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ulder, inhaling his crisp, manly scent. “I love you, too, and I plan on doing all those things and more. You make me happy. Secure. And that feeling is something I never thought I’d get.”
“Well you better get used to it,” he said, hugging her closer and kissing her temple. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Thank God for that,” she murmured, tracing a heart on his chest.
“Despite everything I said, and how angry I got, I was drowning myself in things I shouldn’t have been. I was on a downward spiral, and you saved me.” He smoothed her hair back from her face, staring at her with an open honesty that made her heart stop. “You saved me, time and time again, and I’ll never forget that. I only wish I’d realized I loved you sooner. But I’ll make up for the time we lost together. I swear that.”
As her lids drifted shut, he continued to gently massage her scalp. There was no doubt in her mind that he meant every word. And that was amazing. Inspiring. Life changing. All this time, she wanted him as hers. She’d just been waiting for him to want those same things. And for whatever reason, he finally had.
He was hers.
And she was never letting go.
Epilogue
“She’s so cute, and tiny, and that strawberry blonde hair is adorable,” Lauren said, smiling. The moonlight lit up her hair, and she was hauntingly beautiful in the dim lighting. Like usual. “And Rose is such a pretty name. I wonder how they thought of it?”
Steven laughed. He knew exactly where the name originated. “She’s a Doctor’s companion. Their favorite. If you watched it, you’d know that.”
“I wonder if our baby would get your strawberry blond hair,” she said, her tone lost in thought as she ignored his comment. “And maybe my eyes.”
“I don’t have strawberry blond hair. Only girls have it. Like Strawberry Shortcake, and Lydia. Mine’s red.”
She rolled her eyes. “Okay, honey. Whatever you say.”
Laughing, he climbed the stairs. He held their takeout dinner in his arms, and even though it was after ten o’clock at night, they’d just left the hospital. After five hours of labor, Lydia had delivered a healthy baby girl. She and Holt had been so happy, and so in love, that it had been beautiful. When they smiled down at their baby girl, holding her and glowing with happiness, it had hit Steven pretty damn hard.
He wanted that. A baby.
So badly it fucking hurt.
But more than a baby, he longed for a family. One that he and Lauren created together out of love and trust. A week ago, he bought a ring. He’d been waiting for the perfect time to ask her to marry him, but he hadn’t found it yet.
Tonight was it.
He was ready.
Unlocking the door, he opened it and tried to smile at her as she passed, though he probably looked deranged. His suspicions proved right. She paused and blinked at him. “Are you all right?”
Widening his smile, he nodded. “Yes, of course.”
“I spooked you, didn’t I?” She walked past him, shaking her head. “I wasn’t saying I was ready to pop out a few kids right now, just for the record.”
He set the food down and swallowed hard, patting his suit jacket pocket. It was still there. He shrugged out of it and tossed it across the chair. Without speaking, he walked into their bedroom and retrieved the one thing he needed.
“Do you?” he called out. “Want kids, that is?”
She didn’t answer. When he came out of the bedroom, she hadn’t moved from where he left her. Her face was pale, and her lips were parted, and she stared down at something between her feet.
The box. With a ring inside of it.
Shit.
“You weren’t supposed to see that yet,” he said. He curled his fist around the small, circular object he held. “I wasn’t ready.”
“It fell out of your coat.” She bent down and picked it up, pressing her other hand to her heart, which was more than likely racing. He didn’t blame her. His was, too. This was a huge fucking step. “Steven…”
“I know. Believe me, I know.” He walked over to her, not hesitating in his stride, or his decision. He loved Lauren and was ready to spend the rest of his life with her. This was, in a lot of ways, the easiest, simplest choice he’d ever made. “I love you.”
