Page 146 of Legally Mine

I took a bite of my croissant to buy more time. I really wasn't ready for this, but it was here. I could stay with him and deal with the fallout of the attention, or I could be left behind.

I already knew which choice I would make. But before I could relent, Brandon spoke again.

"Will you marry me, Red?"

The question floated on the wind, so low I almost thought I'd imagined it. It wasn't until I caught his gaze, shyly and carefully watching for my reaction, that I realized it was real.

I immediately choked on my croissant and started to cough.

"Jesus!" Brandon moved quickly to pound me on the back.

The tiny piece of pastry flew over the edge of the castle wall and into the dry grass piled below. I grabbed the edge to regain my balance, heaving breaths. In, out, in, out. It wasn't until I felt like I wasn't going to collapse that I looked back at Brandon.

"Are you okay?" he asked warily.

"Did you," I heaved another breath between my words, "just ask me...to marry...you?"

Brandon quirked his mouth in a shy half-smile. "Yes...?"

My jaw dropped, and I blinked. "You asked me to marry you. Like you were...asking for a Coke. Or if we should go get brunch."

Brandon bit his lip, the amusement in his expression quickly giving way more to fear.

"Well, I can do it again if you like," he said. "I could probably manage to kneel. Maybe rustle up some flowers. One of these vendors has to have something."

I couldn't tell if it was a joke.

"Seriously, though." He rushed in to stand closer, taking my hand in his and thumbing over my knuckles. His tall form blocked out the sun. His earnest face was all I could see. "Will you? Would you? Marry me, I mean."

All of the blood must have completely drained from my face, because his hand dropped to my waist, and he steered me to the nearest bench.

"Skylar, are you okay?" he asked me again as I sat down next to him. "Do you need to put your head between your legs or something?"

I took another deep breath, then exhaled slowly. I did it again. And again. Finally, when things seemed to be running normally again, I was able to look at Brandon. He still hadn't let go of my hand, and gripped it even tighter.

"This is..." I started, "really...unexpected." I tugged at my hand, and had to pull it away a bit more violently to get it free.

"So I guess that's a no, then," Brandon said dryly, unable to keep the bitterness out of his voice.

"Don't do that," I said quietly. "Please. This is a lot, you have to admit. On top of everything else."

"Do I?" he asked petulantly.

I bristled. "Yes. You do!" I took a deep breath. I didn't want to lose my temper, but it was incredibly frustrating that he couldn't seem to see what he was piling on me. "Brandon," I tried again. "Please listen."

As if unable to bear the short distance between us, he pulled me onto his lap, securing me against his chest while he played with my left hand, weaving his large fingers in between mine.

"I didn't plan it," he said as he toyed with my bare ring finger. His blue eyes blazed, more vibrant than the sky. "This moment. These last two weeks," he continued. "Skylar, it's been perfect, hasn't it?"

I softened. "Of course it has. It's been a dream. But Brandon––"

"I just want that to continue," he said, staring down at my fingers like they might combust in his hands. Like everything around us might evaporate.

When he looked at me again, his eyes were almost pained with naked yearning.

"I love you so fucking much, Skylar," he said. "You have no idea how much this time has meant to me. To wake up in the mornings with you in my arms. To know that even when I'm stuck on a conference call, I can hold you in my lap."

"Brandon, I'm not a lap dog," I said. "Even if we get married, I'm not going to follow you around like a puppy. I'm starting my own career in literally three days." I stroked his cheek, reveling in the feel of his soft hair.

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