“Do you want to go inside?” His deep voice vibrated against her back.
“Let’s stay here a while longer, if the real-estate agent isn’t in a hurry.”
“Actually, I convinced her to have coffee across the street. We’re free to hang out a while longer.” He ducked around in front of her, leaning against the rail. “I was hoping we could talk.”
His green eyes went serious, crinkles at the sides fanning out. Her stomach flipped as hard and fast as a fish flopping in the distance.
“Okay, is there some kind of problem?” She smoothed the collar of his camo—he’d come straight over from work.
“I was thinking, since your stuff is still in storage, you might consider moving it here rather than searching for another place.”
Surprise stilled her. She’d been so careful to give Hugh time and space in the their relationship that she hadn’t been fully prepared for this moment. She’d told herself she was fine living separately. Taking it slow. But—wow. The thought of being with him full time grabbed hold of her heart.
“You’re asking me to move in with you?”
“That’s part of why I wanted to make sure the place met with your approval before I bought it.”
Nerves—and excitement—kicked up her pulse. “And the other reason?”
Holding on to the rail, he dropped to one knee in front of her. Her stomach dropped right along with him. There was no mistaking his intent.
He pulled his hand from his pocket, holding a small black-velvet jeweler’s box. “Amelia, will you marry me?”
Such simple words, but the feeling behind them, the emotion in his eyes and in his voice, was so far from simple, it humbled her. This complex man who had every reason to fear risking love again was giving himself, his heart, his future to her.
She sank to her knees, clasping both of her hands over his. “Of course, I will—move in, marry you, spend the rest of my life loving you.”
Hauling her to his chest, he hugged her hard and close, whispering “Thank God” against her hair with so much relief she couldn’t help but be moved. Then he kissed her or she kissed him. They moved so fluidly together it didn’t matter. The way he turned her inside out with a touch, a stroke, the glide of his mouth along her lips… her skin tingled, the heat radiating inward and rivaling anything that sun could crank out.
He eased her to her feet again, ending the kiss with a final brush across her lips. “I do have a ring here.”
He creaked open the velvet box to reveal…
She clapped a hand over her mouth.
A marquise-cut diamond of orangey pink hue, in a platinum setting with white diamonds on either side, refracted rays from the setting sun. “It was my mom’s. It’s never been worn by anyone but her. She passed away a couple of years ago. I would like you to wear it. I want you to marry me, be the mother of my children…” He paused, a long swallow working down his neck, hinting at just how big a risk he was taking here, offering up his heart again. “And God willing, should we be so fortunate, I’d like you to grow very old with me.”
Too choked up to speak, she simply held out her left hand. And it didn’t so much as tremble. She was that sure of her love for Hugh, that sure of how well they fit together.
He slipped the ring in place and pulled her hand back to his heart. “I understand that this is all happening fast, and if you need a long engagement, I’m okay with that. But I can’t just date and pretend we’re testing the waters when I know that you’re the only woman I want to be with. I know that’s not romantically poetic—”
“Shhh…” She placed her fingers over his mouth, unable to resist staring at the ring on her finger. “I understand what you mean, I understand you. And your proposal is wonderfully romantic and perfect in every way.”>“Your team, my family, they’re all fine. Aiden and Lisabeth are across the row with Joshua.”
While unable to move his head, he scanned the seated passengers and was able to find the family seated together. Joshua played with his new father’s glasses while his mother fed her son a banana. Hugh’s throat went tight at the sight of Joshua’s six teeth gleaming with his smile. The family tableau was… perfection.
Amelia kissed his forehead. “Thank you for making that possible.”
“You held up your end.” And then some.
“Well, my brother wants me to let you know he’s permanently on call for you if you need him.”
“I’m sure having an extra doctor on hand came in handy after I passed out.” He tried to put together the sequence of events in his head. “What happened to Jocelyn?”
“She’s dead. The baby she had with her is still on the island, with the military nurse in custody for questioning.”
All the pieces fell into place, neatly tied up in his mind. The nightmare was past and Amelia was safe. “It’s finally over then.”
She placed her hand on his chest, on his heart. “Actually, I was hoping that this is actually the beginning for us.”