“Sort of,” Will said, visibly gulping.
With her hand still on his shirt, she felt his heartbeat pounding against her palm. “What’s wrong? Is someone hurt? Did something happen with your grandmother?”
“Zoe.” Will chuckled and pulled her hands down to her sides. “Everything at home is fine.”
“Then what are you doing here?”
“I came…” he began, letting go of her hand. With his fingers he began to unbutton his shirt. “Zoe, since laying eyes on you in Kelly Towers three months ago, you have been an intricate part of my life. You’ve been my best friend, my confidant and the woman I have fallen in love with.”
“Will?” Zoe cocked her head to the side and watched Will get down on one knee. Tears sprang to her eyes. A drop clung to her bottom lash, blinding her. Once she wiped it away, Will had completely taken off his Oxford and underneath he wore a blue cape.
“Zoe, a few months ago you asked me to choose you, and I am down here on bended knee, asking—no—” Will shook his head “—I’m begging you to choose me and be my wife.”
“Are you serious?” The words barely got out of her mouth. She couldn’t swallow past the lump in her throat. She knelt down with Will and began kissing him without a care in the world for her lipstick.
Will broke the kiss first. His thumbs wiped away the happy tears. “I’ve never been more serious in my life, Zoe. Please save me one last time and tell me you’ll marry me.”
All her life Zoe had wanted to be a part of Ravens. Before falling in love with Will, she thought it was the business she wanted to be a part of, but after getting to know everyone, Zoe realized she wanted to be a part of his life and his family. She’d known about their history and now she had the chance to be a part of the future. “Oh, my God, yes, a thousand times over, yes.”
“I have this ring,” Will said. His hands nervously reached into his pocket. The pear-shaped diamond sparkled in the afternoon sun. It was the ring she’d spied in picture after picture during her research on women marrying into the Ravens family tree. The heirloom was passed on from generation to generation. “It belongs to you, Zoe. You were meant to be a Ravens.”
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