Knox leaned back in his chair behind his desk at the stadium and groaned, stretching sore muscles from an earlier workout. He was waiting to hear from Jade after her therapy appointment. The details were none of his business, but how she felt afterward was.
He glanced at the time on his cell and frowned. Her session was scheduled to be forty-five minutes, and he should have heard from her by now.
He patted the small box he’d slipped into his pants pocket this morning. Though he didn’t plan on asking Jade to marry him today, he figured he’d keep the ring close, just in case the right moment presented itself.
He jiggled the mouse on his computer and his emails settled on the screen, but he couldn’t concentrate. He tried to call Jade but it went to voicemail. He’d give her some more time and then he’d check with her office. If she wasn’t at work, he’d start to worry.
Who was he kidding? He was already worried something had come up in her session that had sent her running. He drummed his fingers on the desk when he heard loud voices outside his office.
“I’m sorry but you can’t just go in there.” Olga sounded loud as she objected.
Knox rose just as his door flung open and Celia rushed inside. Just what he didn’t need. His ex-wife giving him grief.
“I’m sorry. She pushed past me,” Olga said from behind Celia.
“It’s okay. I’ll handle it.” He nodded and Olga stepped out again.
Knox ran a hand through his hair. “Come on, Celia, I thought you had more pride than this?” She hadn’t come crawling back after she’d cheated. Her pushing him now didn’t make sense.
“I do. I… Look, I’m here because of Theo. He’s out of control.”
Knox narrowed his gaze. “I didn’t know you and Theo were still… a thing.” Not that he cared.
“We’re not.” She sat down in a chair, obviously out of breath. She took a moment and dropped her handbag on the floor. “If you hadn’t blocked my number, I’d have explained sooner,” she muttered. “Here’s the thing. When Theo saw that first photo of you and Jade on social media, he was jealous. He told me he asked you to stay away from her, and you wouldn’t listen.”
“Why would I?” he asked. And the asshole hadn’t asked, he’d ordered.
Celia waved her hand in the air. “Let me finish!” she said, her voice trembling. “Theo then asked me to try and get back together with you.”
“To keep me away from Jade,” Knox surmised.
She nodded. “Right. But obviously, it didn’t work.” When he opened his mouth to speak again, she held up her hand in a stop gesture.
“Let you finish. Got it.” He leaned back against his desk, half sitting on the edge.
“I got the message that we’re over, Knox. I did. I’d already felt bad about sleeping with Theo. I made so many mistakes when we were married, but I thought maybe enough time had passed and we could fix it. But I saw how furious you still were, and I knew I’d really ruined things for good.” She paused, still drawing deep breaths.
“Are you okay?” He clenched and unclenched his hands, needing the information she had but knowing he had to let her tell the story her way.
She nodded. “I rushed over here. Anyway, as I’m sure you know, this past weekend, the Rockets lost in the playoffs, and I think Theo lost his mind. He called me the other day, rambling. He knows he’s going to be traded.”
“Only if another team wants him,” Knox muttered.
“Right. The next day, he went to lunch with Holly and called me after. He looked at Holly’s phone when she went to the ladies’ room.”
“What?” Knox was going to kill his brother. He’d known Theo was using Holly for a reason. No wonder she’d been moping around, unwilling to discuss what was wrong.
Celia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “He knows Jade is pregnant.”
“Shit.” Pacing, he paused and rubbed his eyes with his palms. “What else? Tell me quickly, because I should have heard from Jade by now and I haven’t.”
Celia’s blue eyes opened wide. “Theo got drunk last night and called me first thing this morning. He was hungover but he had a plan. He thinks if he can get Jade somewhere alone, he can convince her to come back to him. Then he can take her away from you. He’s even willing to raise your kid. He called it the ultimate fuck you.”
Fury rushed through Knox. He couldn’t believe Theo’s arrogance. the guy was delusional. And somehow Knox had missed the signs he’d passed his normal state of arrogant behavior and had fallen off the deep end. After assuring Jade she had nothing to worry about when it came to Theo. He slammed his hand down on the desk.
