Deep breath, Pat.“I won’t go on and on about my love and devotion to you, but I could. I won’t tell you that you saved me, but you did. I won’t tell you that I will devote my life to your happiness, but I will.
“River Aster Byrne, will you marry me?”
River didn’t answer right away. She knelt before him, her eyes glassy with unshed tears, a wobbly smile gracing her lips. She hadn’t said yes yet, though. Concerning.
“Patrick Brandon O’Faolain.” River’s voice wobbled over his middle name, which made Patrick want to tear up— dang it, Nan. “I won’t tell you that I can’t breathe unless you’re by my side, but I don’t. I won’t tell you that I see your face for every important occasion I will ever have for the rest of my life, but you’re there. I won’t tell you that you are the only man I will ever love, but you are.
“I will, most happily, marry you.”
Patrick almost passed out in relief. With an unsteady hand, he slipped the ring on River’s finger and explained why he’d chosen it. “The blue sapphire because it’s your favorite color. The black titanium band represents your inner rebel, which I hope is always in you. No diamonds... because nothing could ever outshine your beauty.” Gently kissing River’s lips, he made her a promise.
“Forever, Riv. You and me.”
“Forever, Pat. You and me.” And then, because she was... River, “You just proposed to me in the most romantic way imaginable— naked. Not really a story we can tell our children,” she snorted gleefully.
Pat looked down. Yep, swinging dick, party of one. There was nothing to do about it now, but... take advantage of his fiancé. Slowly, Patrick started unbuttoning his shirt, currently covering River’s body. “That shirt was custom-made for me. Perhaps we should get it off you now so it isn’t ruined.”
“Oh goodness,” River feigned distress. “I would feel terrible if I stained it. After all, it was neatlywaddedup in a pile on the floor when I found it.” Shrugging out of the shirt, River was now as naked as he was. “Whatever will we do now?” She smirked and pretended to think it over.
Patrick grabbed River around her waist and pulled her close until his mouth feathered hers. “I’m going to make love to the woman who just agreed to be my wife.”
32
After she and Patrick celebrated their engagement— naked —River walked into Queen of Tarts fifteen minutes late and received a heaping helping of ribbing from her sisters and Jo.
“Back in the saddle, I see,” Jo teased as River sat down.
“Sorry, guys,” River was flushed with her secret. The sapphire in the room was currently hidden under her jacket, which was strategically draped over her left forearm. She couldn’t decide whether she should just come out and tell them or wait to see if they noticed the ring.
It turns out she needn’t have stressed. “Oh my God!” Raven literary yelled, drawing all eyes to their table before she jumped out of her chair— there was noactualjumping. Her very pregnant sister pushed out of her chair, knocking it over in the process so that she could pounce on River’s hand. “When? And why didn’t you call us immediately?”
At this point, ‘spectacle’ would have been a kind description. Thomas and the two other bodyguards on duty surrounded their table, backs to the women as they scanned the surroundings. Rowen was out of her chair hovering over River’s head, while Jo was elbowing Thomas out of the way to squeeze up to River’s free side.
River laughed. Spectacle or not, she was too elated to care. “I didn’t call because it only happened a couple of hours ago, and—” River cut off her sisters’ rebukes, “—I didn’t call you then because I knew I was meeting you for lunch.”
Raven was crying.Oh, Baby O, let up on the hormone surges, big guy.“Riv, this is... a sapphire... your favorite color... you took him back... you said yes. You’re happy?” By this point, Raven had clasped River’s hand against her ‘generous’ breast, a look of worry and hope.
“Mr. MacGregor,” Jo interjected, “everything is fine here if you would like to return to your table.” Jo wasn’t looking at ‘Mr. MacGregor,’ but River was. He stared at Jo for what seemed like minutes, jaw clenched. He wasnothappy, but he did finally— stiffly —leave. Something had happened there, and if Jo thought, for one flipping second, that they wouldn’t demand answers, she’d lost her mind.
Returning her attention back to Raven, she admitted, “It is my favorite color. I did take him back, and I absolutely, with zero hesitation, said yes.” River couldn’t help the desperately euphoric smile on her face.
After the three women gave River hugs and kisses and best wishes, they resumed their seats— and the interrogation began.
“How many times did you have sex since last night and this morning?” Jo.
“If we don’t call Nan in the next thirty minutes, we’ll be in big trouble.” Rowan.
“Tell us every detail of the proposal. Was it so romantic?” Raven.
River felt her chest and neck heat to match her cheeks, but with these women, one had to beallin. River waited to answer until the waitress set down... the entire menu. “I was hungry,” Raven admitted sheepishly.
“You have to feed Baby O, Rave,” River reassured. “So, in answer to your questions. Jo, too many times to count. Row, I’d planned on meeting Nan as soon as we’re done here— we can all go. Rave, it was incredibly romantic, but we were naked.”
Jo choked on her burger, and Rowan laughed out loud— more attention from the other patrons, yay. Raven was wide-eyed and slack-jawed. “You lie,” she insisted.
“No lie. Naked. Hewason one knee. So... nakedly romantic?”
“This is just... oh my God.” Raven waved her hands all over like she’d been working with Pat Sajak onWheel of Fortune. “Bran proposed to me when we were... naked too.”
