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I kept my eyes on the rings to get through this part. “These belonged to my parents. I know they’re not fancy, but I thought maybe we could—”
Phoebe tackled me. “Oh, Ransom! You want us to wear your parents’ wedding rings? Yes, oh my God, so many times, yes!”
I caught her, stood, and stared into her eyes. “Then you’ll marry me?”
She gazed up at me, her beautiful eyes sparkling. “Yes!”
Making sure she was standing on her own, I was surprised to see the dog shore her up on one side. Nice. Then I pulled her ring from the box and held her left hand, gently sliding the ring onto her ring finger. It was a perfect fit.
She gasped again and tears spilled over onto her cheeks. “It’s so beautiful! Is that a marquise?”
I gave her a blank look. “I have no idea.”
She pressed her hand to my jaw. “Of course, you don’t. But it is. And I love it!”
I leaned over and kissed her. “And I love you.” Leaning back, I looked at my ring on her hand and felt warmth bloom in my chest.
Her face was radiant. “What’s his name anyway?”
I bit my lower lip. “Okay, so you’re either going to love this or hate it. He came named because he’s a rescue.”
She tilted her head. “What is it? It can’t be that bad. Did someone name him Asshole or something?”
I shook my head. “Shadow.”
She sucked in a breath, then dissolved in a fit of giggles. “You’re shitting me!”
“Nope. I’m not that funny.”
“Then you’re fucking with me.”
I felt so many dirty thoughts race through my mind. “Not yet, but soon.”
She stared at him. “So, his name really is Shadow?”
I nodded and he pressed into her leg.
She chuckled. “It’s kind of fitting with those little gray patches under his eyes that look like shadows. You want to come home with us, Shadow?”
He stood and walked beside us as we skated to the exit.
She turned and whispered to me. “He’s so well-behaved.”
I huffed a laugh. “Why are you whispering?”
She cupped her hand so her words were directed at me. “He looks very sentient. Seems like he’s listening.” Then she looked down at him. “Who’s a good boy?”
He stayed with her as I took my fiancée out of her skates.
And then came the questions. “So, where did he come from? How did you do all of this? How did you get your parents’ rings around his neck? Who did you have helping you? Are they still here? Did they watch all of that?”
I leaned over and crushed my lips to hers. When I leaned back, she was too dazed to talk. “I have my ways.” Smirking, I loved how I was able to surprise my girl. And I would never forget how Molly kept track of him for me, bringing him to the rink for this moment.
Leading her to the truck, I helped her in and opened the back hatch for Shadow. “Up,” I directed. With a giant leap, he made it on the first try. “That a boy. Now hunker in. We’ve got a long trip home.”
As if he understood, he crouched until he rested on his belly. Then he kicked his legs to the side to relax.
Spending the entire trip looking over her shoulder, Phoebe was a mess of nerves but Shadow was just fine. Once we got home, I pulled his supplies out of hiding and made sure he had what he needed.
