Page 260 of One Bossy Disaster

Silence.

I must've planned this in my head a hundred times. Exactly what I’d tell her and how I’d ask.

I love you.

I need you to be mine for the rest of our lives.

Will you marry me?

After the real dolphins mingling with our robot, it feels a tad anticlimactic.

Still, there’s no turning back now, and she needs to know how much she means to me.

“Destiny Lancaster,” I say, trying not to choke.

They’re filming this from the drone’s camera eye, too. I decide I won’t mind it years from now if we play this back and I have to watch myself going to pieces.

Just as long as she says yes, dammit.

Just as long as this Destiny is mine, now and forever.

She grips my hand like the little mind reader she is, willing me to carry on.

“I love you more than life itself,” I tell her. “You know me. I’m not good with big, feely speeches and I’m not perfect with fancy words, but you already know you’re the most precious thing in my life. The second closest treasure is that pearl, and it’s got nothing on you. I want you to take it. I want to make you mine every day I’m breathing. I want to come home to you. I want the laughter, the tears, the love, the sex, the disagreements that’ll have us ripping our hair out. I want everything. I want all of you, Dess, and I think you know I’ve already handed over all of me.”

Her eyes are huge and sparkling and she doesn’t say anything.

Radio silence.

I’ve had more affirming food orders.

Maybe I’m overzealous, but I take her hand and slide the ring on, still beaming a question into her eyes until it burns.

It fits too well, the pearl’s shimmering contrast with the tan of her hand.

Then I wait, looking at her with my heart in my throat, aging a year every second until the woman I love finally says yes.

She doesn’t say anything, though.

Shesquealsso loud my ears are ringing.

Her hand shakes as she clamps it over her mouth and she stares at the ring on her finger for a heartbeat too long.

I kiss her jaw, smiling as she melts into me.

“Dess,” I murmur. “I need words. Was that a yes?”

She laugh-cries and presses her face against my neck. “You never asked properly!”

“I can’t get on one knee while we’re in the water, brat.”

“Fine. I’ll settle for the question then.”

“Oh, all right.” I catch her chin in my hands and look down at her as she grins. “Destiny Lancaster... will you marry me?”

There’s the slightest pause as she stares up at me with her whole heart, and my nervousness evaporates.

“Of course I’ll marry you!” she rushes out.

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