“What are you thinking?”
Chelsea lay beside him, her head on the pillow. Soft moonlight filtered in through the blinds he’d left open because he’d wanted to make love to her by the pale light.
After a month of bouncing from her house in Pine Valley to his loft, he’d finally asked her to move in with him. But he knew they’d eventually get their own place and start fresh. Actually he didn’t want to wait much longer.
“Gabe?”
He smiled at her, reaching up to stroke her hair away from her face. Touching her, watching her while she slept, just the mundane things they did together, made him anxious, and he was done waiting to ask.
Gabe leaned back and reached into his nightstand, pulling out the small velvet box. He tapped the remote on the nightstand one time, to add the softest light in the room. He wanted to see her face, but he didn’t want harsh light to ruin the moment.
Chelsea gasped when he rolled back over and she saw what he was holding.
“I had something elaborate and romantic planned for next week, but—”
“Yes,” she squealed.
Gabe laughed. “Will you let me at least ask?”
Chelsea shot up in bed, the sheets pooling around her waist as she took it from him. “No. I want to marry you, now. This minute.”
Shaking his head, he took the box back. “We’ll get to that, but let me be somewhat of a gentleman here.”
He lifted the lid, keeping his eyes on hers. “Since you already answered, I guess I should tell you that your brother already approved this.”
Her eyes darted from the ring to him. “You talked to Daniel?”
“Considering he had his doubts about us a month ago, yes. Besides, I always thought a man should ask permission from the father of the woman he wants to marry. For you, I knew I should go through Daniel.”
Chelsea’s eyes misted as she looked back at the ring. “It’s a pearl. It’s lovely, Gabe.”
He felt a little silly now since he hadn’t gone the traditional route with a diamond.
“I saw the pearl and immediately thought of how they’re made. How they’re the toughest, yet come from something so soft. It just reminded me of you.”
She took the ring, but he tossed the box onto the covers and plucked the ring from her hand. “I’m at least putting this on you.”
When he slid it onto her finger, she held it up and admired the way it looked on her hand.
In the last month so much had happened in their lives. Gabe had worked closely with Nathan and discovered that Dusty’s once lover, whose husband had been on the TCC board, had indeed been the one to help plant the cameras. She apparently had divorced her husband some time back and was still secretly involved with Dusty, claiming her love until his death.
Her home had since been searched and all hard drives and any computers taken. Charges were pending and Gabe was confident Nathan would handle matters from here on out.
Maverick’s reign of terror was indeed over. The town had moved on. Chelsea was gearing up to open her counseling center by late March and Brandee was completely on board with joining forces in the project, as well.
“I don’t want a big wedding,” Chelsea told him, reaching over to join their hands. “Something simple at the Crescent Moon is perfect for me. For us.”
Gabe leaned forward and kissed her, sending them tumbling back to the pillows. “We can discuss wedding plans later. I want to celebrate.”
Chelsea laughed as he jerked the covers up and proceeded to show her just how happy he was that she’d said yes.
* * * * *
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