“What I should have said when I gave you this ring.” He held it up.
They’d taken it off her in the hospital and she hadn’t dared ask for it. She felt naked and half-sick without it. Relief nearly swamped her at seeing it again.
He turned it over in his fingers. “I picked this because it reminded me of you. Bold, sparkly, beautiful. Different in every perfect way.”
Her defenses, already shaky, collapsed. Seeing him kneeling there, usually so strong but now so vulnerable, won her over. He’d messed up but they could fix this. They could learn to communicate better, to share. Together, they’d unlearn some of the damaging interpersonal skills passed down from their parents. They would do better.
She reached out and cupped his cheek. “Yes.”
He shook his head but this time he was smiling. “No, I’m asking this time.”
She bit back a laugh because he seemed so determined.
“Ellie Gold, I love you more than anything. I loved you before I knew about the pregnancy and I’ll love you forever, if you let me.”
“Yes.” The word rushed out of her. She was laughing and crying and nodding. One big weepy mess.
“Marry me.”
This time she fell against his chest and felt his strong arms wrap around her. He whispered something into her hair. She could hear her name and the cheers from their family and friends who were sharing the moment. She loved all of it, all of them; mostly she loved Derrick.
She pulled back and stared up at him. Derrick, the strong and determined man who liked to boss her around and argue for no good reason. With him she felt the intoxicating mix of comfort and heat. She loved him and wanted him. She knew he would help protect their baby and they’d save each other if they lost it.
“I love you.” Her voice was soft but mighty.
“About time you said that.” He rested his forehead against hers. “I’m going to need to hear it a lot.”
“You know, if this is a real engagement—”
“It is.” He practically barked the response at her.
“You should know that I plan to be a bossy fiancée and an even bossier wife.” And that was an understatement.
Once she checked with the doctor about what she could do and couldn’t, she’d try to return to the work she loved. She’d also control his schedule a bit better than he did. No more all-nighters in the office or dinners at ten. She was going to get his life in line.
“Wait, what?” But he didn’t sound even a little worried about the idea.
“We’ll start with your work hours.” She glanced over his head at Jackson. “They are decreasing.”
He nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
Derrick cleared his throat. “We’ll talk.”
“I’ll win.” She looked around and realized she already had.
“I can hardly wait to negotiate our new agreement.”
She heard groans that matched the one she was holding back. “You’re not going to believe what provisions I add.”
He kissed her then. Long and lingering. When he lifted his head, all the stress he’d carried on his face for the past few days was gone. “You can have everything you want.”
Her heart swelled. “You’re going to be a great husband.”
* * *
Carter would arrive tomorrow, after what had turned out to be a ten-day trip across the country. Only his baby brother would draw out something like that.
“What are you laughing about?” Spence asked.
Derrick looked up to see Spence staring at him. He stood at the kitchen sink, nursing his morning coffee. Ellie wasn’t up yet, which Derrick assumed would become a new thing now that she was pregnant.
They had a wedding and a baby ahead of them. His father was coming for the rescheduled engagement party in a few weeks. All of the things Derrick never thought he’d have, a family of his own and the stability of friends and family around him, were happening.
“Life is pretty good,” he said in response to his brother’s question.
“For you.” Spence shook his head. “You’ve met Dad’s conditions. Noah is quiet, your PR image is pristine, and Carter and I are both here, at least for the short-term. For as long as you need us, actually.”
“Thanks.”
“Yeah, well. Apparently, I’m up next. Dad has some stipulations Carter and I need before we can settle the business and get him out for good.”
“You don’t have to—”
Spence made a strange noise. “I do.”
Derrick didn’t want to subject his brothers to their father’s stipulations, to have them run around trying to meet his conditions. He was willing to stop the nonsense. The business used to mean everything but his priorities had shifted. He knew he’d survive without the office now.