When Dakota got home from dropping Zinny off at Ellen’s, Cam was watching a sci-fi movie in the family room. He muted it as she approached the sofa where he was sitting.
“You’d better pack,” he said. “We need to be at the airport in about two hours.”
“Okay, but first I have to say something.”
“I’m listening,” he said, crossing his arms.
She took a seat next to him, tucking one leg underneath her. “I’m sorry. I was kind of a bitch to you earlier.”
“Kind of?”
She winced. “Okay, I was a straight-up bitch. You’ve been nothing but wonderful to me and Zinny and you didn’t deserve what I said to you at all.”
He didn’t say anything for a few moments and Dakota could barely stand it. She hated that he was mad at her. Hated it. This was the second time she’d had to apologize to him lately and she wondered if he was rethinking this whole girlfriend thing. Who wanted a girlfriend who flew off the handle and jumped to conclusions all the time? She certainly wouldn’t. It was never far from her mind that he could have any woman he wanted.
Finally, Cam turned the TV off and put the remote on the table. “Okay, I have a few things to say and I’d appreciate it if you’d just listen.”
“All right,” she said, certain he was going to cancel the trip and break up with her. She could feel the tears threatening right now.
He took a deep breath. “I always intended on having kids of my own. I think I’d make a pretty good dad and if I’m honest, I don’t know if it’ll work for me if you just want me to stand on the sidelines and do and say nothing when it comes to Zinny. If we’re going to make it as a couple, I need to be part of Zinny’s life and I need to be able to have a say.”
He spoke in a carefully even tone but she sensed the conviction behind it. She couldn’t help but respect him for it. That he wanted to take part in Zinny’s upbringing said something about his character. Like she’d so callously pointed out this morning, she wasn’t his kid, and yet, he wanted to do right by her. Lots of guys would be happy doing absolutely nothing and letting her do all the work.
“Okay, I get that,” she said. “I understand where you’re coming from. I really do. It’s just…I guess it comes back to me having to live with Ellen all that time. We were in a constant battle over Zinny, and I let her win almost every time because she was putting a roof over our heads, not to mention the fact that she’s her grandmother.”
“Last time I looked, I didn’t resemble Ellen in any way, shape or form.”
She conceded a smile.
“And you also said you would just listen.”
She winced. “Sorry. I’ll be quiet now.”
“So, because I can see the ambiguity is messing with your head—and it’s messing with mine too, I suggest we…clarify our roles, for lack of a better term.”
That’s when he got up from the couch and knelt in front of her. “I was going to wait and do this in Vegas, but screw it.”
From nowhere he produced a small royal blue flip-top ring box and her heart stopped.
She couldn’t breathe.
She couldn’t think.
This was not happening.
And yet, it was happening. He opened the box to reveal, of course, a dazzling diamond ring. For some crazy reason, she thought maybe it was something else, but no, it was an honest-to-goodness diamond ring. There was no mistaking how its facets caught the light and reflected it outward in a rainbow of brilliance. The sight of it thrilled and terrified her.
“I love you, Dakota. I love you and I want to marry you. You’re the reason I’m anxious to get home every day, the reason I want to wake up in the morning, the reason why I’m suddenly looking at retirement as something more than a life sentence. I want to spend all my time with you.”
His words washed over her and wrapped her in a cocoon of warm disbelief.
“Oh my gosh, Cam, you’re crazy.”
“Maybe I am. Crazy in love. I’m in love with you and in case you didn’t notice, I’m in love with the Zinster too. I can’t stand the idea of not being a part of her life and seeing her grow up. The way I see it, if we get married and I become her stepdad or step-uncle or whatever you want to call it, you and I can work as a bonafide team. I’m a good team player. Ask anyone. I want to take care of you, both of you, so, what do you say, Koko? Will you marry me?”
He took the ring out of the box and she was again thrown into a panic.
“Cam, God, I don’t know if I’m cut out for marriage. I’m not going to be any good at it.”
“You just have to keep doing what you’re doing, sweetheart. That’s all I want. Just love me and take care of me like I’m going to love and take care of you.”
His gaze was so beseeching, his words so simple and honest, that she ignored all the niggling doubts and gave in to what her heart wanted more than anything—to say yes.