Page 68 of Knot Really Engaged
“I don’t know, but to answer her question, Iwant something simple: close friends, your parents, mine, and maybe my brothers.” I bite my lip, my heart racing at the thought of marrying Liam.
He bursts into laughter, his chest rumbling against my back. “You and your brothers’ relationship is like a sitcom. You know Max will be one of my groomsmen, right?”
I groan, rolling my eyes playfully. “I guess I’ll invite them, but only because you need your friends with you.”
Liam pulls me closer, his arms tightening around me. “I need you, Audrey. Always and forever.”
I turn in his embrace, my hands resting on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm. “I love you, Liam. More than anything.”
He leans in, capturing my lips in a tender kiss, pouring all his love and devotion into the gentle press of his mouth against mine. In this moment, wrapped in his arms, I know that whatever the future holds, whatever challenges are before us, we’ll face it together. Our love is endless like the ocean—withstanding any storm and will never run dry.
Liam’s Epilogue
After a week in Italy and a long ass flight back to San Diego, we step into our house. The familiar scent of home welcomes us. Italy was a dream, but there’s something special about returning to the place where our love has grown.
Audrey sets down her purse, a contented sigh escaping her lips. “It’s good to be back,” she says, stretching her arms above her head.
I smile, my heart full of the loveI have for this incredible woman. “It sure is,” I agree, pulling her into my arms and pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
She leans into my embrace, her head resting on my chest. “Thank you for the amazing trip, Liam. It was perfect.”
“Anything for you, Little McCallister,” I murmur, my fingers tracing patterns on her back. “But there’s one more thing I want to do to make it even more perfect.”
Audrey pulls back, her eyebrow raised in curiosity. “Oh? And what might that be?”
I take her hand, my thumb brushing over the promise ring I gave her in Italy. “Can I borrow this for a moment? I want to clean it for you.”
She looks at me, a mixture of confusion and amusement in her eyes. “Clean it? Now?”
I nod, trying to keep my nerves under control. “Trust me, it’ll only take a second.”
She shrugs, slipping the ring off her finger and placing it in my palm. “Okay, if you insist.”
I turn away, pretending to examine the ring. My heart is pounding in my chest, and I take a deep breath to steady myself. This is it. The moment I’ve been waiting for.
I reach into my pocket, my fingers closing around the antique ring I’ve been carrying with me since we left Italy. It’s a beautiful piece, with anintricate design and a sparkling diamond that I know is one hundred percent Audrey. This is the perfect moment to ask her to marry me, to be my wife—my forever.
I turn back to face her, dropping to one knee as I hold out the ring. Audrey’s eyes widen, her hand flying to her mouth in surprise.
“Audrey McCallister,” I begin, my voice trembling with emotion. “Six months ago, I made the decision to take a trip and attend an important event. Who knew that I would find the perfect love before I even left home. My future. The love of my life. Your kindness, your warmth, your incredible spirit—they’ve captured my heart in a way I never thought possible.”
Tears well up in Audrey’s eyes, and I feel my own vision blurring with the intensity of the moment.
“These past six months have been the happiest of my life,” I continue, my voice growing stronger with each word. “Waking up next to you every morning, sharing my days and my dreams with you—it’s everything I didn’t know I wanted and more . . . Until you.”
I take a deep breath, my heart so full it feels like it might burst.
“Audrey, I love you more each day that passes. You’ve brought joy, laughter,and endless love into my life, and I can’t imagine spending another day without you by my side.”
I hold out the ring, the diamond catching the light and sparkling like a promise.
“Will you marry me, Audrey? Will you be my partner, my best friend, my everything—for the rest of our lives?”
Audrey is crying now, tears streaming down her cheeks. But through her tears, I see a smile—a smile so bright and beautiful that it takes my breath away.
“Yes,” she whispers, her voice choked with emotion. “Yes, Liam, I will marry you.”
I slide the ring onto her finger, my own tears mingling with hers as I rise to my feet and pull her into a passionate kiss. I feel a sense of completeness that I’ve never known before.
