“I’m proud of you, Austen. I know it wasn’t easy for you, but I’m sure it meant a lot to Brodes.”
“You’re right, it did.” She nuzzles further into my chest, and I wish I could freeze time. Here I am with the woman of my dreams in my arms, a belly full of my favorite pie, and a house full of our families.
Dakota scootches back and asks, “Are you ready to work off all that pie, Golden Boy?”
“Sure am, let’s go,” I say as I lift her off my lap.
Thirty minutes later, Dakota’s sitting on a bench while I kneel at her feet, lacing up her skates. Snow falls down around us in thick, cottony flakes.
“What is it about a man tying a girl’s skates that is so damn sexy?” she asks.
I don’t bother hiding my cocksure smirk. “You think I’m sexy?”
She scoffs and rolls her eyes. “As if that wasn’t already glaringly obvious. But I’m having a hard time restraining myself watching your hands work like that.”
“You love what these hands can do, don’t you?” My grin turns lethal when I grip her thighs, and her breath hitches, causing her to squirm. “Don’t worry, I plan to trace my hands over every inch of your gorgeous body later, Dream Girl.”
Hopping to my feet, I offer her my hand and help her stand up, giving her a moment to get her bearings on the small blades.
We walk hand in hand down the padded path to the outdoor ice. I step onto the ice and turn to help Dakota, offering both my hands to help her balance. She takes a few timid steps onto the ice, and I have to bite back the chuckle that rumbles in my chest.
Seeing Dakota on the ice is like watching a baby fawn taking its first steps—she looks completely awkward like her legs might give out at any second.
I guide her to the boards and have her hold tight while I demonstrate how she should stride. After a few passes around the rink, she gets the hang of things, and we’re able to hold hands side by side.
Once I spot Griff, Mack, and Cadence making their way onto the ice, I nod over to them, and Mack gives me a thumbs-up.
Knowing that’s my signal, I place my hands on Dakota’s waist to stop her since she still doesn’t know how to stop. She whirls around, and confusion mars her face until I take her hands in mine. Her eyes soften when she sees mine are tear-filled.
“Sometimes it’s hard for me to remember what life was like before I met you. I used to have a one-track mind that was solely focused on hockey as my entire future. But then you came in without warning and turned my whole world on its axis. I can’t imagine my life without you, Austen.” Clearing the emotion clogging my throat, I continue, “You have shown me what all-consuming, maddening love is like. There has been no greater privilege in my life than being called yours.”
Pulling out a Tiffany blue box from my coat pocket, I drop down to one knee and open it. Dakota’s eyes never leave mine, even as her mitten-covered hands cover her mouth with a gasp.
“I promise to show you what love should be like for the rest of my life. My love will never be contingent—it will be unwavering, and my heart will be wholly yours until my last breath. Will you make me the happiest man in the world by doing me the honor of becoming my wife?”
I don’t have to wait more than the time it takes for Dakota to barrel into me as she squeals, “Yes!”
“Yes?” I press, not wanting to have heard her wrong.
“Yes! Yes, of course, I’ll marry you,” she murmurs against my cheek as I stand us up and spin her around.
With one arm wrapped snugly around her waist, I throw a fist in the air and shout, “She said yes!”
We make our way over to the entrance, where our families cheer their congratulations as they crowd around us.
“I’m so happy for you two,” Mack says as she wraps us both in a hug.
Dakota gets picked up by Brody in a bear hug, and I take the moment to give Mack a big squeeze of my own.
“Believe it or not, but I knew she was the one from the moment I saw you lock eyes with her. Call it twin intuition, I’m not sure, but I could feel that she felt like home,” McKenna tells me as tears well in her eyes. “I’ve never been happier for you, Carse.”
“Thanks, Mack,” I choke out, taking a deep breath as I attempt to keep my shit together.
“I’m just surprised she said yes,” Griff teases as he punches my shoulder, giving me just the distraction I needed.
“Yeah, yeah. Well, if you could convince my sister to marry your ass, I figured I might as well shoot my shot with my dream girl.”
“Did I hear my name?” Dakota calls out, walking back over to us after giving our parents hugs.