He hoped Jade would think and not panic. She couldn’t goad Theo or piss him off, either of which would likely send him into a rage. Knox was fucking terrified for Jade and the baby she carried. He needed to punch something harder. The wall seemed like a good option, but he decided to save his hand for Theo’s face.
Celia met Knox’s gaze. “Theo believes Jade is somehow the key to his life working out. That if he gets her back, he’ll manage to stay with the Rockets. He’ll have a family. He’s really out of his mind, Knox.”
“He told you all of this?”
Her eyes filled with tears as she nodded. “I never would have become involved with him if I thought he’d get so out of control.”
Knox ran his fingers through his hair. “At least he told you his plan and you did the right thing.”
“I tried to call Jade but she hung up on me.”
Shit. Did that mean Theo had already gotten to her? Knox’s stomach twisted painfully. “What else did Theo say?” he asked Celia. “Think. Did he mention where he wanted to take her?”
Celia swallowed hard. “He read Jade’s messages to Holly and knew she had an early appointment this morning. When I spoke to him, he was on his way to her apartment to wait for her to come outside. I tried to call you, but you’d blocked my number. All I know is, he said he was going to take her somewhere they could be alone. That’s all I know. I swear.”
“Why didn’t you call the police when you couldn’t reach me?” he asked.
She looked away. “Theo has enough problems. I thought… I don’t know what I thought, okay? But I’m here now.”
He scowled at her. Hands shaking, Knox pulled out his phone and looked up Asher’s number, then tapped the screen. He put the phone to his ear and waited for Jade’s brother to answer.
“Hey. What’s up?” Asher asked.
“Have you heard from Jade this morning?”
“No, but she had her therapy appointment,” Asher said.
“Then we have a problem. I think Theo has her.”
Asher let out a curse. “What the fuck? How? Why?”
“Later, okay? I’ll call the cops and–”
“No,” Asher bit out. “Zach is a computer genius and has connections. He knows how to find people. He’ll get to her faster than bringing in the police, who’ll waste time asking questions.”
Knox swallowed hard, trusting Jade’s brother. “Fine. Call Zach and you two get over to the stadium. Now.” He disconnected the call and turned to Celia, who’d grown pale. “Do me a favor? Just sit there and think. Maybe Theo said something else that’ll give us a clue as to where he’s taken her.”
She nodded.
Knox walked to the door, opened it, and stuck his head out. “Olga, get Holly in here, please?” Maybe his sister would have some idea where Theo would take Jade.
A few seconds later, Olga stepped inside. “Your sister is meeting with advertisers and is expected in later.”
Shit. “Thanks, Olga. Make sure you leave a message for her. I need to talk to her as soon as she gets here. It’s an emergency.”
Knox pulled up Holly’s number on his cell and tapped the screen. He listened but it went straight to voicemail and he left a message instructing her to call him back as soon as possible. Knox began pacing again as they waited for Jade’s brothers or Holly to arrive. He used the time to text Asher and fill him in so they wouldn’t waste precious minutes when they got here.
They sat in silence. Knox had nothing to say to his ex, though he appreciated the fact that she’d come to help. Without her, he might not have known what had happened to Jade.
Finally, Holly walked into Knox’s office. She looked from Knox to Celia and her mouth opened wide.
“Don’t ask. I just need to know if you have any idea where Theo might take Jade.”
“What do you mean?” Holly lowered herself into the seat next to Celia. Neither said anything to each other.
Knox picked up a pen and began rolling it between his palms.
“Think of a place he liked to go when he was growing up, somewhere he mentioned often,” Zach answered, entering with Asher behind him. He had a laptop in hand and walked over to where Knox sat.
Zach stared, brows raised, until Knox got the message and vacated the chair. Zach slipped off his ever-present leather jacket and settled himself behind the desk.
Opening his laptop, he powered it on while staring at Holly. “Anything come to mind?”
She rubbed her hands on her pants. “Umm…”
“Did you track her phone?” Zach asked when Holly came up blank.
At Knox’s head shake, Zach began typing, doing his thing. “Asher, call Jade’s doorman. Ask him if he saw her leave and, if so, what direction she went.”
