Page 84 of Seaside Cowboy's Second Chance

“I already have. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

The golden retriever whined.

Dallas chuckled. “And with you, too, of course. I know it now says ‘marr me,’ but will you marry me?”

The dog barked again. Her exasperated look clearly said, “These humans!”

“Oh right. Thanks for the reminder. Or several reminders.” He carefully untied the pink ribbon on Breeze’s collar, and the ring plopped into his palm.

“Are you for real?” Skylar’s eyes still stayed huge.

His heart dropped near the candles. Maybe the proposal wasn’t such a great idea. Was he moving too fast for her? “You’re my dream and my reality, and I want it to be this way for the rest of my life. But if you don’t feel that way or if you need time—”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Skylar squealed, jumped, and clapped. “I mean, yes to marrying you. I don’t need more time. We’ve waited waaaay too long already.”

She leaned to hug him, then bent to hug Breeze. The golden retriever rose on her hind paws, and she and Skylar did some weird dance, both squealing.

He laughed, deliriously happy. His girl was definitely back. Or rather his forever woman. Her smile was open and bright, just like before.

Ecstatic, he placed the ring on her finger and got up to catch her in his embrace. He loved the sound of her laughter and the confidence that returned to her. He loved the new pensive and practical side of her. He lovedeverythingabout her.

Her gaze lingered on the ring, and her smile slipped a bit.

He froze. “You don’t like it?” He’d enlisted help from Marina and Skylar’s grandma, but one never knew.

“I love it! I absolutely love it! But... it’s not the same ring you proposed with the first time. You didn’t... didn’t need to get an upgrade. I’d happily marry you even if you put a rubber band on my finger.”

“I, well, I threw that ring into the ocean after you returned it to me. I was angry then. Okay, I dove after it afterward but couldn’t find it.”

“I’m sorry for everything I put you through.”

He didn’t want her to be sad. Ever. “It’s in the past. And you had your reasons. But you’re here now. My love and my bride.”

“I’m here now,” she echoed, her eyes warm again. “With you, my love and my future husband.”

The tender way she said those words gave him a jolt of joy even more than the words themselves. “It’s not just about giving you a more expensive ring now. I want the ocean to wash away past hurts and take that ring. This is a second chance, but it’s also a new beginning for us.”

“Yes, it is.” She drew him to her and brushed her lips against his, sending a delicious shiver through him. “It truly is.”

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