“You savedme.”
“I hardly think those two equate to each other.”
“We can disagree on that. You wrapped your soul around mine, just like I want to do the same to yours. You came up to Wyoming and brought that little girl I love so much with you. I want to be yours in truth, Livvy. You traveled so far to be here, and I want to make sure you know I’m yours. And I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you never regret it.”
Tears fell down my cheeks as I tried to catch my breath. “You’re our home too, Ewan.”
Ewan kissed my tears away. “And if you ever want to visit your family, we have a plane to get you there.”
“That still sounds unbelievable.” I paused. “Should I ask how rich you are?” I teased, loving the way he threw his head back and laughed.
“I like how you’re asking that before you answer my question. Smart.”
I slid my hands over my face, mortification settling in. “That’s not what I meant.”
“I know, Liv. I know. Now, what do you say? You said yes to being my fake date, will you be my real wife?”
I looked down, and my breath caught in my throat.
He held an old-fashioned ring with a large oval diamond in the center, and more diamonds and blue gems surrounding the center stone.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered
My tough cowboy cleared his throat. “It was my grandmother’s. She had dainty hands just like you. Hopefully it fits.”
“I don’t even know what to say...”
“Marry me. We already promised to live our lives together. Here on the ranch, and down south with all of the Montgomerys. So no matter what happens, I am going to spend the rest of my life with you. But I want to do it as your husband. I want to face the future together, knowing that we have balance between us. Call me old-fashioned, but watching my best friend say his vows to the love of his life made me realize I want to do the same.”
“I never thought I would get married,” I whispered, speaking my biggest fear.
“Because the men in Denver and Colorado Springs are the most selfish asinine people I’ve ever met.” He burst out laughing, and he just shook his head at me. “You should have been taken long ago.”
“Maybe I was waiting for you? Or maybe I felt old-fashioned.”
“Let’s figure this journey out together. Let me help you raise that baby girl who captured my heart right along with you. You’ve been living up here for a few months now. I want you to stay. I might even let you convince me to change my name.”
“I think we can find a compromise.” I let out a breath and watched as he slid the ring onto my finger. “Yes. I will marry you. And I cannot wait to figure this out with you.”
Tears were sliding down my cheeks as Ewan leaned forward and kissed me soundly on the mouth before he leaned back, a frown on his face. “You know, I had a plan.”
I frowned up at him, wondering why he didn’t look too happy. Had I done it wrong? Was I supposed to say yes in a different way? “What do you mean?”
“There are damn candles all set up for later asking you to marry me. It wasn’t going to be public, because I know you hate public proposals. But it was going to beus. I just saw you here, and I couldn’t hold back anymore. I want you to be mine. As possessive and domineering as that sounds. I want you to be fucking mine.”
My eyes widened before I burst out laughing. “Are you serious?”
He stood up then, pulling me with him. “Amelia, come on over!”
My daughter ran toward us, her face bright. She leapt toward Ewan, causing my heart to stop, but he stood up and caught her, as if he had been doing this all of her life. That child of mine had no fear when it came to him. As if she trusted him to catch her always.
Considering that’s how we first met, maybe it was imprinted on her.
Maybe Ewan was just that good of a man.
“Well,” Ewan began, his voice grumpy as he set Amelia on his hip. “I jumped the gun.”
“What gun?” my daughter asked, all innocent eyes.
