Page 67 of Take Me Please, Cowboy
“They’re not that complicated.We marry, I move, and I join the Calhouns.”
“You’re being awfully optimistic.”
She pressed her finger to his lips.“There will be problems, but as Team Calhoun we can overcome them.”
“Last night you weren’t so certain.”
“Last night, I wasn’t looking at the big picture and today I am.I want a life with you, and a future with you, and I know if we talk to each other, and we take time to listen to each other, we can have a wonderful life together.”
He looked deep into her eyes, seeing her fire and strength, and it reassured him.He didn’t want anyone else on his team.“Will you marry me, Ansley Campbell?”
She laughed, a joyous bubble of sound.“Yes, Rye Calhoun.”
Chapter Twelve
Rye and Ansleywandered around Whitefish for an hour, talking, kissing, making plans, before Rye spotted a jewelry store and insisted they go in and look at rings.
Ansley didn’t want Rye to buy anything, but he wanted a ring on her finger, and even if money was tight, he would make it work.He pointed out several large white solitaire diamonds, the stones so white they glittered in the light, but Ansley shook her head.
“I don’t want a big rock,” she said, moving down to another display cabinet.“I want something more personal… more us.”
“What’s wrong with a nice diamond?”
“Nothing, but I paint and use my hands a lot and I don’t need a huge statement ring.A pretty band would be perfect, maybe even a band with a couple tiny diamonds set in it.”
The sales assistant had been listening and directed them down one more case where he drew out a black velvet tray filled with bands, plain, engraved, and some embedded with diamonds.
Ansley’s gaze swept the tray and almost right away she pointed to one.“That ring, with three diamonds.”
The ring was platinum, and the diamonds were tiny, but they glittered against the contemporary band.She tried the ring on and smiled.“This one,” she said, extending her fingers and watching the light catch the stone.“If it’s in our price range.”
It wasn’t a flashy ring.It was a clean simple design, but it did look good on Ansley’s hand.“You don’t want to try any others?”Rye asked her.
She shook her head, her hand forming a fist, her gaze never leaving the ring.“No.This is perfect.I was hoping to find a band with three diamonds.”
“Why three?”he asked.
“I fell in love with you over the three days of the eighty-fifth Copper Mountain Rodeo.I never want to forget that weekend, and how magical it was to spend time with you.”
Rye paid for the ring and until Ansley could have it sized, she slipped it on the chain around her neck, wearing it inside her shirt against her chest.They had lunch together and then Ansley said she needed to continue home, that her mom would worry if she didn’t return before it was dark.
Rye kissed her at her car, pinning her against her door with his lean hips to keep her from leaving.She didn’t mind.She didn’t want to go.They’d struggled to get to this point and now that they had, she just wanted to be with him, forever.
Her head was spinning by the time he lifted his head.Ansley blinked, dazed.“Wow,” she whispered, pressing two fingers to her trembling lower lip.“I’m not going to be able to drive if you keep that up.”
“I hate to see you go.”
“I know, but we’ll see each other soon.”
He pushed back long strands of hair from her cheek.“When?”
“Whenever I can get away again—”
“No,” he interrupted.“I’ll come to you this weekend.My turn to drive.”
“You’re sure?”
“Absolutely.”
