“Not right now. It might’ve been a bad idea to show it to you, but I kind of… Well, I’m kind of panickin’. I’m scared to death you won’t believe me when I say I love you, or I’ll do whatever it takes to prove myself to you. I can’t live without you again, Brynlee. My life doesn’t feel real without you.”
Smiling, I bite my lip. “Can I try it on?”
“Sure. It’s yours. When we decide the time is right.”
He takes the ring from the box and slips it on my finger. Staring, it’s gorgeous. Beautiful and perfect. Everything my last ring wasn’t.
“It’s the right size,” Rhett says with a smile. “I wasn’t sure, but the lady said we could get it resized.”
Something unexpected washes over me. I can’t tear my eyes from the ring on my finger. The ring Rhett picked out and saw me wearing. The ring that fits my personality as well as my grandma’s pearls.
“Rhett?”
“Yeah?”
“Ask me to marry you.”
His eyes widen as I finally look up from my hand. “No, Brynlee, this isn’t how a proposal should be. It should be thought out and planned. I have a couple of ideas I’m workin’ through that involve flowers and candles—”
“Ask me to marry you, Rhett.”
He swallows. “I don’t want to upset you or make you think I don’t want to marry you more than anythin’, but this isn’t how it should be. You deserve more than this.”
“You gave me family heirlooms I didn’t know existed and the history behind them. You sought out people who knew my grandparents, and you put together a book of memories for me. You’re giving me an opportunity to know Daddy and see that he always loved me. And when I questioned your commitment, you showed me you have plans. Big, big plans. I can’t think of anything more romantic.”
“I suppose there are other things I can plan with candles and flowers,” he says and gets down on one knee. “Brynlee Carmichael, will you marry me?”
“Yes.”
“Yes?”
I nod with enthusiasm as I smile, tossing the quilt off me and leaping into his arms. “Yes. Yes. A million times, yes.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Rhett
Brynlee’s lips on mine, her arms wrapped around me, feels like the greatest gift I’ve ever been given. Not only that, she wants to marry me. Start a life with me.
My need presses against her core through my sweatpants, and I love that she wears only a shirt and panties. Her hard nipples are visible through the white T-shirt, and I suck on them through the fabric, making it see-through.
“Rhett,” she pants as her hand reaches into my sweatpants to stroke me. “God, I’ve missed you.”
“I thought you wanted to take things slow,” I mumble, kicking myself as her hand stills.
“Is that what you want?”
Slipping my hand between us, I twist her clit between my fingers. “Not even a little bit.”
Her breath hitches, and I rub and flick and twist until her mouth drops open, sweet cries of pleasure coming from deep in her throat.
“I missed hearin’ you,” I murmur, feeling her soaking panties as she slides my sweatpants down my thighs and pumps me. “Oh God, baby, I need you.”
“Take me,” she whimpers. “I need you, too. So, so much. Please.”
Before I can give us what we both need, the doorbell rings. I groan and rest my head on her shoulder. “The universe hates me.”
“Not just you,” she pants. “Who’s that?”
