AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Kendall.” He clears his throat. “It’s been exactly one year since I fell madly in love with you. Actually, right here in this very place. I know without a doubt you’re the one for me and my forever.”
My emotions take over, and happy tears stream down my face as he continues.
“The day you decided to give me a chance was the day I felt whole again. Angel, I know it’s not been that long since we started dating, but I can’t imagine my life without you. You’re my everything. You’re the reason my heart beats. You’re the love of my life, and I want to spend eternity with you.”
My breath hitches as I wait for his final question.
“Kendall Montgomery, baby...will you marry me and be my wife?”
Wife. My heart soars. He looks at me with so much love, I don’t even need a second to think about it.
“Oh my God,” I whisper. “Yes, yes of course.”Chapter Twenty-EightRyanAfter she says yes, Kendall falls toward me with her arms open, and I catch her. We kiss as tears stream down her cheeks. “I love you so much,” I tell her.
“I love you more,” she taunts.
I never imagined I could feel so strongly about another person. It should be illegal, but knowing that she wants to spend forever with me makes the happiest man alive. We’re so lost in the moment, holding each other and laughing, that I realize I never gave her the ring.
As if she read my mind, she giggles, and I reach for the black box that’s toppled on the floor a few feet away. I take it out and slip it on her finger. She gasps, and her face lights up.
“Ryan,” she whispers, studying it on her hand. “This is so… beautiful.”
“After I asked your dad—”
“Wait, you actually asked my parents for permission?”
I squeeze her hand and kiss her knuckles with a smirk. “Absolutely. It’s the proper thing to do considering who our folks are. Sure, it’s a little old-fashioned and traditional, but I was raised right.” I flash her wink.
With her hand over her heart, she waves me on with the other one. “So what did they say? Were you scared?”
“Your dad is a little intimidating, but overall, your parents were incredibly supportive. Your mom cried, and your dad wanted me to smoke cigars with him, but I declined the offer.”
“He knows you’re a doctor, and health is your top priority.” She rolls her eyes but still smiles.
“Apparently, our wedding is going to be like royalty or something. I don’t know, your mom started talking about our families finally being connected and all sorts of things I didn’t understand. I explained I wanted to marry you because I love you. I told your parents how I’d spend the rest of my life trying to make sure you were happy and well taken care of.”
“Pretty sure your mother is busy planning the whole ceremony right now.” I snort.
“I’m sure she is. Thanks for the warning. I bet she’s been dying inside not being able to say anything until after this weekend.”
“I’m sure she has,” I agree. “I’ve asked everyone to keep it a secret. I don’t want the media to find out. I don’t want paparazzi following us around.”
“Does my sister know?” she asks.
“Oh yeah, she knows, but she swore on all things holy she wouldn’t slip and tell you,” I say.
She leans forward and kisses me. “Thank you for everything. It means a lot for you to ask for their blessing. They’ve kept me in a protective bubble for so long, and never really trusted anyone I brought home, but they’ve always loved you, Ryan. And Cami. Your whole family. I didn’t know it was possible for me to be this incredibly happy. I have no idea how you pulled all this off without me knowing.”
“Trust me, you’re very hard to surprise,” I admit. “While I was there, your dad insisted I take your grandmother’s diamond ring. He told me he had promised her that when the time came for you to get married, it’d be used for your engagement ring. So I took it to a jeweler and had it put in this setting. It’s one of a kind, just like you, baby,” I tell her. “I know how much your grandma meant to you. Now, she’ll always be with you, especially during this special time.”
Tears stream down Kendall’s face as she looks at it on her finger, admiring it even more than before. “Seriously?”
I nod, letting her fully take in the moment.
“Thank you, Ryan. I love you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me. I can’t even express how I’m feeling right now. Overwhelmed with emotion.”
I wipe the tears from her cheeks and lift her chin up so I can kiss her easier. “I love you too, baby.” I don’t dare tell her I have earrings too that she’ll get before the wedding ceremony. Honestly, I don’t think I would’ve been able to get any of this done without the help of my sister. She kept Kendall occupied when I needed her to be busy so I could arrange everything. I’m just kinda surprised Cami didn’t slip because she’s not always the best at keeping secrets plus her hormones are out of whack because of the pregnancy. I owe her a lot, and of course she was so damn happy about the wedding.
