Page 93 of Dr. CEO (The Doctors)

He produces another black ring box, exactly the same as mine. “Must be from the same place you bought yours. Beck’s friend owns the place, actually. He’s a jeweler.”

“What is it?” I ask, staring at the box.

He chuckles. “Why don’t you open it?”

I take it from him.

“Nothing in there’s going to bite you. I promise.”

“Pinky promise?” I grin at him.

He shakes his head. “I love you.”

This time I get to stroke his face and his skin against mine feels exactly right. “I love you, too.”

Finally I open the box to reveal a huge diamond ring. The stone might actually be as big as an acorn. “That’s big.” I glance up at him.

“If you don’t like it—”

“I love it. I mean, I really love it. It’s possible I love it almost as much as I love you.” He laughs and it warms me from the inside out. I glance from the ring back up at him. “And in case you were wondering, I love you a lot.”

He takes the ring from the box, reaches for my hand, then slides the ring on my left ring finger. It fits like a glove.

“So you were planning to propose and I beat you to it,” I say, wiggling my fingers, admiring the way the sunlight reflects off the diamond. It looks like it belongs there.

“I wanted a way to show you I’m not going to run again. I realized what a fool I’d been and how I never want to let you go again. I wasn’t sure if you’d take me seriously.”

“Bribery is always a good option. You know—for future reference.” I slide my hands over his hair and press a kiss to his lips. “I’ve missed you.”

He takes my face in his hands. “You never have to miss me again.”

We don’t need a wedding ceremony to commit to each other, though I’d gladly proclaim my love in front of all our family and friends. Sitting under the branches of an oak tree in Hyde Park, we have the only ceremony that matters. We exchanged promises, swapped I love yous and agreed to spend the rest of our lives together.

Vincent is my home now—and I’m his.

FORTY-ONE

Vincent

How did I get so goddamn lucky? I watch Kate at the window, looking out at the London skyline. I kick off my shoes and go to stand behind her.

“You like the view?”

She turns in my arms so she’s facing me. “Yes.”

I bend and press a kiss to her neck. “You smell like fresh summer flowers,” I say. It suits her perfectly. She’s like perpetual summer—all warmth and color.

“I like the idea of never missing you again,” she says. “Never missing your body because I get to have it every night.” She rounds her hands over my shoulders and down my arms as if she’s trying to remind herself how I feel.

“It’s all yours.”

She trails a finger down the buttons of my shirt.

“And mine is yours.”

I inhale, trying to let her words sink in.

“It feels good to be…linked like this.” Her gaze flits to the ring on her left ring finger. “You think people will judge us for moving so quickly?”

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