"You'll never have to wonder again." She arched up on her toes and brought her lips close to his. "I love you, too, Whit Daltry. Today, tomorrow and forever. Me, you, Evie and our menagerie of animals-we're a family."
"I like the sound of that." A lot. Deciding to leave his heart very much in her hands, he knelt on one knee in front of her. "Megan Maguire, will you do me the honor of being my wife, my lover, my love for the rest of our lives? Will you allow me the honor of being a father to Evie and any brothers or sisters we might give her in the years to come? Because there is nothing more that I want than to build a life with you by my side. I love you, Megan. I have a ring too, inside-"
"Yes, yes, with or without a ring, yes." She sank to her knees and took his hands in hers. "Of course, I'll marry you, live with you, love you, for the rest of our lives."
He reached for that quilt he'd never gotten around to putting away and snapped it out onto the floor, then remembered what a mess he was. "We should shower. Together. In the interest of conserving water, you know."
She whispered against his lips. "Oh, we will. But first I have some plans for you and those oranges."
He had some plans for her too. And a lifetime to fulfill them right here in Royal, Texas, where finally he'd put down real roots, thanks to Megan's love.