Page 168 of Tangled Kisses
The one I plunked down two hundred and fifty bucks I didn’t have for, the one I finished paying off in Hollow Creek on my way back. The one I knew—deep down—I’d slide onto her hand.
I perch on the edge of the bed, heart pounding.
“Yeah,” I manage, my chest tight. “Put the down payment on it when we were up in Hollow Creek. Picked it up on my way home.”
Her voice cracks. “You did this… before I came back?”
I interlace our fingers and nod. “I was so angry that night, Reese. Drank myself into a stupor and stayed that way until the call came about my dad. But as I sobered up, I realized there was more to our story.”
The tears stream down her cheeks as she clutches my hands. “I’m so sorry I did that to you.”
“Don’t you be sorry. You protected me. Protected Pearl. Put us first, and no one has ever done that. So, while I wish you hadtold me the truth that night, I understand why you couldn’t. But just so you know, I bought a plane ticket while I was in Portland. My plan was to fly to New York and track you down. Possibly get my heart busted into a million pieces all over again.”
She rises to her knees, her hands framing my cheeks as she rains kisses across my face. “I prayed you wouldn’t believe what I said that night.”
“At first I did.” My voice splinters. “But then I realized you can’t fake love like this.”
I grab Chowder and reach for his collar.
Bad idea. The cat swats at me, hissing like a python as I slip off the collar and turn him loose in the cabin.
No doubt he’ll head straight to the couch and hone his murder mittens.
“You,” I call after him, shaking my head, “are the worst ring bearer in the history of ring bearers.”
“But he’s so fluffy,” Reese counters, biting her lip as she holds back a grin.
I roll my eyes. “Sure. We’ll go with that.”
And here goes everything. You can do this, Griffin. She’s your other half. Your missing piece.
I turn back to her, ring in hand, and drop to one knee. My voice shakes, but I force the words out.
“Look, I get it. You just got out of one engagement, and here I am asking you to walk down the aisle again. But you don’t have to—not yet. You don’t have to say yes. You don’t have to answer me right now. I just want you to wear this because it’s my promise to you. That I’ll always keep you safe. That I’ll always put you first. That I’ll always love you.”
She reaches up, stroking my jaw. “Griffin?—”
But I keep going, the words tumbling out, unguarded and desperate.
“When you walked away, my heart shattered into pieces. But then I realized I had it all wrong. I was born to love you. I was ready to fight for you. This isn’t a perfect proposal—I know that. But I can’t wait any longer. I’ve waited too long already . Hell, I wanted to ask you that first day, but I knew I’d scare you away.”
Her lips twitch even as tears keep streaming. “Are you going to give me a chance to answer?”
A shaky laugh rumbles up from my chest. “I don’t know. I’m a little nervous.”
Leaning over, she presses a lingering kiss to my mouth. “This is the most perfect proposal in the history of the world, with the greatest ring and the most incredible man. I would love to be your wife.” She swallows, her voice breaking on the words. “In fact, I’m thinking maybe Vegas. How’s tomorrow for you?”
Relief floods me so hard I nearly collapse.
Doesn’t she get it? She could say the word and I’d marry her in a gas station parking lot right now.
“Tomorrow works. Hell, today works.” I slide the ring onto her finger, whispering, “We’ll have to get it sized.”
She studies her hand, tears glistening on her cheeks. “More fun things to do when we go up to visit Pearl.”
“Absolutely.” I brush my thumb over the ring, over her trembling fingers.
Her voice breaks again, soft and awed. “This feels so right. You feel so right.”
