Untouchable (Untouchables, 1)

We make it just in time for the last show to start. There’s a smaller crowd of people than there has been when we’ve come earlier. Carter stands behind me and wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me back against him as we watch the light show. He’s still feeling affectionate, rubbing his thumb over my knuckles, then twining our fingers together while he holds me.

I lean my head back against his shoulder, sighing contentedly. “I love you, Carter.”

I feel his warm breath on the side of my face as he murmurs, “I love you, too. I have one more early Christmas present for you.”

I grin up at the building as I tell him, “If you keep this up, there won’t be anything left to put under the tree.”

“Then I’ll just buy more,” he says, simply.

“You’re spoilin’ me, Carter Mahoney.”

“I’m always going to spoil you,” he promises. “You deserve to be spoiled.”

I reach my hand back to caress his face, but when I do, I freeze, seeing something on my finger catch the light. I didn’t put my gloves on when I left the restaurant so my hands are so cold, I can barely feel them. When I turn my wrist, my wide eyes land on a gorgeous diamond and aquamarine ring that has appeared on my left hand.

“Carter…” I trail off uncertainly, then look back at him.

He turns me around, capturing the hand he sneakily slid the ring on. Holding my gaze, he brings the hand to his lips and kisses my knuckles. Then, still holding onto my hand, he drops to one knee.

I gasp, and so do a few people in the crowd around us. A helpless grin splits my face, happiness welling up inside me like a volcano that’s about to explode.

“I’m sure you already know you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I can’t imagine what my life would have been like without you, and even if I could, I wouldn’t want to. You’re my partner, my best friend, and the only thing in this world I can’t afford to lose.” He offers me a little smile, knowing the answer even before the words leave his perfect lips. “Zoey Ellis, will you spend the rest of your life with me?”

“Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes,” I say rapidly, nodding and grinning. Then, saying to hell with it, I throw my arms around his neck and tackle him.

He manages to stay upright even with me coming down on top of him. He catches my weight in his arms, holding me against his chest and smirking down at me. “You sure?”

I squeeze him harder, then pull back, allowing myself a moment to actually look at and admire this beautiful ring. It’s not an ordinary engagement ring; the main stone is pale blue in color—aquamarine, not a diamond. The diamonds are set around the band and in a halo around the main stone. It’s the perfect ring for a winter proposal. The perfect ring, period. I’ve never seen a prettier ring, and I’m not just saying that because this one is for me, from Carter.

Well, maybe I am, but it doesn’t matter. I maintain that it’s the most beautiful ring in the world, and he’s the most wonderful man in the world, and if I get any happier tonight, I will literally explode.

Sighing and winding my arms around his neck again, I lean in and give him a big kiss. There are some responses from the people still gathered around, some chuckles and awws, one person inexplicably recording this on their phone, like the moment belongs to them.

It doesn’t matter. They could project this proposal on the building like they did the light show and I wouldn’t mind. All that matters is that we found each other, that we make each other happy, that he loves me so much he wants to marry me.

And I love him, too. I love everything about him, the good, the bad, and the in between. And now I know with an unshakable certainty, we get to spend the rest of our lives together.

That’s pretty damn lucky, if you ask me.

The End