Page 79 of Wildest Desire

“Well, I had other plans.” She gives me a sarcastic look. “No, not that, get your mind out of the gutter,” I say walking to the car. “This is something special.” I open the car door for her and wait for her to get settled.

As my nerves start kicking in, I close my eyes and take a deep breath, hoping to relax a little. Mom told me nervousness was a good sign. I’m still not sure how it’s a good sign, but she’s never been wrong before. Walking to the other side of the car, I look over at Lexi, still gazing at her father’s grave as we drive off.

Lexi was quiet on our drive. It’s been a long day, so I don’t blame her.

Pulling into the park, Lexi’s face brightens. “How did you know about the park?” she asks with a huge smile. “Dan told you, didn’t he?” Opening the door, she starts walking to the spot I had ready.

Dan told me that this park—this spot—means so much to her. It’s the same spot her dad asked her mom to marry him.

I stay in the car and just watch as she picks daisies from the grass. She turns around and stands there waiting for me. Getting out of the car, I check my pockets. I pull out my phone and throw it onto the seat. No one is interrupting me today.

I walk over to her, and she wraps her arms around me. “Ethan this is beautiful,” she tells me. “I’m so lucky to have you in my life.” She goes to walk away, but I stop her.

“No, I’m the lucky one. You know that I’m not really a person for words, so I’m just going to spit it out.” As I’m getting down on one knee, I hear her gasp. “Lexi, will you marry me?” I ask, opening the ring box.

Lexi looks at me without saying a word, moving or anything. I’m hoping she’s just shocked and that’s why she’s not answering me.

“Lexi,”

“Yes. Yes, I will marry you.” I stand up, wrap my arms around her waist, and swing her around. Placing her feet back on the ground, I kiss her. “So, are you just asking me to marry you or do I get the ring?” She starts laughing.

Taking her hand, I put the ring on her finger and watch her staring at the ring. I made sure the sales clerk at Tiffany’s only showed me the best rings they had. “I’ve seen better.” She gives me a wink and I can’t help but laugh.

“I can see you on our wedding day. Instead of saying I do, you’re going to say something you shouldn’t,” I say with a laugh.

“Yeah, and I’m not telling you what, either.” She jumps up and wraps her arms around my neck, and I wrap mine around her waist.

“How fast can I get you to be Mrs. Knight?” I ask, walking over to the table.

“I’m going to start planning as soon as we get home. Two months, max,” she tells me. Sitting on the bench, she takes her phone out.

“Two months?” I question her.

“Hey, I’m soon to be Mrs. Knight. I'll get it done, because if people don’t make it happen, then they know who they'll be upsetting. Mr. Ethan Knight, and that just won’t do,” she says with an enormous smile on her face. She’s got that right. Anyone upsets her, I'll make sure they don’t have a job.

I watch her looking through her phone. She props the phone against the wine bottle I have on the table and we listen to it ring.

I see Dan’s face pop up on the screen and before he can even say hello, Lexi’s shouting. “I’m engaged!”

Jon’s face pops beside Dan on the screen. “When will you be back so we can start planning?” Jon asks.

“Will you let me at least say congratulations to her?” Dan pushes Jon out of the way. “Congratulations, guys! I’m so happy for you.”

Jon pushes Dan back out of his way. “Yeah, congratulations! So, when will you be back? I'll pick up some magazines to look through for ideas.”

“In two days. I’ll call you as soon as we get back.” Blowing kisses to them both, she ends the call. “So, soon to be husband, can we talk about the thing we have been avoiding?” she asks, and I know what she's talking about. Children. “I don’t care. I love you. We can get a surrogate or adopt, or we can try on our own. The important thing to remember is they said it might be a little harder, but not impossible. So, I think we should get started trying. I also think, to help even out the odds, we should try at least three times a day,” I say with a wink, making her giggle.

“Only you would think like that, but what—”

“Lexi, nothing. I don’t care. I want to marry you, and we'll figure it out. I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” I tell her. She can try and say what she wants but it won’t make any difference to me.

“I suppose we could start today.”

I get to have her for the rest of my life and I can’t wait.

Lexi

Three years later.

---