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“What is it?”
“Just get dressed in something warm with some hiking boots, and meet me in the living room when you’re ready.” He wandered off before I could ask any more questions.
I got dressed as he said after a quick shower and makeup. “Hey, baby,” I grabbed the hot chocolate. “Do we have any of those to-go cup—”
Connor stood in the living room holding a cup out for me. “Is that more hot cocoa for me?”
“Yup,” he said, taking the mug from me and putting it in the kitchen.
“You’re the best boyfriend ever,” I said and gave him a big kiss. Desire flooded my belly with white-hot fire as I slipped my tongue into his mouth. He pulled away quickly.
“Plenty of time for that later.” He grabbed my hand and practically pulled me out the door. “We’re going to be late.”
He opened the truck door for me, I eyed him suspiciously as I sat in the seat. He wasn’t great at keeping secrets, but he seemed intent on keeping this one.
We pulled up to a wildlife sanctuary about thirty minutes outside of town. Connor’s smile grew as I realized where we were.
“Are we visiting Rosie?” My heart swelled when he nodded.
She couldn’t be released back into the wild. She was too young, so the rangers had transferred her to this sanctuary. I hadn’t seen her in a few months because it was challenging to get an appointment there.
Connor led the way to the deer pasture after introducing me to a couple of the volunteers.
“She’s right over here,” the volunteer said. “She’s such a sweetie pie. I’ll leave you to it.” The volunteer wandered away.
I spotted Rosie immediately. She’d lost her baby coloring and was nearly full grown, but I still recognized her. My heart practically burst with excitement. She looked so healthy. I clicked my tongue at her, and her head turned. She ran toward us at full speed and stopped a foot away. A purple ribbon around her neck sparkled in the sunlight.
"Connor, what—"
"Wait here," he murmured, standing up. My pulse quickened as he approached Rosie, untied the ribbon, and returned with something glinting in his hand.
"Rebecca Grant," he began, his blue eyes locking onto mine, "you came into my life like a whirlwind, turning everything upside down."
"Hey, I'm not that chaotic," I protested weakly, laughter bubbling up despite the tears blurring my vision.
“Shh,” he hushed me gently. “You're the most incredible, maddening, beautiful woman I've ever met. And I can't imagine spending another day without you by my side.”
He knelt before me, holding out a ring that sparkled like the first star of the evening. “Will you marry me?”
Every nerve in my body lit up, the world spinning and then righting itself with those four words. “Yes.”
As he slipped the ring onto my finger, Rosie nuzzled against us, as if giving her blessing. The forest seemed to hold its breath, then exhaled as we laughed and cried and kissed, sealing a promise of forever.
“Looks like Rosie approves,” I managed between kisses.
“Then it's official,” Connor said, his eyes dancing with joy. “Today is the first day of our forever.”
“Forever and always,” I agreed, my heart full to bursting.
Epilogue
Connor
ONE YEAR LATER
I leaned back in my chair, my gaze drifting across the sunlit room at my beautiful wife. Life had a way of throwing curveballs, and now Becca and I were living proof that love could bloom even in an unexpected thunderstorm.
The memory of her smile on our wedding day four months ago was still fresh in my mind. We'd grown together, learned from each other, and it felt like we'd unlocked some kind of secret happiness formula. Who knew that my best friend’s sister would become the center of my universe?
