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The very ring he’d slipped onto her finger all those years ago.
The same one she’d thrown at his head in a fit of righteous bridal tantrum.
“You kept it,” she whispered, staring down at it. It was a simple emerald-cut diamond, but she’d know that ring anywhere. She’d spent hours staring at it.
“I kept it,” he said, his voice husky. “I tried to get rid of it at least a dozen times, but . . .”
He shrugged.
Emma reached for it, and he pulled it back with a quick smile. “Nope. You don’t get something for nothing.”
His expression turned serious as he dropped his arm, the ring disappearing into his palm before she could reach for it.
She felt a surge of panic.
“What do you mean? What do you want?”
His eyes were earnest as he looked up her. “Love me?”
Emma’s heart melted and flew at the same time. And then slowly, deliberately, she lowered to her knees so they were at eye level.
Her hands reached out tentatively, her fingertips touching his cheeks before she cupped his face. Cassidy’s eyes closed.
Emma leaned forward and brushed her mouth against his. “I love you. I’ve probably never stopped loving you, which is so annoying.”
She felt his smile as he coaxed her mouth into a deeper kiss, one of his hands moving around to the small of her back as the other found the fourth finger of her left hand. It fit perfectly. Just like it had back then.
“You know,” he said, between kisses, “maybe we should resize it after all. I’m thinking if it’s too small to get off, you can’t throw it at me every time you get mad.”
She pulled back and gave him a look. “I’ll tell you what. You promise not to try and date my sister and use me to further your career, and I won’t throw the ring at your face. Oh, and—”
Cassidy hooked a hand around the back of her head, jerking her forward and cutting her off with another kiss.
He pulled back again to press his lips against her ears. “I love you. I love you so much.”
She nuzzled his neck. “I love you, too.”
He was silent for a few moments. “Also, my knees—”
“Are killing me,” she finished for him.
They helped each other up, laughing when Emma’s heel knocked over the garbage can, scattering black ash on her floor.
“Okay, I have to ask. Whose idea was the trash can?” she asked.
“Was it really bad?”
“So bad.”
He grinned. “I was hoping you’d say that. That, my love, was your boy-crush Lincoln Mathis. Jake thought we should bring his legendary ways with women in on the discussion, and this is what he came up with.”
“Huh,” she said, righting the can. “Good thing he’s pretty.”
“Keep it up, and I’ll fire him.”
“Go ahead. Maybe my father will give him a job.”
Cassidy barked out a laugh, and she laughed back.
