He arched a brow. “Really?”
“Pfft.Have I been subtle and didn’t realize it?”
He laughed, then grew serious, his gaze searching hers as if he was debating something.
She frowned. “What?”
“Hold that thought.” He jogged up the steps and rushed into the cabin.
Sierra fisted her hands by her sides. Every time she started to broach the subject of the future and what it might hold for them, he managed to change the subject. Was it on purpose or not? She wasn’t sure. She trudged up the porch steps to one of the rocking chairs. But before she could sit, the front door opened and Beau hurried outside, stopping in front of her.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No. Everything’s finally right. I don’t know what I was waiting for except, well, I wanted to make this perfect. But this is the first time since…everything, that we’ll be apart for more than a few hours. And although that will be hard, it also makes me deliriously happy knowing you’ll be here when I come home. That got me thinking, maybe now is that perfect time I’ve been waiting for.”
She stared at him, afraid to hope. “Deliriously happy? You’ve never spoken like that before. Perfect time? For what?” She teasingly pressed the back of her hand to his forehead. “Are you running a fever?”
He pulled her hand down and kissed it. “No. And I’m sorry I’ve never told you that before, how happy you make me. Because you do make me happy. And I hope I make you happy. And, well—”
“Beau?”
“Hmm?”
She swallowed against the tightness in her throat. “If this is leading up to something big and amazing, and I really hope it is, would you please get on with it?Madre de Dios, you’re so slow.”
He grinned and pulled a small black velvet box out of the pocket of his jacket before getting down on one knee.
Her entire body flushed with heat. It took all of her self-control not to jump up and down. “Finally.¡Apúrate!”
He was laughing as he opened the box and held it up for her to see the gorgeous teardrop solitaire diamond ring with a smaller circle of diamonds surrounding it.
“Yes!” She hopped from foot to foot, unable to contain her excitement any longer as she held out her hand with her ring finger at the ready.
He grinned. “You can’t sayyes. I haven’t asked you anything yet.”
“Then, ask!”
“Stop jumping, little rabbit.”
“I can’t help it. Just ask me already.”
“Sierra Theresa Covington, would you please do me the extreme honor of becoming my wife?”
“I thought we’d never get to this part.Sí, Sí,yes. I’ll marry you. Duh.”
His eyes danced with laughter as he slid the ring onto her finger.
She tugged her hand from his and turned it toward the sun, angling it back and forth, watching the diamonds sparkle. “I was beginning to think I’d have to be the one asking. You took your sweet time. I was going to—ooomph.”
His mouth covered hers, and he swept her into the sweetest, hottest kiss she’d ever had. When he finally pulled back, she stared up at him in wonder, slightly out of breath. “Okaaay. Does this…does this mean you love me?”
His eyes widened in dismay, his expression turning serious. Ever so gently, he cupped her face with his hands. “Have I never told you?”
“I guarantee I would have remembered if you had.”
He briefly squeezed his eyes shut as if in pain. “I’m so, so sorry about that. I think about how much I love you all the time. I honestly hadn’t realized I’d never said it out loud.” He stared down at her in wonder. “I love you, Sierra. And I’ve never loved anyone, not like this.” He kissed her left cheek. “I love you.” He kissed her right cheek. “I love you.” He kissed the top of her head and pulled her against him, hugging her, his love for her seeping into her skin and warming her heart. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she whispered.
