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Since she didn’t know what to say to that, she said nothing.
“I didn’t plan on it. And I didn’t see it coming. Should have, but didn’t. I can’t claim it crept up on me, not when it kept hitting me in the face over so many things. The way your hands move when you’re working. That’s ridiculous, but there it is. How your brain works, how your heart works, how your body works. All of it.”
Because he focused on her, he didn’t notice when Howl walked over to him, leaned against his knee.
“But the knockout punch wound up at the waterfall, then started coming at the lookout. And it knocked me flat at the end of Liam’s goddamn ropes course. So I’m in love with you, Morgan. It wasn’t in the plan, and it wasn’t part of the deal we made. But it wasn’t a deal so much as guidelines. I’m moving outside the lines, so now deal with that.”
“I—”
“I’m still not done.” He took out the ring in his pocket. “We’ll get married.”
He said it matter-of-factly, the way he might’ve saidWe’ll watch a movie.
She stared, and her mouth moved, but it took a minute for it to form actual words. “That’s—that’s your grandmother’s ring.”
“Does every woman recognize a diamond at six feet? Since I’m in love with you, and we’re already outside the lines, we’ll get married.”
She stared, then dropped her head between her knees.
“Christ, do you really have to get sick now?”
“Not sick. Need to breathe. Stay over there and let me breathe.” She waved a hand in the air as if to push him away, though he hadn’t moved.
“If you want poetry, I can probably still recite most of ‘The Raven.’ And I’ve got some Yeats in me.”
“Shut up. Did you get that ring from your grandmother because of Jake—what Jake told you before you came over?”
“I asked her for it before Jake got there. On their fiftieth wedding anniversary, she told me to ask for it when I’d found the one. When I was sure. When I was ready. You’re the one. I’m sure. I’m ready. Get on board, Morgan.”
“Before,” she murmured, and lifted her head. “Not because of.”
The fact he scowled at her leveled her heart rate.
“It’s not a force field against psychos. It’s a ring. It’s a symbol. It’s a damn question I wish you’d answer.”
She swiped at her face. “You didn’t ask a question. You made statements. Wait.” She held up a hand before he could speak. “It’s funny. Just this morning, Gram and I were working in the garden, and I ended up telling her I was in love with you. It did sneak up on me. I didn’t expect it, didn’t look for it. I’ve never felt it before, but I knew what it was. I thought you wanted to tell me you thought we should slow things down.”
“That was stupid.”
“Was it? Maybe. Blame the vodka—that was the second contender. I stuck with that. Never had a real taste for bourbon.”
He kept watching her, and smiled.
“King of the jungle.”
“What?”
“Your eyes. They might’ve been what started the whole thing for me—or your sparkling, people-pleaser personality. We’ll go with the eyes,” she decided when he laughed. “Tiger eyes, I thought. Lions areking of the jungle, but whatever. That ring. I can’t begin to say… you’d offer methatring because I understand the power and meaning of that symbol. That particular symbol.”
“I’ve been advised not to get down on one knee.”
“Please don’t. You’d look ridiculous. And just stay over there for right now so I can try to be coherent. Marriage… Miles, I saw for myself how cold and wrong my mother’s was. And one of the reasons was me. A child,” she corrected before he could protest. “Any girl child anyway. So, it’s important we know how—”
“I want kids—that’s where you’re going. And plural. I don’t care what type. I want kids. I want family. With you. It’s a big house. We could fill it.”
Now tears swirled. “I want that, so much. With you.”
“Let’s get the rest off the table. If you want to open your own place, you’ll leave a major hole in the resort. It’s still your choice, and I’ll stand by your choice. So will the family if you’re worried about that. But you should understand, Après is yours anyway.”
