Page 269 of Ignite

I press my finger over her lips.

“This is totally a proposal now,” I tease.

“Open it,” she demands.

I take the small box and open it, finding a stunning, thick platinum band inside, with four green gems in a line.”

“One for you. One for me. One for our baby. And I couldn’t leave out Bertie.”

My heart swells in my chest.

“Look inside,” she whispers.

I hold my breath as I take it out, and, fuck me, my eyes start to burn as I hold back the tears.

In little italic letters it reads:

I choose you, always.

“Hallie,” I say breathlessly.

She leans forward and presses a kiss on my cheek.

“I want you to have something on you all the time so you remember that no matter what, every day, for the rest of my life, I choose you. For exactly who you are. No matter your past. Even on the bad days. It’s always going to be you for me, beastie.”

I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear her say those words out loud.

That she chooses me.

She wants me for exactly who I am.

And accepts who I was.

I don’t believe people can completely change. I’ll always have some of the ugly parts of my past that reappear.

But I can learn. I can make myself a better person for her.

And every day I’ll try and be the man she deserves.

“I-I’m speechless. Fuck. Hallie.”

I wrap my arm around her and pull her close, closing my eyes as I rest my head on top of hers.

“Conan. Speechless? That’s a damn first,” she giggles.

“Shh. I’m about to say something cute. Let me do that, then you can mock me.”

I feel her body shake as she tries to stop her laughter.

“I promise, I’m going to make you the happiest woman alive. I want to be worthy of being the man you choose—and keep choosing. You have no idea how much that means to me, darlin’. I love you.”

She pulls away and cups my cheek, plucking the ring out of my hand.

“You want me to get down on one knee, or?” She grins.

I shake my head.

“How about put it on my index finger for now? And then it can be my wedding ring when we actually do get married?” I suggest.

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