I shrugged. “Sure! Why not.”
Judy giggled as she unlocked the glass door and reached in. She placed a blue velvet pad in front of me and set the ring on it.
“It’s a princess cut diamond that my daddy personally designed. It’s one of my favorites.”
Picking it up, I smiled. “It’s beautiful.”
“Yeah, the girl who gets this will be lucky.”
I nodded. “She sure will.”
My body came to life as I felt him next to me. “Whatcha looking at?” Steed asked as Mr. Pinhouse walked over.
“Aw, you’re admiring the princess cut I designed.”
“It’s beautiful. I love it so much.”
He smiled, glanced over to Steed, and gave him a wink. “She’s got good taste.”
Steed’s arm wrapped around my waist, and he looked at me with so much love. I was sort of freaking out inside as his eyes searched mine. I didn’t want to give him the wrong idea. After all, we were only seniors in high school.
“Well, Judy and I were just having fun looking at rings. This one caught my eye. It’s truly stunning.”
Mr. Pinhouse thanked me as I handed the ring back. “I’m glad you liked it, Paxton.”
Liked it? I loved it.
Steed’s voice pulled me from the memory. “After you told Mr. Pinhouse you loved the ring, I went back later that day and worked out a plan with him to buy it. After working on the ranch that summer and doing some extra work for Dad and Pete Moss, I earned enough to buy it a few days before Christmas.”
I covered my mouth as shock and realization hit me.
“You’ve had this ring since our senior year of high school?”
He nodded as he gazed into my eyes. “I’ve never let go of the dream to marry you, Pax. Never.”
Focusing on the ring, he took it out of the box and slipped it on my finger. “It’s always been you. It will forever be you.”
I threw myself at his body again, which was hard to do in the small cockpit of this plane.
“It’s beautiful! This is beautiful!” I uttered as he pulled me close.
“Now let me take you home so I can make love to you.”
Drawing back, I wiped my tears away and chuckled. “I like that plan.”
I laid contently in Steed’s arms and stared out the large picture window in his bedroom, my fingers moving mindlessly over his chest. Every now and then I would look at the beautiful ring on my finger and a rush of overwhelming happiness would hit me. Steed’s soft breathing told me he was sleeping.
This moment couldn’t have been any more wonderful. Everything about it was perfect.
Then a wave of nausea rushed through me. I quickly sat up, jolting Steed awake. My hand covered my mouth, and I flew out of bed to rush to the bathroom. Dropping to the ground before the toilet, I threw up.
Wave after wave hit me, and it took me a moment to realize Steed was behind me, holding my hair back. After I had nothing left to throw up, dry heaves decided to make their appearance.
Finally, it stopped.
My stomach muscles ached, and my throat felt raw.
I groaned, and Steed handed me a hot washcloth. It felt so good when I pressed my face into it. Standing, I turned to see him leaning against the doorframe of the bathroom. The pleased expression he wore made my brows pinch together.
“I’m glad to see me getting sick has made you happy.”
He slowly shook his head before he pushed off and stepped close. Placing his hand over my stomach, I inhaled sharply. I didn’t want to get overly excited, but now I knew why he had been standing there with a goofy grin on his face.
“You don’t think?” I asked.
He shrugged. “It only takes one time.”
My hand covered his. Had we conceived a child that day at the cabin? The same cabin where we made love for the first time? The thought alone was so damn romantic it made my body tremble.
Steed lowered his mouth to mine, kissing me gently. His soft kisses moved to my jaw, along my neck, and to that sensitive area under my ear. “If you’re pregnant, do you realize what that means?”
My head dropped back as his lips moved back across my neck. “W-what? Does that mean?”
“We made this little miracle at the cabin, where we first made love.”
I grinned. “I thought the same thing only moments ago.”
His hands slipped behind my neck, pulling me close.
“You know what we have to do right now?”
With a giggle, I replied, “Drive into town for a pregnancy test?”
“Fuck yes!”
He pulled back, turned, and raced into the bedroom. “Paxton! Get dressed!”
Following his lead, I rushed to the bedroom and got dressed. I glanced at Steed and his eyes sparkled and gleamed. I was positive mine did the same. My chest felt light and even though I was still a bit nauseous, nothing could bring me down from this high.