bond demands surrender. It demands us to let go of control and trust each other completely.

He presses hisforehead against mine.

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