“That’s crazy,” he said, taking another step.
“I know.” We finally stopped with only a whisper of space between our bodies.
“You want to know what’s even more crazy?” His hands gripped my waist. I nodded. “I’d marry you. If you wanted to. Right now.”
“Right now?” I moved my hands up his shoulders and around his neck, twisting his hair in my fingers.
“Right now.” He tipped his face down and gave me the lightest of kisses.
“We’re crazy,” I said with another kiss.
“Yes, we are. Certifiable.” Lucah’s lips became more insistent and I knew if I didn’t put a stop to it, we’d get started and then we’d head to the bedroom. I still had things to say about this turn in events. So I pulled my mouth from his.
“So what does this mean, exactly?” I said. We had to be absolutely crystal clear. He was going to have to write it out on a sticky note. Again.
“It means that both of us want to get married. Which is a good thing, don’t you think?” He started swaying his hips, so we were dancing.
“It is. So does it mean that I can expect a ring anytime soon?” It was kind of unromantic to ask. Most women wanted to be surprised.
“Now why would I tell you that?” He took my hands from around his neck and spun me out and then back into his arms.
“Because I asked you.” Lucah just shook his head and dipped me so far that I was afraid he’d drop me. But he would never drop me.
“Nice try, Sunshine. I only get to do this once, so I’m going to do it right. Now that I know that’s what you want.”
“It is.” I had to keep saying it to myself to feel how right it felt. I wanted to be his wife. For him to be my husband. Lucah Blythe would be my husband. “I want to someday be your wife.”
“And I want that. There should be a name for this. The state of being pre-engaged. I think there should at least be a ring involved, don’t you think?”
“A ring?” My voice squeaked as Lucah pulled something out of his pocket. He’d planned this. Well, probably not exactly as it had turned out, but he’d had the ring, just in case.
“This is a little something I’ve kept around for you, and I’ve been waiting for the right time. This is that time. I’m not going to get down on one knee, but I’ll crouch a little so we’re at the same eye level.” I would have smacked him for the jab on my height, but I was too busy looking at the ring in the box he held out to me. It was a ruby, set in a silver setting. It was chunky, and had designs on it that reminded me of something.
“It’s my mother’s class ring. Ryder and Tate and I . . . well, we split what was left after the fire three ways, and this was one thing I got. And it’s a ruby. So, with that said, Aurora Abigail Clarke, will you do me the honor of becoming my pre-fiancé?” I looked up at his beaming face. His freckles, his glorious blue eyes, that chin dimple.
“Yes, Lucah Jacob Blythe. I will become your pre-fiancé.” He slid the ring on my right ring finger, and then kissed my hand.
“I love you,” he said.
“I love you, too.” He rose to his full height and pulled me up with him, so I was on my tiptoes as we sealed our pre-engagement with a kiss. There was only one little snag that made me break the kiss.
“But we’re going to have to figure out how to deal with the work situation,” I said.
“About the work situation,” he said, and the flirty tone shifted and his face became serious. “I . . . I don’t think I should work at CE anymore. It puts you in a delicate position, and as much as I adore knowing that you’re in the same building, I just don’t think it’s the best arrangement. Unless you want me to stay, then I’ll stay. The choice is yours.”
I couldn’t tell him what to do, where to work. If he didn’t want to work at Clarke Enterprises anymore, then he didn’t have to. It would be . . . an adjustment not having him in the building, but if that was what he wanted, and if that was what it would take for us to take the next step, then I’d let him do it.
“No, the choice is yours. It’s your life.” He shook his head and pulled me closer, resting his forehead against mine.
“No, it’s our life. Yours and mine. Whatever I do affects you. Even though we’re not married yet. I don’t want to make any decisions without you.” I could feel a headache growing behind my eyes, and I didn’t know if I could make any more decisions tonight.
“Can we talk about it tomorrow? It’s been . . . a long day.”
“You’re right. We’ll talk about it tomorrow,” he agreed, and started backing up toward the bedroom, taking me with him. “But right now, I think we started something in the supply closet that I would really like to get back to.”
“I would also like to get back to that, almost future husband.” He raised his eyebrows at my use of the word ‘husband.’
“Whatever you say, almost future wife.”