Sweet Little Lies (Angel Sands 3)

“I love it. It’s perfect.”

“I wasn’t sure if you would. We can go and look for a different one if you’d prefer?”

“Are you kidding?” she grinned as he slid the ring onto her left finger, and held it up to watch the stone catch the light. “You can’t give it to me and then take it away. And anyway, I love that it was your mom’s. It makes it even more special.” She caught his eye again. “I wish she could have been here.”

“So do I.”

“Maybe she is. And maybe she’s happy for us, too.”

“I forgot to ask you,” he said, an undeniably sexy grin forming on his lips. “Brooke Newton, will you marry me?”

“Um…” She swallowed a laugh. “Okay.”

“There’s something else I want to ask.”

“There is?” This time she was stumped. What else could there be?

“I want us to be a family. A real family. Once we’re married, and if you both agree to it, I’d like to adopt Nick.”

Tears formed in her eyes. “Of course I agree. And although we’ll ask Nick, I know he will too. He loves you so much,” she said, looping her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. “And so do I.”

He wiped the tears from her cheeks with the pads of his thumb, and pressed his lips against her damp skin. “You’ve made me the happiest man alive,” he told her, brushing his mouth against hers and making her shiver. “Thank you.”

It had been ten long years between their first kiss and this last one. Those years of heartbreak had finally led to this moment of pure joy. And as he held her tightly and kissed her until she was breathless, Brooke knew the wait had been worth every minute.

They were partners. Equals in every way. And together, their future looked perfect.