“Was it? Maybe. Blame the vodka—that was the second contender. I stuck with that. Never had a real taste for bourbon.”
He kept watching her, and smiled.
“King of the jungle.”
“What?”
“Your eyes. They might’ve been what started the whole thing for me—or your sparkling, people-pleaser personality. We’ll go with the eyes,” she decided when he laughed. “Tiger eyes, I thought. Lions are king of the jungle, but whatever. That ring. I can’t begin to say … you’d offer me that ring because I understand the power and meaning of that symbol. That particular symbol.”
“I’ve been advised not to get down on one knee.”
“Please don’t. You’d look ridiculous. And just stay over there for right now so I can try to be coherent. Marriage … Miles, I saw for myself how cold and wrong my mother’s was. And one of the reasons was me. A child,” she corrected before he could protest. “Any girl child anyway. So, it’s important we know how—”
“I want kids—that’s where you’re going. And plural. I don’t care what type. I want kids. I want family. With you. It’s a big house. We could fill it.”
Now tears swirled. “I want that, so much. With you.”
“Let’s get the rest off the table. If you want to open your own place, you’ll leave a major hole in the resort. It’s still your choice, and I’ll stand by your choice. So will the family if you’re worried about that. But you should understand, Après is yours anyway.”
She’d planned, and planned for so long. Then everything had changed.
And now?
“Après is what I want.”
“Okay, good. You’ll have to start coming to family meetings.”
“Really?”
“It’s part of the package.” He hesitated, so briefly, she might not have noticed. But she did. “It’s a big package, Morgan.”
“I like big packages. Your family must know because you have that ring.”
“They know. So does yours.”
“You told my ladies? Of course you did.” Overwhelmed, she swiped at more tears. “Just—just sit there, okay, until I get this under control. I don’t want to blubber when you put that ring on my finger. Not that ring.”
“Then hurry up.”
“Rozwell.”
“No.” His tone went sharp as a saber. “Don’t bring him here. He’s not in this. This is you and me.”
“You’re right. Did you really do this now because I’d been drinking?”
“Yes.”
“God, I love that, so much. Even though you didn’t actually ask, the answer would be yes, impaired or stone sober. You can get up now.”
She rose when he did, and held out her left hand. When he slipped the ring on, he gave it a wiggle. “It’s a little big for you. We’ll get it sized.”
“I could just do this.” She closed her hand into a fist. “Forever.”
“Yeah, that’ll work. I’ll go in late tomorrow. We’ll hit the jeweler’s when they open.” He took her fist, kissed it. “It should fit, because you do.”
He slid the ring off, then onto her index finger. “There, that does work. Wear it like that until tomorrow.”
“Problem solver,” she murmured, and pulled his face to hers.
The kiss warmed everything in her, lit up everything inside her. She had love, and the promise to make a life with love.
No, she wouldn’t bring Rozwell into it, but she knew now, without a single doubt, she’d do anything and everything to defend the life they promised each other.
“You could tell me again.”
“Tell you what?”
She cupped his face. “Miles.”
“I’m in love with you. You might as well know I’ve never said that to another woman. You’re the first.”
“It’s my job to make sure I’m the last. I love you, Miles. You’re my first, too.”
He rested his forehead on hers. “Then I’ve got my own job to do.” Then he scooped her up. “I say we seal the deal.”
“Yes, please.”
“I think we should do that where we started.”
She laughed as he carried her toward the sofa. “Another thing I love about you. So sentimental.”
“Practical. Couch is close.”
“Practically sentimental.”
He tumbled with her to the couch. “Quiet now,” he said as he tugged off her shirt. “I’m busy finalizing a deal.”