Page 93 of All Yours

Her eyes widened. “Someone could walk in.”

I doubted Mrs. Pennington would allow anyone to disturb us. For a while, at least. But getting under her skirt wasn’t why I brought Sloane in here. Now that I was here in the moment, all the things I’d wanted to say left my head.

“Are you okay?” she asked, concern creasing her face.

“Yeah, of course. I’m here with you.” I smiled.

“You got pensive looking.”

“Because I’m considering my next words.”

She stepped backward, dropping her arms to her side. “That’s kind of scary.”

“No… no.” I took her hands in mine, rubbing my thumbs across her fingers. “You know how much I love you.”

“Yeah,” she said, drawing out the word.

I took a deep breath and dropped to one knee on the oriental carpet in front of her.

Sloane gasped, “Oh my gosh.” A nervous smile spreading across her face.

I swallowed hard, perspiration running down my back. “I’ve been wracking my brain for the perfect pretty words to give you a big romantic proposal. But the only thing coming to mind right now is that I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I want that to start now. And I’ll do anything I can to make you happy… marry me?” I asked, choking out the last words. Tears welling behind my eyes, I blinked them back.

Tears escaped down Sloane’s cheek and a million years passed before her head nodded. “Yes,” she whispered, laughing and crying. “A billion times, yes.”

I stood, wrapping my arms around Sloane as she threw herself against me. All the tension drained as I exhaled, with Sloane around me. She said yes, and I wanted to scream it from the rooftop. Sloane Thompkins agreed to marry me. Her lips found mine.

“Here,” I said, pulling back and reaching into my pocket and retrieving the little velvet box.

“Wait. There’s a ring?” Sloane said, sniffing.

“Of course,” I said, glancing around. A box of tissues sat on the end table beside the sofa. I reached over and grabbed a couple and handed them to Sloane, who dabbed at her eyes and nose.

“Okay,” she said, dabbing at her nose again. “I’m ready.”

I opened the box to reveal the simple, glittering solitaire ring. The glow of the fire reflected in all the facets, causing a brilliant sparkle.

“It’s so pretty,” Sloane breathed.

“Just like you,” I said, sliding the ring on her finger.

She smiled and dabbed at her eye, staring down at the bauble. I took her by the hand and led her to the sofa, where I pulled her down onto my lap and kissed her.

“So, is there a whole party downstairs waiting for us to return?”

“Why would there be?” I asked and tried to pull Sloane in for more kissing.

“Did you tell Mrs. Pennington what you were up to?” She blocked my kiss, holding a hand to my chest.

I stared at her, not wanting to admit that I let the town busybody in on it.

“That’s what I thought.” Sloane laughed. “You’re cute.” She climbed off me and smoothed her skirt her down.

“That skirt just went in the wrong direction,” I complained.

She rolled her eyes. “We have an entire party of people downstairs waiting for us to come down there engaged. The longer we stay up here, the more they’ll suspect we’re doing something.”

“I fail to see a problem there.”

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