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She fell to her knees in front of him and kissed him. She tasted like tears and sunshine—and forever. By the time she pulled back, his vision was less than perfectly clear. He blinked rapidly, grinning as she sniffed loudly and said, “I love you. I love you so much.”
He nodded. “But you still have to answer me.”
“Oh my—” She laughed and covered her mouth. “Well, I can only think of one appropriate reply.” She rested her hands on his shoulders, giving him the brightest smile he’d ever seen. “I thought you’d never ask, Benji.”
She threw herself at him, and they fell to the ground, lips locked. The ring tumbled somewhere in the snow, but neither of them broke off long enough to search for it. She eventually ended the kiss, resting her forehead on his. “I can’t believe you knew about this tree. How did you find out about it?”
“Like a wise person once told me…” He tucked her hair behind her ear and craned his neck, searching for the blue box. He found it easily. “Research. Always research.”
She cupped his face. “I love you, Benji.”
“I love you, too. And I meant what I said.” He pulled the ring out with a trembling hand. “I’ll move out here with you, if that’s what you want. We can be farmers and live here and keep the family business going. This farm means a lot to your family—and to me, too.”
“What about your family business?”
“That doesn’t seem as important as it did a year ago. Probably because my mother isn’t really my family. You are.” He kissed her again and held out the ring. “I love you.”
She blinked away tears and took it. “I love you, too.”
“Read it.”
“What?” She picked it up and held it to the moonlight, squinting. “Forever yours, for all time, Benji.”
He took it from her and slid it on, watching the way it fit as he did so. It was the same ring as before—he’d planned to give it back to her someday, for real this time, so it wasn’t the first time he’d seen it on her. But it was the first time it meant something. Something real. And he’d never been happier. “Seeing that on you…it does things to me, darling. I was alone for so long.”
“You’re not alone. Not anymore.” She wrapped her arms around him and straddled him, face to face. “And never again.”
“Because of you.” He rubbed noses with her. Hers was freezing. “Because of us.”
She kissed him again, and he pulled her closer against his chest, wrapping the blanket around the both of them. It still wasn’t close enough. Nothing ever would be. Not for this beast and the beauty who had saved him from himself. By the time
they came up for air, the kiss had taken on a whole new meaning.
It was a beginning. A promise. A vow.
Of forever.
THE END
