“Just get a little on your tongue to give it a try. It’s pretty powerful stuff,” Vincent said as he handed her the jar. She took a sip and her eyes went wide as she swallowed and started coughing and her face turned red.
Both men chuckled before taking a swallow of it themselves.
She looked up at them and her smile filled her whole face. “Thank you both so much. I knew how excited Patterson was when he bought the truck and how much he was looking forward to the project. And I’ve always liked these older trucks.”
A softer song started playing on the radio, with a male vocalist, as if providing the two of them with the right moment. He’d never heard it before but instinct told him it was time and he nodded at James.
James said, “You remember when Kendry mentioned that we’d told him you were the love of Patterson’s life?”
She sobered a little. “I didn’t know how to reply. Saying yes seemed egotistical…but I wanted to say yes. I really did.” Her eyes grew a little teary and Vincent was glad James was speaking because a knot suddenly formed in his throat.
“There was a reason we knew it was true. We found something else with the crystal key ring that made us certain of it.”
She looked at the key ring still in the truck ignition, stifled a small sob, and said, “He knew me better, I think, than even he realized.”
Vincent was watching James and saw the way he struggled to swallow as he reached in the pocket of his jeans. Vincent put the mason jar on the hood of the truck and moved to stand beside his brother, so both of them faced her.
James took her hands in his and they both went down on a knee before her.
Her delicate brow furrowed in reaction, her beautiful hazel eyes went wide as her eyes darted back and forth between them, and then a beautiful smile lit her face.
She lifted muddy hands to her mouth as James held up the diamond engagement ring to her. “This ring was chosen by Patterson. He knew we’d propose to you eventually. He must’ve bought it right before…right before the accident because we didn’t know he had it, although he’d mentioned that there was no reason not to get one.” James looked down, struggling to continue.
“Maybe he is with us right now, fluff,” Vincent said after clearing his throat. “This feels so right. Marry us. Make us the two happiest men who ever walked the face of the earth.”
“Yes, marry us, honey. Let us take care of you, be with you…love you.”
She blinked and her eyebrows rose as she reached out to clasp both of their hands. “You’re not doing this because there’s a chance I could be pregnant, are you?”
Without hesitation, they shook their heads and James spoke up first, fire in his eyes. “No. Not at all.”
Vincent squeezed her hand and said, “We wanted to propose before you knew if you were pregnant or not so you’d know it doesn’t affect how we feel about marrying you. We want you, in our lives, for all of our lives, no matter whether you’re expecting or not. We asked now so you’d know we were serious about how much we want you. And yes, I want you to be the mother of my child, either now or later. God, yes, I want that.”
The soft vocals continued in the background and a smile spread across her lips again as she stayed that way, holding their hands, her lips and her cheeks growing rosier, and tears fell from her eyes. “Yes. I don’t think there’s much else that would make me as happy as marrying you…unless maybe it’s getting to be the mother of your children. I’ll marry you. Yes.” She tilted her head back and cried out. “Yes!” They rose to their feet and she fell into their arms. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
James slid the ring onto her finger, holding her hand as it shook in his gentle grasp. She looked up at both of them and said, “Who’s carrying me inside and cleaning me up so I can make love with both of you?”
* * * *
Leah blinked back hot tears as she smiled up at her men. The fading refrain of “Kiss Me” by Ed Sheeran played softly in the background as she trembled in their arms. The moment was perfect and they’d taken her completely by surprise.
A gasp left her as Vincent bent and took her over his shoulder, and carried her into the cabin. She tried not to move too much because the mud was already drying and flaking off and she didn’t want to leave a big mess in their wake.
She giggled as he carried her into the shower, clothes, shoes and all. He took down the shower massage and used it to spray the mud from her clothing and his and James’s, and then they undressed.
“That mud will be hell to get off the truck after it dries,” James said as he threw the soggy shoes and clothing into the tub to deal with later.