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He spurted out a surprised laughed. "Are you kidding me? You just scared ten years off my life, woman. What do you think's wrong?"
Puzzled, she cocked her head to the side and sent him a perplexed look. "You threw up because you were scared for me?"
Raith shifted uncomfortably and glanced away, unable to keep eye contact. "It was better than breaking down and bawling like a little girl."
Willow grinned. "I like the idea of you crying over me." She brushed a hand over his hair.
Emotion swelling tight in his chest, he tugged her into his arms and crushed her in a rib-breaking hug. Willow sighed and rested her head on his shoulder.
"I'm glad you're okay," he breathed out the words, ruffling her hair as he spoke. "Oh, God. I'm so glad."
Smiling, Willow moved closer only to pause when her hip brushed against something hard. Eyes flying open, she lifted her face.
"Raith Malloy," she scolded. "You nasty horn dog. I can't be around you for two seconds without you getting turned on, can I?"
He frowned and pulled back. "Huh?"
Willow glanced down at the lump in is his pants and noticed it was shaped wrong to be what she'd originally assumed. "What is that?" She reached for his pocket before he could stop her.
He grabbed her wrist, but she'd already latched her fingers around the velvet box. Mouth falling open, she yanked it out into the open, flipped up the lid, and gaped at her engagement ring.
"Will you put that back?" he snapped, reaching for it.
Willow turned, holding it away from him so she could continue to stare. "Why? It's for me, isn't it?"
She liberated the jewel. But before she put it on, Raith covered her hand. Scowling, she lifted her face.
"I caused that man to come after you," he said.
Willow sighed and rolled her eyes.
"I'm serious," he growled. "I piss off a lot of bad people every day. Being with me is going to put you in danger."
Willow merely searched his eyes before she smiled softly. "Bring it on, big boy."
Raith sucked in a breath, "Are you sure?"
"Will you just put this damn ring on my finger?"
He grinned. "Jesus, woman. Don't push. I'll get there when I get there."
Willow rolled her eyes again, "Oh, brother. You are the most pigheaded, stubborn—"
"Will you shut up so I can propose already?"
Grinning, she shut up and held out her hand for him to slide the ring on.
Sighing, he obligingly took her finger and held the ring on the tip before slipping it all the way on. "Once this thing goes on, it doesn't come off," he warned. "Because once I saw you, I could only think of you. Once I had you, I knew I could only be with you. No one else. I love you, Willow DeVane."
For once, Willow was speechless. She blinked back the moisture gathering in her lashes and beamed up at him, her finger outstretched and waiting.
The ring went on. And it never came off again.
Epilogue
Dragging a garden hose across his yard toward the driveway where his new Ford sat anticipating its first official washing, Raith paused when the front door of his house opened. The female who emerged grinned when she saw him, her face lighting up with pleasure. Her long hair, its natural silken red and brunette highlights reflecting off the sun, flowed over her shoulder as she bounded off the porch.
He scowled back. "Oh, hell no. You're not wearing that out of this house."
