Page 86 of Coronation
I take it.
“This is all very mysterious,” I tell him after I’ve allowed him to pull me to my feet as well, reaching out to take thegauzy white cover-up from the back of the chair beside us and pull it on over my swimsuit.
Ordinarily, having less of my skin on display has this man pouting, but not today. Ben only grins, drawing closer to kiss my cheek. “Just us,” he reminds me gently before drawing back, searching my face.
What is he up to?
“Ben,” I scold him weakly. “Seriously, what—” My question is answered before it’s asked, carried off in the warm summer breeze as the man before me gets down on one knee.
I can barely comprehend what’s happening, can’t trust the evidence provided by my own two eyes. A weak cry of disbelief escapes my lips when I notice the ring, glinting up at me from between his fingers.
“Zelda Moon Flowers,” he begins, and the look on his face… the look on his face is that of a man who issure. There is no doubt in Ben’s eyes, no worry or apprehension, only quiet, calm assuredness. “Will you marry me?”
Another cry, and my hands fly to frame my face as I frantically search for all the reasons I was sure this couldn’t happen. “But?—”
“Zelda.” Ben’s smile is huge. “Remember. Just us.”
All the air seems to vanish from my lungs as I stare at him, the favor he asked me a few moments ago suddenly making much more sense.But it isn’t just us. There are other things to think about here, so many reasons to say no, to be logical, and yet, Ican’tsay no. I don’t want to say no. If nobody else in this world existed, I would say yes. If everyone else in this world existed, I would say yes.
Yes, because I trust him.
Yes, because he is my favorite person.
Yes, because he fought for me to love him, and yes, because it worked.
I love him.I really, really love him.
The edges of my vision blur, and tears run down the sides of my face. “Yes,” I tell him with a weak sob. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
In seconds, Ben is on his feet, sweeping me into his arms. “Yes?” He laughs, so full of excitement and joy it makes me cry harder, my tears soaking through the shoulder of his shirt.
I nod, sniffling as he pulls back enough to take my face in his hands, wiping away my tears. “Yes.”
He kisses me then, and I think it may be the best kiss of my life. We cling to each other, swaying in the middle of the patio of Fernmoor House, and it feels like my heart is going to burst. This is a fairytale like no other, one written from nothing but two imperfect people who love each other more than all the reasons they shouldn’t.
“It’s not just because of the baby, right?” I demand when we break apart.
Ben’s expression of annoyed disbelief is perfectly familiar and predictable. “No. It’s because I love their mother.”
That is such a good answer that I start crying all over again, and my brand-new fiancé holds me against his warm, familiar-smelling chest, waiting patiently for me to get it together. When I finally do, I look up at him, my bottom lip trembling. “Can I see my ring?”
His answering laugh booms over the grounds, and he uncurls his hand, revealing the gold ring I only got a glimpse of before the tears. “There are others. If it isn’t to your taste,” Ben informs me as he slides it into place, and we gaze down at it together. “Or I can buy you a new one, if that’s what you want.”
It’s perfect, though.
“I want this one,” I assure him, resting my hand on his chest, admiring the new addition. The large, center stone catches the sunlight as I shift it this way and that, a beaconthat screams to any who might glance at it, that I’m going to marry this man.
I’m afraid to ask if I’ll be allowed to wear it to the coronation, or what announcing our engagement would entail, but Ben doesn’t let me wonder for long. “How would you feel about a short engagement?”
My eyes widen and lift instantly to meet his. “Short?Don’t I have to be a citizen to marry you, though?” I’m not familiar with the process, but can only imagine it wouldn’t be as simple as handing over my American passport.
“Technically.”
I splutter. “Technically?”
“We’re going to do it anyway.”
My expression must convey some of my alarm, because Ben sighs, taking my hand and guiding me back around to sit on the lounger. My legs all but collapse under me while he takes the one beside it, visibly apprehensive for the first time since he returned.
