“Shit. Get in the sleigh, Rona.”
I let her slide down my body so she can feel what she does to me while I keep hold of her assure her feet to gain traction on the ice and snow. “Thank you Cade, this was the most romantic experience of my life and I will treasure it always.”
“So will I, sweetheart. Let’s head back and get warm.”
“I can’t wait to show Elise. Oh no, what about Jake, Anna and Beth? I mean, they’re okay about our relationship, but what about me being your wife?”
Not quite knowing how to handle this other than to tell her straight, I say, “I asked their permission to marry you. Rona, I would have asked you to marry me even if they didn’t approve, hoping that they would eventually. But for my own peace of mind, I needed to know where my family was on this. They all love you for making me happy.”
“I’m glad you did. Thinking about whether or not they approve would have put a bit of a dampener on the day. So Cade, stop worrying, I really am fine with you asking them first.”
Kissing me, she snuggles against me, keeping her glove off to look at her ring. I can’t stop the grin from spreading all over my face.
Chapter 32
Rona
On the way back to the house, I can’t stop looking at my beautiful engagement ring. It’s platinum with an interwoven design, displaying a large diamond in the center and has lots of small diamonds within its curved lines. It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.
Glancing at Cade, I notice he hasn’t stopped grinning since he’d gotten down on one knee to propose to me. I hadn’t lied to him when I said it was the most romantic experience of my life. I’m so happy I could burst, and I have to stop myself from asking Cade to pinch me.
All too soon, we arrive back at the stables, and after Cade leaves the horses to the stable hands, he ushers me out of the barn and toward the house.
Walking through the back door, I find Jake grinning behind his cup of coffee. Scanning the room for Elise, Jake reads my mind. “She’s gone over to Anna’s. She shouldn’t be too long.”
He walks toward me grinning like an idiot. I can’t help myself and run to him, throwing myself into his arms for a really tight hug. “Thank you Jake, for everything.”
“You’re welcome. Mom!” he teases.
I swat him on the shoulder.
“Don’t sweat it. You’ll make a cool mom. You can practice on me!”
“Do I kill you now or later?”
“Preferably not at all,” Elise responds, joining us in the kitchen.
Screaming, I run to Elise, hugging her.
“Congratulations,” she manages to get out as we hug each other.
“Oh Elise, I’m so excited. We need to do something.”
She laughs. “I think you need to do something with Cade, not me.”
Looking at Cade, I run back over to him and throw my arms around his neck. His hands land on my butt. I wrap a leg around one of his, drawing closer, and slowly lick along his lower lip, moving to his upper lip. Dipping into his mouth to touch the tip of his tongue, I forget everything as he opens his mouth and plunders mine in a toe-curling kiss.
I pull away slightly. “I think I’ve forgotten my name,” I say, as Cade drops small kisses all over my face.
He smiles at me. “We lost Jake and Elise.”
“Oh God, as soon as I touched you, I forgot anyone else was here. I like winding Jake up, but not this much.”
“Don’t worry, he’s probably gone to do the same to Elise and a lot more.”
Still wrapped around him, I kiss his eyes, nose and finally his mouth. “Mmm. You taste good.”
“Isn’t that my line?”