“I promise.”
“You can be stubborn about anything, but not this. You are my firecracker. I wouldn’t change anything about you, but this is one thing I’m asking from you. I want to be with you for the rest of my life, and if there is eternity, I want you right next to me.”
Tears were coming, and I tried to keep them at bay. I was already an emotional wreck from the conversation with Jenna, my pregnancy hormones acting up, and now this.
“I feel the same, Matthew.” I hadn’t realized we were inside the circle of candles until I pressed my head against Matthew’s chest. “You’re not a witch or a demon are you?” I laughed.
“You read too many paranormal books. They are corrupting your mind.”
“No, they’re not.” I took offense to that. With a light slap across his arms, I turned to walk away.
Matthew flung his arms around my waist before I could escape and pulled me to him. “Not so fast. Okay. Okay. I’m sorry. I can be whatever you want me to be. I want to be the hot naughty demon that gets to do all sort of wicked things to you. But before we play make believe with your fictional characters, I need to ask you a very important question, the reason why I asked you to come here in the first place.”
Next thing I knew, Matthew was down on his knees. He’d already asked me to marry him, so what the heck was he doing?
“Becky Miller. You are the stars that shine upon my darkness. You are the moon that glowed into my heart to show me that I could love again. Whatever the universe has in store for us, I know that we can get through it together because our love is strong. I want forever with you. I’ve already asked you this question, but I wanted to do it the right way. The way you deserved to be asked. Will you be my wife, Becky, and marry me when you are ready? But don’t wait too long.”
Tears had started streaming down my face the moment Matthew began speaking. I couldn’t believe the beautiful words that were pouring out of his mouth. It wasn’t that I didn’t think he could ever say something like that, it was that the words he was saying were meant for me. “Yes,” I nodded.
Matthew swooped in and gave me a long, passionate kiss, then he ran to the edge of the deck and yelled, “She said yes!” He came back to me.
“What was that for?” I laughed.
Matthew didn’t answer. He went to the side of the deck, opened a storage compartment, and placed a box in front of me. When he opened a box that read Cartier, the ring sparkled brilliantly against the candlelight. That thing looked so big. Oh my God! I knew he would get me one someday, but I never expected today. It was an overwhelming surprise. I gasped lightly with my hands covering my mouth. “It’s beautiful, Matthew.” He slipped it on my finger, and it fit perfectly. “How did you know my size?”
“Jenna, of course. It’s a princess cut. Three karats. I wanted you to have this before Max and Jenna’s wedding. My parents already know that I’m proposing tonight, and so do Max and Jenna. The only important people that don’t know are your parents and your sister, Rachel.”
“Jenna knew?” I laughed. “They will know when we visit them. They already love you. I’ve told them so much about you, and they can’t wait to meet you.”
“How could anyone not?” Matthew winked.
“Arrogant,” I laughed lightly, enjoying the humor between us.
“Stubborn.”
“Jerk.”
“Crazy.”
“Ass.”
Matthew puffed his bottom lip out into a frown. “Not liking where this is headed.”
I curled my lips into a huge smile. He was cracking me up. “Adorable. Absolutely amazing. Hot. Sexy. Gorgeous. Edible. Juicy.”
Matthew’s eyes grew with lust and want while his body was still pressed to mine. “Don’t forget...drool worthy and deliciously fuckable.”
Holy fuck. “Yes!” I said out loud.
“Shit! I almost forgot.”
“What are you doing?” I asked. He went back to the edge of the deck. “Carlos, she said yes!”
“Carlos? You said we were alone.” I watched him run back to the storage compartment. He pulled out a gadget and spoke into it.
“Now, Carlos.”
The second Matthew came back to me, the sky lit up with fireworks. They weren’t massive like the kind you would see at Disneyland, but they were grand enough. Assorted colors splashed against the dark sky. No matter how many times I had seen them, it always seemed to take me away from reality and into their beauty.
“This is how you make me feel, Becca. You bring color and excitement into my life.” We turned face to face when the show was over.