“Come sit down.” He led me over to the romantic setup, and before I sat, he kneeled down and removed my cowboy boots. Once I was barefoot, I padded to the center of the blanket and sat, my flirty dress flowing around my form. Usually, I didn’t wear dresses to go for a ride on the horses, but it was my last night in Sandee, my last night with Jarod, and I wanted to look pretty for him .
I pulled my red hair over my shoulder and twiddled my fingers as he removed his boots, then dug into a picnic basket that was already sitting on the side of the blanket.
“Wow. You prepared well for this.”
He grinned wide, his smile melting my heart and making my stomach feel like a thousand butterflies had taken flight within it.
Jarod took off his ever-present baseball cap and ran his fingers through his overly long, dark-brown layers. He needed a haircut about two weeks ago, but I quite liked the rough-around-the-edges look. Made him seem older, wiser—like a man without a care in the world.
He dug into the basket and pulled out a bottle of champagne, something I’d only tasted on rare occasions when our grandaddy would allow me a few sips at a celebration. To serve it, Jarod brought out two red plastic Solo cups.
I giggled. “Very fancy. How’d you get the bubbly, hmm?”
Jarod popped the cork and winked. “I have my ways, woman,” he teased, using a low, growly voice that wasn’t at all like his normal tone.
I covered my mouth with my hand and chuckled at his antics to impress me. Then he looked at me with those dark-brown eyes, and I fell even more in love with him. We’d been together four years and hadn’t taken the last big step, but I knew in my heart of hearts that tonight was the night. It was now or never. I didn’t want to go to college without ever having experienced the man I loved in all the ways a grown woman should. And now that I was eighteen and out of high school, I was ready. Ready for the next step in our relationship and our future.
Jarod handed me a cup filled with the golden liquid and lifted his own. “To you, me, and our future together. I love you, Savannah.”
I smiled wide and clinked my plastic cup with his. “To you, me, and our future. I love you too, Jarod.”
We both took a sip and then he leaned over and took my mouth in a deep, wet kiss. Our tongues tangled, dancing in a rhythm we’d perfected over the years.
Slowly he pulled back, set his cup down, and stood up. Then he reached for my hands, took my cup, and set mine next to his before helping me stand .
I frowned as he immediately went down on one knee.
My eyes widened to the size of saucers. “What are you doing?” I gasped, his intention very clear.
“Making you mine forever.” He grinned, and my heart pounded a thunderous beat in my chest as I trembled with joy, excitement, nervousness, and a hint of fear.
“You can’t be serious?” I whispered.
“Oh, I am. Savannah McAllister, the most beautiful, kind, loving, and gracious woman I’ve ever known. I want more than anything to make you my wife one day. But we both have much to do before that happens. So today, I’m giving you my promise, and with it, a token of that promise.”
I shook my head. “I-I don’t understand.”
He kissed the hand he held. “I’m promising with this ring that one day I’ll officially ask you to be my wife. When you’re done with school and I’ve built up my career on the ranch and can give you the life you deserve, I will ask you to marry me. For now, I want you to wear this ring as a symbol of our love. While you’re away, know that I’m back here waiting for you and working on our future.”
Tears filled my eyes at the incredible gesture.
“What am I supposed to say?” I didn’t know how to react or what to do, even though it felt good and right.
“Say you’ll wear my promise ring? Be mine even when you’re away.”
I let him put the ring on my left ring finger. He leaned over and kissed me there, right on top of his promise. “One day this will be a diamond worth drooling over, paired with a wedding band.”
“I can’t wait for that day,” I admitted, in awe as he tugged me down to where he was and kissed me.
The kiss turned heated instantly. His hands roamed up my back, down my sides, and back up to cup my aching breasts. I moaned when he pinched my nipples through the thin fabric of my dress. The straps were spaghetti style, and there were cups inside the top, so I wasn’t wearing a bra. With quick work from his talented fingers, he untied both the bows at my shoulders, and the top fell between us, baring my skin to his eyes and the open air.