His shout echoed through the room as he came hard, his expression fierce as he pressed his groin to hers.
He braced his hands to either side of her as he stayed inside of her until his breathing calmed and the beating of her heart finally slowed.
And then he moved onto his side and took her into his arms and held her.
Chapter 28
“I can’t.” Megan shook her head and balked as Ryan tugged her toward the Ferris wheel that rose up in the night, lit with bright lights that blinked in invitation. “I’ve told you, those things scare me to death.”
“It’s perfectly safe and I won’t rock it.” Ryan gave her a quick kiss. “Promise.”
Megan’s heart pounded at the thought of riding the dreaded thing. She looked up into his denim blue eyes and saw love there and she couldn’t refuse him.
“For you.” She gave him a shaky smile.
“Come on then.” He grinned and squeezed her hand as they walked down the crowded midway, through the brilliantly lit carnival, and toward the monstrosity that they called a Ferris wheel.
It was their one-year anniversary since having met at this very place, the carnival at the county fair. And now she was going to brave her biggest fear.
And conquer it. Yes, she would.
She hoped.
When they reached the Ferris wheel, she felt jittery as they stood in line. Ryan dug tickets out of his pocket. She squeezed his hand tighter when it was their turn to get into one of the seats that had stopped at the bottom, ready for them to climb in. Ryan let her in first and he slid in next to her and put his arm around her shoulders.
Something about his touch gave her a sense of security that calmed her fears. She leaned on his shoulder and he kissed the top of her head.
The wheel jerked as it started to move to let the next passengers on. As they rose she took deep breaths and let them out. She found her breathing was calmer and her heart didn’t pound as hard while she was within the security of Ryan’s arm.
They reached the very top of the Ferris wheel and Megan looked out over the sea of people below, absorbing the flashing lights, color and carnival sounds—music and the cries of carnies calling to each passerby.
She looked beyond the carnival. The view extended for miles, city lights glittering in the darkness.
“I have something for you,” he murmured in her ear.
She tilted her head to look up at him. “And what would that be?”
He slid his hand into his jeans pocket and pulled out a square velvet box.
Her heart started pounding again, for an entirely different reason.
He opened the box and there, set against black velvet, was a diamond solitaire.
The Ferris wheel started to slowly turn, but she barely noticed it as she raised her gaze from the diamond to meet his eyes.
“I’ve wanted to wait for the right time to ask you and I think where we met is the perfect place. “ He smiled as lights flashed around them. “I love you with everything I am, Megan. Will you marry me?”
“I love you, Ryan.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, mindless of the swaying of the seat that her movements caused. “Of course I’ll marry you, a thousand times over.”
He kissed her long and hard, then drew away. He took her hand and slid the ring on her finger and surprisingly, it fit perfectly. “Tess gave me your ring size,” he said.
“Tess knew?” Megan laughed as she looked at the diamond on her finger. “No wonder she looked like she was about to burst with something when I left. She wouldn’t tell me what was going on. Now I know.”
Her ring sparkled in the flashing lights as she leaned on his shoulder.
“How about kids?” he asked and she brought her attention to his. “We can start as soon as we’re married. And I want to be married to you as soon as possible.”
Children. Just like she’d always wanted.
Her smile broadened. “We can practice just as soon as we get home.”
* * * * *
Before they headed home, Megan and Ryan stopped at her mother’s restaurant and bar. With the success of the Hummingbird Café, they’d expanded into the part of the building formerly occupied by Roger Meyer’s Chuck Wagon.
They passed Nectars, the bar section of the restaurant which was now just called the Hummingbird. Laughter and music spilled out onto the sidewalk from the bar.
Megan looked up at Ryan. “It’s amazing how incredible the place is doing,” she said.
“Considering the award-winning cuisine and nightlife, it’s not surprising at all,” he said as they reached the entrance of the Hummingbird. “And the peach pies.” He grinned down at her. “Your mom’s peach pies are the best ever.”