Oh God. Completely blindsided, she stared at her mates, her hand on her chest. Her heart beat so hard it threatened to pound out of her body. Two men, each on one knee, stared into her face and grinned.
“Gonna open it?” Reese nodded at the small box.
Her hands shook and wouldn’t obey her brain telling them to move. Her mouth dried, and even licking her lips didn’t dampen them.
“Baby?” Charles encouraged.
Finally, Charles opened the box himself, the top flipping up with a loud click in the quiet room. A giant, shining solitaire diamond sparkled. “We love you more than anything in the world. And we know how important it is for you to keep working … for now.” He stared at her pointedly, but his mouth curved on one side. “Therefore, we propose we come to some sort of conventional arrangement so your co-workers will know you are taken, engaged.”
Reese continued. “As our mate, you are our equal. Never doubt that. We claimed you, and I know we can sometimes be overbearing, perhaps even dictatorial, but only because we adore the ground you walk on. Please, accept this ring as a symbol of our love and devotion.”
Tears leaked down her face. Each man used a finger to wipe away the line of moisture. She swallowed. “To whom will I say I’m engaged?” The question had niggled in the back of her mind even as she listened to their eloquent speech.
“We hadn’t quite worked that detail out yet. We’ll have to discuss that together, the three of us. What we do know is we want you to be wearing our ring from now on. It might seem presumptuous to you, but trust us when we say it’s only because of our love.
The ring was neither dictatorial or overbearing, nor presumptuous. It was the kindest, most loving gesture anyone had ever proposed in her life. She loved these men with all her heart. And she had no interest in going into town without wearing this symbol of her commitment for all the world to see.
Jessica flung herself into their arms and squeezed. “Thank you. It’s beautiful. I’ll be proud to wear it.”
Claps rang out around the room, startling Jess. She’d blacked out the world around her and forgotten their audience.
She leaned back and smiled.
Charles and Reese both took her left hand, and together they inched the gold-banded ring onto her finger. When they finished, they stood, pulling her up with them.
Reese leaned his forehead against hers and whispered, “Shall we go somewhere a little more private? I could really use some alone time with you.”
Jessica shook her head and stepped back, leaving both men with their mouths hanging open. Tipping her head to one side and grinning slightly, she said, “If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to go for a run again. It was … invigorating. Shifting might grow on me.” She smiled broader.
Both sets of eyes went wide.
“Of course,” they both stated at once. “What’re we waiting on?” Charles and Reese took Jessica by the hands and headed for the back door, blocking out the world at large as they went.
The only thing that mattered was getting undressed, shifting, and running toward the future.
The End