Page 22 of The Pitcher’s Proposal

“Brendan, you’re supposed to be celebrating.”

His hand closes securely around mine as my feet hit the grass. “I am.”

That answer should warn me. Instead, I’m distracted by the fact that we’re standing together on the field while the stadium is still roaring around us. Brendan keeps hold of my hand as he leads me a few yards away from the dugout, and only then do I notice that his teammates aren’t following.

They’re watching.

Several of them are grinning.

One has his phone pointed directly at us.

“Why is everyone looking at us?” I ask.

Brendan doesn’t answer. He reaches toward the inside of his waistband instead, and my confusion only lasts one more second.

Then I see the ring between his fingers. My entire body goes still.

“Oh my God.”

Brendan laughs as he drops to one knee in front of me.

For a few seconds, all I can do is stare. He’s still in full uniform, his hair damp from the game, sweat darkening the collar of his jersey. He just threw nine innings without allowing a hit, and apparently he did it while carrying an engagement ring somewhere inside his pants.

“You had that on you the whole game?” I ask.

His grin widens. “Yeah.”

“You really pitched a no-hitter with an engagement ring tucked into your uniform?”

“Dakota.” Brendan reaches and takes my hand. “Are you going to let me propose to you or not?”

A laugh escapes me, immediately followed by tears. I nod and cover my mouth with my free hand.

He looks up at me, and the teasing leaves his face.

“I had a better speech planned,” he says, his thumb moving over my fingers. “But I can’t remember half of it right now, so I’m going with the part that matters.” His voice stays steady even as his expression softens. “I’m so fucking in love with you. I have been for a long time.”

I laugh through the tears, and Brendan smiles before continuing.

“I love waking up with you. I love coming home to you. I love that half my clothes are at your place and half your stuff is at mine, even though you still insist we haven’t technically moved in together.” He squeezes my hand. “I don’t care what apartment we’re in. I just want you there.”

Brendan lifts the ring between us. “Marry me, Dakota.”

“Yes.”

The word comes out without me having to think about it for even a fraction of a second.

“Yes,” I say again as tears spill down my cheeks. “Of course I’ll marry you.”

Brendan gets to his feet so quickly that I barely see him slide the ring onto my finger. Then his arms are around me, lifting me just enough that my toes leave the grass as he kisses me.

The stadium gets even louder.

I hear his teammates yelling somewhere behind us, and a moment later fireworks begin going off above the outfield.

When he finally lowers me back to the ground, he looks at me with hope in his eyes. “How soon can we get married?”

I blink at him. “You proposed less than thirty seconds ago.”