When I open the box, I can hardly breathe.
Nestled inside, a diamond solitaire sits between two of the bluest sapphires I’ve ever seen in my life.
I look up to find Nate, holding our baby girl, on his knee, his hazel eyes intent on mine.
“I know it’s not a conventional solitaire, but nothing about you and me has been conventional.”
I chuckle, tears making my vision blur. “That’s true.”
“Plus, the sapphires reminded me of your beautiful blue eyes.”
“Oh, Nate.” I clasp a hand over my mouth, staring at the ring, my heart racing.
He looks at Lucy and back at me. “And this isn’t the way I’d planned to propose, but honestly I can’t think of anything better than having her with us.” He grins that panty-melting grin he saves just for me. “Truth be told, I couldn’t wait any longer.”
I swipe at a tear. “Oh, Nate. It’s perfect.”
“I haven’t even gotten started. But here we go.” He clears his throat, the grin disappears from his face, and he looks me in the eye.
“Charlotte Reynolds, when I opened the door that night, I took one look at you and knew it was game over. And not because you looked smokin’ hot in that dress.”
He grins and I laugh. “Seriously though, somehow I knew you were meant to be mine. It was magic.” His lips curve up on one side. “And I’m not really a guy who believes in magic when it comes to love. I never thought I’d be the guy who found his person.
“But here I am. A man, standing in front of the woman I’d lay down my life for, holding the child we created together, asking her to be his wife. I’m not nearly good enough for you, but I’ll spend the rest of my life showing you no one will love you more than I love you.”
He shifts Lucy in his arms and takes the ring from the box. He holds my stare when he says the next words.
“Marry me, Firefly. Make my heart whole. Because my life just isn’t complete if you’re not in it.”
Happy tears fall down my cheeks. “Yes, yes, yes.”
I hold up my hand and the sun catches the light of the diamond as he slides the ring on my finger. It fits perfectly.
He slides a hand behind my neck and pulls me to him. Our kiss is sweet and lingers until Lucy starts to fuss.
We laugh, and Nate wraps his strong arms around me and draws me in, the three of us together.
We may have had an unexpected beginning, but now we’re in this love forever.
epilogue 2
LUCAS
“When willLucas Raines return to baseball? The thirty-nine-year-old veteran pitcher is on the injured list—”
Click.
“Raines was put on the injured list in late April after he left the game in the seventh inning against the Mets, after experiencing tightness in his forearm and was unable to throw. He—”
Click.
“Larry, do you think Raines will be able to return to baseball after having Tommy John surgery?”
The pretty blonde newscaster turns to her balding, overweight, co-host Larry Gordon, who isn’t a fan of mine.
A little smirk plays across his lips before he speaks, making my blood boil.
Asshole.
