Page 129 of The Ruthless and the Strong

It took me a while to figure out what it said, but when I did, and my vision blurred. “Oh, God.”

Written in crayon, by Hunter’s handwriting, were the words, “Will you marry me?”

Slowly, I turned around and Max was kneeling in front of me, the ring I found weeks ago held up between two fingers, and Hunter standing next to him, looking happy.

“I love you,” Max said. “I loved you when I wasn’t supposed to. I loved you when you were married to another man, and I love you now. I don’t know if I believe in soulmates or not, but looking at you, I truly believe you are the only person for me. There has never been anyone else, and there never will be. Please, baby. Make me the happiest man on Earth, and be my wife. Be mine. You and Hunter. I promise I will always love and cherish you two. I will protect you both with my life. What do you say?”

I was crying then, the ugly kind of crying, as I nodded my head. “Yes,” I said. “Yes, yes, yes!”

Max beamed at me, grabbing my hand and putting the ring on my finger. A perfect fit.

Then he pulled me down on his lap and he kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and moved in closer. I wanted to burrow myself inside of him. I wanted to be as close to him as possible, even if I knew it would never be close enough.

“Thank fuck,” he whispered against my ear, so Hunter wouldn’t hear. Not that he would.

He was busy jumping up and down in excitement around us.

I looked into Max’s blue eyes, finally finding my place in the world.

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