Without You (Love Wanted in Texas 1)

I got down on one knee and took in a deep breath. “Lex, baby, I need to ask you something.”

When she turned to look at me, she was surprised to see me kneeling down. Her mouth dropped open, and her hands slowly moved to cover her mouth.

I saw the tears beginning to build in her beautiful blue eyes.

Alex

My heart had never beat this fast or this hard in my life—not even that day next to the small pond when Will had asked me to marry him.

“Lex, I know we’ve already told each other how we feel when we were at the pond. I want you to know that everything I said that day holds true today, if not more. You are my life. You are my world. And I love you fiercely. Alexandra Eryn Mathews, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife—but not until you’re finished with college and well on your way to being an independent woman?”

I pulled my head back and looked at him. “What?”

Will chuckled as he looked at Cassie and then back to me. “Your dad. When I asked him if I could have your hand in marriage, he said I had to make it very clear that you were to finish college first before I could officially make you mine.”

I couldn’t help it. I let out a sob and a laugh at the same time.

Will swallowed hard and looked away and then back at me.

“Um…I mean, I know you already said yes once, but you’re kind of freaking me out here, Lex.”

I nodded my head and dropped to my knees. I placed my hands on the sides of his face and brought his lips to mine. “Yes. I’ll marry you. A million times yes, Will.”

I pushed my lips to his as I wrapped my arms around his body. We deepened the kiss and soon got lost in each other.

When I heard Kip clear his throat, I pulled back some.

“I love you, Will.”

Will smiled, and for the umpteenth time this evening, my heart melted again as I waited for his response.

“I love you more, Lex.”

He removed my promise ring and placed it on my right index finger and then slipped the solitaire oval diamond onto my finger as I began crying harder.

It is perfect.

The ring was simple, nothing extravagant, just like I’d asked of him. A beautiful oval diamond ring was flanked by four smaller diamonds on each side, all placed on a white gold band. Another sob escaped my mouth as he leaned in and gently kissed me.

He pulled back and smiled as his eyes searched my face. “This was the first ring I saw. I knew the moment I saw it, it had to be yours.”

“Oh, Will, it’s so beautiful. It’s perfect, beyond perfect.”

Will’s eyes filled with tears. I began to see the reds and purples of the sunset reflecting in his eyes. We both stood up as the sun slipped below the horizon, ending one of the most amazing days of my entire life. Will placed his hands on the sides of my face and gently wiped the tears away.

Raising his eyebrow, Will asked, “Would you do me the honor of taking a walk with me on the beach?”

I giggled and nodded my head. “It would be my pleasure.”

Will

Lex and I headed down to the beach.

Cassie came running after us, calling out my name. “Will! Wait!”

Lex and I both turned to face her.

“You forgot this.”