While Asher did as instructed, Holly tipped her head back in the chair and groaned. “I’m sorry,” she mouthed to Knox. “I’m trying.”
He put a hand on her shoulder. “I know. Relax and do the best you can.”
“Her phone’s in Yonkers. Unmoving on the Taconic. Theo must have tossed it out of the car, so we have a start on direction.”
“Oh!” Holly jumped up from her seat. “When we were younger, my father owned a cabin upstate! He’d take me and Theo there, and we’d go fishing and hiking. Mom never came because she didn’t like the outdoors. It wasn’t one of my favorite things, either, because it had an outhouse, not a bathroom.” She wrinkled her nose. “Dad left it to Theo. It was the only thing of value he had. I didn’t care and never asked Theo what he did with it.”
Zach’s fingers flew faster on the keyboard. “Theodore Matthews… county?” he asked.
“I think Putnam,” Holly said.
“According to the doorman, she walked out and headed north,” Asher said, shoving his phone into his back pants pocket. “Doorman didn’t see her talking to anyone.”
Zach continued to type.
“What’s he doing?” Holly asked.
“Probably cross-referencing Theo’s name with properties owned, looking for tax information,” Knox said.
“Hacking,” Asher stated. “Come on, come on.” He stalked behind the desk and stood behind Zach, staring over his shoulder.
Zach ignored him.
“Got it. Sending directions to your cell, Ash.” Zach hit another button on the keyboard and flipped the lid closed. “Let’s hit the road.”
Knox walked over to his sister. He put a hand on Holly’s shoulder. “Try not to panic. Wait here and I’ll let you know as soon as we’ve got her.”
He glanced at Celia, who still sat in silence, guilt all over her face. “Stay with her,” he told Holly, nodding toward his ex. He leaned close to Holly. “Be decent. Without her, we wouldn’t know about any of this.” He kissed her cheek and walked out behind Asher and Zach.
If his son-of-a-bitch half brother had laid a hand on Jade, Knox could guarantee Theo wouldn’t be walking out of that cabin in one piece.
* * *
Jade sat on an old bed in a smelly, secluded mountain cabin with no air-conditioning. Theo looked nothing like the man she’d been engaged to—a handsome, clean-shaven playboy with a twinkle in his eye and a perpetual grin on his lips. The guy in front of her wore wrinkled clothing, had shadows beneath his eyes, and his eyes were darting all over the room, as if someone would jump out at him any second. He clearly needed help.
She mentally went through her options. If she tried to reason with him by reminding him he’d cheated on her and she was now in love with Knox and carrying his baby, she could set off his temper. Given her present condition, she didn’t want to test that possibility.
She could pretend to go along with whatever he wanted, hoping he’d eventually drive them back to the city, except she couldn’t bring herself to kiss him or, God forbid, do more, in an attempt to convince him he’d won against Knox.
And she’d already decided running was out of the question. Not with that knife he kept in a sheath on his belt and the gun in his hand.
She was scared but not panicked. She’d come to the realization he wouldn’t hurt her if she didn’t argue or fight with him. At least, not right now. How desperate he’d get, though? That was anyone’s guess. He’d been muttering about losing everything and her being the key to fix his problems.
Theo had tossed her phone out the window on the way upstate. She just hoped Knox had realized she was missing and had called in the cavalry. She’d hate to think she was really on her own.
“Theo?”
He stopped his pacing.
“Did you stock this place with food? I didn’t eat breakfast, and I’m hungry,” she lied. She was too nauseous and nervous to eat.
The car ride had been long, and she’d already had to make do with an outhouse while Theo waited on the other side of the door. Her morning sickness had also returned in full force on the way upstate, and he’d had to pull over so she could throw up. Unfortunately, she hadn’t been lucky enough for the police to stop and see if they were okay.
“Shit,” he said. “I didn’t plan well, but we can get you something to eat at a diner a few miles away… if we get somewhere in our talk.”
She nodded, eager to get to civilization, where she could catch someone’s eye and hopefully get some help. They’d been at the cabin for about an hour. During which time Theo had done more pacing than talking.
If she wanted out of here, she needed to engage him in conversation. “I’m sorry about the playoffs,” she said.
