AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A few minutes later they entered the ballroom. It was their fourth and final Navy Ball, since both he and Edwin would be out of the service by next November. Cole planned to enjoy the evening to the fullest and then escape to their room.
During the cocktail hour, they chatted with other attendees while Kelsey sipped on ginger ale. David came over to say hello but Raymond wasn’t in attendance. Evidently, he’d decided to skip the Ball in favor of keeping Maureen company with Eddy. He had visions of two grown adults acting like teenagers on the couch while his son slept and he wasn’t sure if he should laugh or text his friend and tell him to knock it off.
Next came the formal dinner and the presentations, during which Kelsey’s father was recognized for his long service and what were now being deemed heroic actions to bring Dobson to justice. Cole gripped Kelsey’s hand when he saw the tears shimmering in her eyes. She gave him a shaky smile and stood to hug her father when he returned to the table after the presentation.
“Finally,” Cole muttered when the program ended, and the band began playing dance music. This was the part of the evening he’d been waiting for. “Do you want to dance?” he asked Kelsey, but he was already rising to his feet and pulling her up with him.
“Of course I want to dance with you,” she said, her smile filling him with warmth.
He led her to the spot on the dance floor where her father had first introduced them. This was what he’d been waiting for—the full circle moment where he could mend the mistakes of the past by claiming his hopes for the future. Instead of taking Kelsey in his arms, he held onto her hand and dropped to one knee. Her mouth fell open in surprise.
“Kelsey, you’re everything to me,” he said. “I think you know that by now. You keep me grounded. You make me laugh. You challenge me, but most of all you make me want to be a better man and a better father. Our family is my whole world, and I never want to spend another day without you by my side. We both know that no matter how difficult things get, we’re better together. That’s why I’m asking you to be my forever. Kelsey, will you marry me?”
She leaned closer, and he could see tears coursing down her cheeks as she squeezed his hand. When she spoke, her voice was so soft that only he could hear it. “Our family means everything to me, too. And I love you more than I can say. I want nothing more in this world than to be your wife.” Her smile finally broke free, despite the tears. “Yes, Cole Williams, I’ll marry you.”
He rose, taking her in his arms as he did, and kissed her. Applause sounded around them, but he couldn’t look away from her face, even after the kiss ended. He was so full of love for her.
Cole pulled the ring from his pocket. “I hope you like it.” He slipped it on her finger, not surprised that it fit perfectly.
“It’sgorgeous,” she breathed, her eyes wide as she looked at the round-cut diamond and sapphire ring set in platinum.
“I had a little help picking it out,” he admitted.
“Maureen?” she guessed.
“She’s a good friend. So good, in fact, that she’s spending the night with Eddy and we’re staying here. We have a suite on the fourth floor. Do you want to go up?” He wanted to be alone with her, but he’d do whatever she desired.
“In a little while,” she said, putting her arms around his neck. “First, I want to dance with you.” They began to sway to the music, their bodies perfectly in synch, as always. “And then, we’ll go enjoy the room.”
“I love you, Kelsey,” he said as they danced, “with all my heart. With all of me. I think I always have.”
“You keep that up, and I’ll cry more,” she said, but she was smiling through the tears.
He lowered his lips to hers then, putting all of his love for her into the kiss.
