Hearts, red angry-faces, and thumbs-up emojis flood the screen. Melody wraps it up with her usual sign-off, tellingthem to stick around for fun episodes coming during the break, and we switch off the feed.
Our eyes meet, and she stands, crossing the room and climbing onto my lap. My arms are around her, and her knees are bent. For a few moments we don’t speak. Melody’s hand is on my chest, and she curls her fingers against the material.
Cricket is in her crib as usual, sleeping while we record the show.
After several minutes of silence, Melody turns in my lap to face me. “Thank you for doing that.”
Reaching up, I put my hand on the side of her neck, tracing my thumb along her jaw. “You never have to thank me for taking care of you. You’re my girl.”
Her lips tighten, curling into a smile and her pretty eyes sparkle. “Your girl?”
“That’s right. I’ll always take care of you. I’ll kick any ass I have to, and in this case, I’ve got the Bradford boys helping me. We take care of our own.”
She leans forward holding me close. “I felt so alone when we met. I’d lost my career because I fought Susan.” She exhales a sigh. “It’s nice to know the good guys can still win.”
My chest surges, and I lift her off my lap to stand.
“You bet they can.” I take her hand, leading her to the balcony. “Wait right here.”
She lets out a little laugh, watching me. “What?”
“Just wait.”
Leaving her alone, I run to my bedroom, digging in the coat pocket still hanging on the dresser. We haven’t even unpacked since we flew in this afternoon. We came straight to my apartment to record the show.
Still, the ring Haddy and Gina helped me pick out has been burning a hole in my pocket all weekend long. I hustle to the kitchen, taking out the unopened bottle of champagneand popping the cork. Then I quickly pour two glasses and carry them out to where Melody’s waiting, bare feet on the rug, huddled beside the heat lamp.
“It’s freezing out here!” she whispers. “What are you doing?”
“Damn, sorry about that.” I put the champagne flutes down and dip into the living room to grab a plush throw off the back of the couch. “Here.”
I wrap it around her petite frame, then I take her hand in mine. “You need to know, I’m shit at keeping secrets. Everyone will tell you. The only one of us worse is Haddy.”
“Okay?” Melody frowns.
“I originally planned to do this on our visit to Newhope. Mom and Aunt Dylan worked out this whole thing…” I laugh, looking down. “They’re going to be pissed, but I just can’t wait another day.”
“Knox…” Her voice wavers, and she blinks back tears.
I look down at her slim, ivory hand clutched in mine. I don’t have to search for the words. I’ve known what I was going to say at this moment for months.
“Melody Kate Dunne, you’re the first person I ever met who believed in me… outside my family, of course.” Air puffs through her lips, and she lifts her hand holding the champagne flute to her nose. Encouraged, I keep going. “You gave me shit for being impulsive and undisciplined, but I know it’s because you believed in me. You made me believe in myself. Then when Cricket came along, it all just clicked. You drove me crazy not telling me you loved me, even though I knew you always did.” She laughs again, and I grin. “You belong with me. You’re my Melody, a song I always want to hear. You’re part of my legacy. You’re my family. Will you make it legal and be my wife?”
“Knox Bradford…” Her voice breaks, and a crystal tear drops onto her cheek.
I take out the ring. “Check it out, the quarterback princess engagement ring is an actual thing. Princess cut with all these small diamonds around it. It’s made for you.”
“It’s gorgeous!” Her eyes widen, and I slide the platinum band holding the massive diamond onto her finger.
She lifts her hand, holding it up and admiring it. It actually does look like it was made for her.
“So what do you say?”
She frowns briefly, and my stomach dips. “Wait… I didn’t just say yes?”
She starts to laugh, and my heart starts to beat again. Bending down, she puts the champagne flute on the table then hops over to wrap her arms around my neck.
“Yes.” Her pretty blue eyes hold mine. “It would be the greatest treasure of my life to be your family. I love you, Knox Bradford. I do believe in you, and I can’t wait to see the legend you become.”
