Page 91 of Forbidden Love

“Tyler’s it for you,” Xander said, like it wasn’t a question.

My phone buzzed with a message from Tyler. He’d said to meet him at the new house. I wondered what he wanted to show me next. Maybe the outdoor patio that Sam had put in. Over the past few weeks, Tyler had said he needed to put the finishing details on the house, but it looked done to me, and I wanted to move in. I was tired of living in a rental, a place that wasn’t really ours.

I looked up at Xander’s knowing gaze. “He is.”

Xander hugged me. “Then I’m happy for you.”

I wanted my brothers to have what I did, but none of them were interested in settling down. They were too busy with the lodge and resort. I couldn’t blame them. I wasn’t ready until I ran into Tyler again, and then I couldn’t deny the connection we’d always had.

Every time I thought of our childhood talks, a warmth spread through my chest. What we had was special, and I wanted to nurture and preserve it.

“Tyler wants to meet me at the house.”

Xander’s responding smile was easy. “You’d better go then.”

It was the best feeling knowing that my brothers were good with me dating their friend. There were still awkward moments and times when my brothers tried to throw their weight around, but Tyler always said I was his, and what we did was our business, and that was the end of it. Their opinions didn’t affect our choices anymore.

I hugged Xander and got into my new SUV. I’d recently bought it because I was planning to stay in Telluride. I couldn’t wait to move in. I hoped that’s what Tyler invited me here to say. I pulled into Tyler’s—no, our—driveway, and my heart fluttered when I saw Tyler waiting for me on the porch. It was large and wrapped around the house to the backyard. There was a swing on one end, but we needed to buy furniture for both the inside and the outside.

We’d make this home our own, and I couldn’t wait to get started.

“What did you want to show me?” I asked after he’d leaned down to kiss me.

He interlaced his fingers with mine and led the way around the wraparound porch to the back. Here, the porch was large with an overhang for days for when it was raining or snowing. We wanted to enjoy the outdoors as much as we could. The steps led to the patio and outdoor kitchen Sam built for us.

“It looks gorgeous. Is the house done now?” I’d been waiting for this day for months. “Can we move in?”

“We can. The furniture that we picked arrived today for the master bedroom and the living room.”

I pulled away. “Let’s go see it.”

But he stood in place, not moving.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t want you to go into the house as my girlfriend.”

“What are you saying?” My heart rate picked up. I’d moved here because I loved the area and our families, but I’d stayed for him. I didn’t think I could live in Telluride without Tyler. It would be too painful.

“I don’t want you to be my girlfriend.”

I moved closer to him, almost disbelieving what he was telling me. His expression was serious, his eyes devoid of any emotion. Was he breaking up with me?

He dropped to one knee, his hand still holding mine. “When you cross that threshold, I want you to be my fiancée.”

I covered my mouth, my heart fluttering in my chest again. I was almost afraid to ask, but I needed to clarify what was happening. “What are you asking me, Tyler?”

A slow smile spread over his face. “Kylie Wilde, will you marry me?”

I was nodding yes before he finished his sentence. “Yes.”

I tugged him up until he stood in front of me. “You scared me.”

He chuckled. “I didn’t mean to. I was afraid you’d say no.”

“I could never say no to you. I was thinking on the way over here about how excited I was to start our lives together.”

“And now we will.” He slid the emerald-cut diamond onto my ring finger. “I just have one more question for you.”

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