Page 90 of Belong With Me

Logan and Savannah were in the kitchen washing dishes and whispering in hushed voices, while Colton and Kenzie were in the sitting room, watching some Christmas movie on the television. “I’ve got a present for you, darlin’,” I whispered in Sienna’s ear.

She giggled. “Christmas isn’t until tomorrow.”

“It can’t wait,” I told her, “I can’t wait. C’mon, let’s go.” I tugged her from where we stood in the dining room. “We need to go for a drive.” This time I was prepared, though. I pulled a bandanna out of my pocket and wrapped it over her eyes. “There’s no peeking this time,” I tell her before leading her to my truck.

“Seriously?” she asked with laughter filling her tone.

“Yes.”

Eventually, I saw the Beetle where it sat in the same place as our first date, as discussed with Logan. But even I hadn’t expected the twinkling fairy lights draped through the willow, casting a soft glow over the scene. I stopped the truck a little way away and guided Sienna from the cab, directing her to the scene.

As I slipped the bandanna off her eyes, I heard Sienna’s breath hitch. Her hands came up to cover her mouth and she looked at me. “Oh my God. You had Logan fix the Beetle?” She threw her arms around me, kissing my lips for a second before running to sit behind the wheel. As I slid into the passenger seat next to her, I heard her say, “God, I love this car.”

“Well, it’s not in running order, it was too badly damaged, but I couldn’t let it go to scrap.”

“That’s understandable, I did do a number on it.” Her voice soft in the enclosed space.

“Remember the last time we saw this Beetle? When I laid eyes on you for the first time?”

She nodded and looked at me. “It was certainly an experience.”

“Now we’re sitting in it together and I’m asking you to love me for the rest of our lives.” I undid the ribbon hanging from the rearview mirror. On it hung a simple, diamond solitaire engagement ring.

“Oh, Ryder.” Her eyes couldn’t find a point to rest. They flicked quickly between me and the ring. “But we’ve only been together a short time. Are you sure you’re ready to take this next step?”

“Darlin’, that time was all I needed. I lost you once, but that just cemented it all for me. Sienna, you’ve helped me become the man I never thought I could be again. You’ve made me happier than I have ever been, happier than I ever thought I could be after what I’d been through. From the moment I saw you in the dirt and felt the bite of your sass, my walls starting to crack. When we shared that first kiss, I was completely under your spell. Woman, you’ve bewitched me in every sense of the word. Will you spend the rest of your life letting me show you how much I love you? Will you build a future with me, Sienna? Will you marry me?” I offered her the ring, and my very sense of self along with it.

“Yes. On one condition,” she sobbed.

My heart thundered in my chest. “Name it and it’s yours.”

“That’s exactly what I want to do. I want to name this car the love bug.”

Smiling wide at her, I chuckled a little. “You’re so cheesy sometimes, woman. I love it.” I slid the ring onto her finger and pressed my lips against hers. The console of the car made it awkward, but damn if this wasn’t the moment that I’d hoped for since she left me for Louisiana.

There was a wet warmth on her cheeks as she whispered between kisses, “I love you, Ryder Larsen. I love you so, so much.”

I couldn’t wait to share the news with my family.

After kissing like teenagers under the stars for what could have been an hour, we finally headed back to the main house. Sienna was practically bouncing in her boots and my heart was beating a thousand beats per minute. I was so excited to tell my family.

Busting through the door, we made it to the kitchen and noticed that Kenzie and Colton were gone. Logan was sitting on the coffee table in front of Savannah, his hands wrapped around hers. Deep in conversation. Whatever it was, it looked serious. The lighthearted mood between them from earlier was gone. I wondered what the hell had happened in the space of time that had passed.

He spotted me and dropped her hands and stood, plastering what I knew to be a fake smile across his face. “Sooo?” he asked.

Savannah stood and turned toward us. Were her eyes red right now? I raised an eyebrow at her in silent question. As I stalked closer, she raised a hand to me. “I’m fine, honestly. I was just remembering Christmases when Momma and Dad were still around, that’s all.” She leaned against Logan’s much larger frame in a completely comfortable way and continued, “Do you have something to share? Sinny is practically beaming behind you.”

Stepping past me, she raised her hand out in front of us and showed off her diamond ring. My diamond ring. I had designed it for her during a trip to Fort Worth a month ago. Damn it made me swell up with pride to see her so goddamn happy to be wearing it. “I’m going to be Mrs. Ryder Larsen.” Fuck those words didn’t make my cock swell with pride too.

Logan and Savannah both offered congratulations, and Van wrapped her arms around her future sister-in-law while Logan clapped me on the back. “Congrats, man.”

When he leaned in to kiss Sienna on the cheek, I noticed her eyes were wet with unshed tears at whatever he had said to her. “Thank you so much for the bug. It’s wonderful.”

Not long later, Logan headed off for the evening, Van excused herself to her room, and I was left standing before the Christmas tree with the woman I loved.

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