Page 149 of Wild Tangled Hearts

“Like what?”

“I never thought seriously about marriage or starting a family. But...” He lets out a shaky breath. “I want to marry you.”

A nervous laugh escapes my lips, but I see the vulnerability in his eyes and I realize he’s serious. “Alex—”

“I know we haven’t been together long.” He turns on his side, and his warm hand cups my cheek, his thumb tracing a delicate path along my bottom lip. “But what we have is real.”

“Are you asking me to marry you?”

"I want to be with you, Bella, and not just a couple nights a week. I want us to share a life. When you come home from work tired or frustrated, I want to be the person you turn to. I want to hold you in my arms every night before we fall asleep and wake up with you every morning. I want to have a wedding and invite the people closest to us, so I can tell everyone how crazy in love with you I am. I want you to be my wife."

My heart races with an overwhelming mix of joy and uncertainty. Of course, I want to marry him. I've never loved anyone like I love Alex. He's the person I want to spend my life with, one hundred percent.

But, there's a nagging insecurity that claws at the edges of my happiness. A part of me that wonders if I'm ready for this commitment. I know that marriage takes work. It's a vow to be there through the highs and lows, to weather storms together, and to face my own insecurities head-on.

I debate whether to say yes, to embrace this beautiful future with Alex, or to ask him to wait, to ask me again in a year, to see if he still feels the same about me. It's not a doubt about him — it's a doubt about myself, about whether I can be the partner he deserves.

Whatever I decide, one thing is certain: when I say yes, it's a commitment from the depths of my heart, a promise I'll honor for a lifetime.

Reader’s Choice:

What should Bella do next?

Say 'yes' to love! Picture a grand, unforgettable wedding where all friends and family come together to celebrate the love story of the year! Turn to this page.

Why rush love's sweet journey? Savor each moment and continue dating, allowing time to reveal if feelings remain as strong a year from now. Turn to this page.

Chapter69

Alex

A SURPRISE AND A JOURNEY OF TRUST

Isit in the passenger seat of Alex's truck, the sun-kissed mountains stretch out before us, their majesty taking my breath away, and I can't help but smile as I glance over at him. His strong hands firmly grip the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on the winding road ahead.

"So, what's this surprise you've been teasing me about?" I ask, my heart fluttering with anticipation.

He grins, that mischievous glint in his eyes making my pulse quicken. "It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you." His deep voice rumbles, sending shivers down my spine.

I playfully roll my eyes. "You know I hate suspense."

Alex chuckles. "Just a little longer. I promise it'll be worth it."

We continue our journey up the winding mountain roads, and memories of the past few months flood my mind. We've gone on countless dates, explored the city hand in hand, and I've even spent time with his wonderful group of friends — Angie excluded. As promised, she’s no longer in his life. And my insecurities are a distant memory.

“Are we hiking that?” I ask him, nodding at the looming peak ahead of us.

He chuckles and doesn’t answer. His silence only adds to the intrigue, and I can't help but wonder what he has in store for us today. Nothing would surprise me anymore.

Last week he convinced me to go white-water rafting, and although I was terrified at first, the exhilaration of conquering those wild rapids was unlike anything I'd ever experienced.

He reaches over, his hand finding mine. The contact sends a rush of warmth through my body. Every day, I find myself falling more in love with him. His kindness, his unwavering support, and the adoration in his eyes when he looks at me — it all makes me feel like the luckiest woman in the world.

As we reach a clearing at the top of the mountain, Alex pulls the truck to a stop. He turns to me, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that steals my breath. "Okay, we're here. Ready?”

"I don't know," I reply with a playful smile, "because I don't know what to be ready for."

He chuckles softly, his fingers gently tracing the outline of my hand. "Well, that's the fun part, isn't it?"

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