A Chance Encounter
I giggle. “If you did, I would hope I did.”
He spins me around, so my back is against the wrought iron railing and I’m now facing him. “I love you being pregnant. Carrying my baby…I want more, so many more,” he admits, not for the first time. The soft glow of the light from inside hits his face and his brown orbs sparkle. “I want a house full of little Blackwood babies running around.”
He pulls a small box out from his coat pocket and gets down on one knee. “But I don’t want them as your boyfriend, or even your fiancé,” he says. “I want them as your husband. With you as my wife. The day at the park I knew you were the woman for me, and I don’t want to go another day without you knowing I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And…” He swallows thickly. “I’d love to adopt Kendall. She has your last name, and it would mean everything to me if you both would share mine. When we bring that little guy into this world, I want it to be as a family, in every way possible.”
He cracks open the box and nestled inside the black velvet is the most beautiful engagement ring. My heart stills and then picks up speed. It should be too soon, right? We’re doing this all wrong. I mean, he’s proposing on our first official date. A laugh bubbles up my throat and escapes past my lips. This is crazy. Insane. But it’s also right. Because I know with every fiber of my being Easton is the man I want to spend the rest of my life with.
He extends his hand so I can see the ring better, and his eyes meet mine. “Will you marry me, Dash?”
He hasn’t even finished his question and I’m already nodding my answer. The second he stops speaking, I find my voice. “Yes! Yes, I will marry you.”
He slides the ring onto my finger and pulls me into his arms. He kisses me fervently, his tongue lashing out and dueling with mine.
When we come up for air, he takes my hand, which is now housing the beautiful light pink emerald cut diamond on a simple platinum band, and brings it up to his lips. I take a moment to admire it. It’s so simple yet elegant. Perfect.
“I want to marry you soon,” he says. “I meant what I said. I want to bring this baby into the world as a family in every way possible, including legally. Talk to Naomi and have her plan whatever you want, but the sooner the better.” He presses a soft kiss to my lips. “I can’t wait to make you my wife.”
His hands slide to my ass and he lifts me into his arms, carrying me back inside to the bedroom, where more candles and rose petals litter the area.
“Do you have any idea how much you mean to me?” he says, laying me on the bed and raining kisses all over my face.
I shake my head playfully, even though I know. He shows me in every word, every decision, every action how much I mean to him. “I think you’re going to have to remind me…”
“Oh, I can definitely do that,” he murmurs, kissing the corner of my mouth. “Consider it my first promise as your fiancé and soon to be husband: to show you every day just how much I want you…” He kisses the other corner of my mouth. “How much I need you…” He kisses the tip of my nose. “How much you mean to me…starting right now.” His mouth presses against mine and for the next several hours Easton does exactly as he promised.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
EASTON
“Are you sure you’re okay picking her up?” Sophia asks for the third time as she pulls her boots on.
“Yes. Go shopping, have lunch with your friend, plan our wedding.” I shoot her a playful wink. “Kendall and I will be fine.” This is the first time I’m in charge of picking Kendall up from school—the first time anyone, aside from Naomi, has ever been in charge of picking Kendall up—so I don’t take offense to her overprotectiveness. One of the things I love about Sophia is how protective she is of her daughter. She’s a damn good mom.
“Okay, if you have any questions, or if she needs to speak to me, I’ll have my phone on me.” She stands and kisses me. “Thank you.”
“Dash, you don’t have to thank me for taking care of Kendall. In a few short months she’ll legally be mine, and even without that paperwork, I love her as such. I want to be part of this, and a great way to do that is for me to spend time with her.”