Page 215 of Scatter the Bones

“I wanted to do something…fancier, nicer, bigger, but—” I say, half apologizing.

“I don’t like big spectacles.”

“Tonight seemed right.” I let out a short laugh.Shit, I’m nervous.“And I’m worried I’m going to lose this if I keep carrying it around, waiting for the right time.”

“Jensen!” She launches herself at me, lips crashing into mine and knocking me backward.

Her fingers thread through my hair, clutching, desperate. She kisses me like she’s starving for it—like she needs to prove I’m real.

In between kisses, I flip us, covering her with my body. “Is that a yes?”

“Yes.” She curls her fingers in my shirt and pulls me forward. “Yes, I want to be your wife. It’s the biggest yes that’s ever been yessed.”

I blow out a long, satisfied breath.

The ring.

It went flying when she knocked me over. In the dark grass, it’s hard to find. We sit up and I pat my hand around the blanket and finally scoop up the box and hand it to her.

She flips the lid open and squints. Even in the semi-darkness, it glitters and sparkles.

“It’s…it’s exactly what I described to you.” She presses her fingers to her lips. “Even the halo of sapphires.”

“I know.” I tug it free from the box and take her hand, slipping it on her ring finger. She holds out her hand, wiggling her fingers, admiring the ring.

“Oh, it’s perfect.” She cuddles close and kisses my cheek.

I feel her eyes on me and turn, staring straight into her eyes.

“You’ve taught me so much more than sex, you know.”

I take her lips in another blistering kiss. “Good.”

She kisses me back, clinging to me like she owns every jagged piece of my soul. The ones she’s helped stitch back together—every one of them belongs to her now.

EPILOGUE

Jigsaw

Margot popsout of her bedroom, hands tucked behind her back, a nervous smile tugging at her lips.

“Jensen, can you come in here, please?”

“Fuck yes. On my way.”

I drop my laptop, push out of her lounge chair, and stride across the room—already half-hard and fully hoping this is about to go exactly where I think it is.

It’s not.

It’s almost…better.

Laid out across her bed is a helmet and riding clothes. Margot-sized.

She twists her engagement ring round and round on her finger. “I’m not saying I want to go all the time. Or long distances.” Margot hesitates and glances at the clothes on the bed. “But I trust you.” A frown flashes over her face. “I mean if you want me on the back of your bike.”

Do I want her on the back of my bike?What a question.

More than anything in the world.

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