Hot Maui Nights

Sara rushes in ahead of me with a bag of pregnancy test in her hand.

I wander into my office and pull the two point three-carat diamond ring out of my desk. I’m walking into our bathroom at the same time she’s coming out of the toilet, a freshly peed-on stick in her hand.

“How long does it take to marinate?” I flash her a teasing smile.

She giggles and rolls her eyes while washing her hands in the sink. “Three minutes.”

I take her hand and slide my back down the wall until my ass is on the floor. “Come sit with me, sugar.”

She sits beside me, her fingers interlaced with mine.

“Before we see the results, there’s something we need to talk about.”

Turning her face to mine, she gives me a small smile. “I guess we do.”

“This isn’t going to be nearly as romantic as I had planned, but I don’t want you to have one minute to question that this was going to happen, no matter what.”

Her brow furrows. “What are you talking about?”

I glanced down at my hand that is holding her ring, causing her gaze to follow. She sucks in her breath. “Oh, Tate.”

“Regardless of what that test says, I love you and want you to be my wife. I planned to propose next week, but—”

“Yes, absolutely yes.” She throws her arms around my neck, worming her way onto my lap. “I love you so much.”

I slip the ring on her finger, chuckling as I realize that the words about to come out of mouth are a little too late. “So, uh, will you marry me?”

She laughs. “You are such an ass.”

“Am I?”

Peppering my face with kisses, she nestles her head against my shoulder. “Yes, but you’re my ass.”

Holding my possibly pregnant wife-to-be in my arms, there is a tremendous amount of relief and gratitude coursing through my veins. I love this woman more than I thought I could love another person. There was a time I wasn’t sure we would get here—even though I made it very difficult for her to say no—but now that we are, I will do everything to protect my family.

As if she’s read my thoughts, she lifts her head from my shoulder, and we both look up at the countertop, just out of reach. “Are you ready?”

I grin. “Absolutely.”

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