He spun to face her. “If I hadn’t been sitting out another suspension, we’d never have lost. They needed me. Why don’t they understand how valuable I am to the team?”
She decided not to remind him of his second illegal hit—not long after he’d served his suspension. “I know. Maybe you can sit down with your coach and explain things to him?”
He shook his head. “Coach doesn’t want to hear anything I have to say.” Theo began waving the gun around as he spoke, his anger and frustration making him even more irrational.
She bent her knees and pushed herself into the corner of the bed, wrapping her arms around her legs to protect her stomach—in case he fired by accident. She didn’t know much about guns, and she had no idea whether or not the weapon had a safety on it.
“What do you want from me?” she asked, hoping to calm him down by changing the subject.
He spun around and walked toward her, gun pointed down. “Things were better when we were together. My career was going great, and we were happy.”
She swallowed back a retort about the great career. Since being traded to New York, he’d been warned numerous times about his behavior—some of those warnings coming even before he’d stepped foot on the ice.
But they had had some happy times. Otherwise, she’d never have agreed to marry him.
“We were happy,” she murmured. Until he’d cheated on her, but again, that wasn’t something she’d bring up now.
“See?” He sat down on the mattress, too close for comfort. “We can be that way again. I’m even willing to raise Knox’s spawn as my own.” He chuckled at the idea and her stomach rolled over.
He’d crossed the boundary of sane. He was alternately deluding himself that they could be a happy couple and delighting in the notion of taking something from Knox. And Jade and the peanut in her belly were stuck smack in the middle.
And if his mental instability wasn’t bad enough, Theo reeked of booze. She had no doubt he’d been drunk last night and hadn’t showered before executing this brilliant plan. The trip upstate had been hell. Between concern for her baby, herself and what he’d do to her once they arrived at this cabin, she’d driven herself to panic. Not to mention the utter fear of him driving drunk. Once at the cabin, she had to deal with the smells of this musty, dusty room, and Theo’s body odor—all things that could trigger a migraine. That was the last thing she needed. If she was going to get out of this, she needed to be clear headed.
She also needed space from him, both for her physical and mental well-being.
She inhaled, trying to calm her racing pulse, but gagged from the smell.
“Are you going to be sick again?” he asked in disgust.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Some bottled water would help. I thought I saw one in the car?”
He eyed her warily. “I’ll be right back.” He rose and waved the gun at her, causing her to duck in fear. “Don’t move from this spot. I’ll hear you if you try and run.”
She believed him.
Even though this place was in the middle of nowhere, Theo had hidden the vehicle in the back of the house. He walked out of the cabin, and she heard him stomping around outside. She blew out a long breath and leaned against the wall, desperately trying to come up with a plan of escape.
* * *
Knox’s nerves were strung tight as they pulled off the highway and drove the couple of miles off the beaten path, following the directions Zach had sent to Asher’s cell. He had no way of knowing Theo’s state of mind or what his brother was capable of if cornered.
Zach, who’d been driving, stopped at the edge of a dirt road and put the GMC Sierra truck in park.
“Why stop here?” Asher asked before Knox could.
“We don’t want Theo to hear us coming. So we’re walking the last half mile.”
Then Zach led the way, and Asher and Knox followed.
“Should we call the police?” Asher asked.
“I already have cop friends searching the city. Right now, all we have is a hunch that she’s here. It’s not a real lead. I’m sure the three of us can handle Theo if he’s here. I assume I’m the only one packing?” Zach patted his jacket.
Maybe that explained why he never took the damned thing off. “Yes,” Asher said, the word sounding more like duh, shooting Knox an eye roll as they walked.
“Maybe I can talk him down.” Knox didn’t want anything to happen to his stepbrother—beyond getting his ass put in prison for kidnapping, that is.
Zach stopped short. “There.” He pointed to what looked like a log cabin. The shades were drawn and it looked deserted. “I’m going to do a quick check. Stay here and we’ll regroup after my recon.” He walked off, taking the woods as an indirect route.
Knox turned to Asher. “Who is he?” he asked.
Asher shrugged. “Bar owner slash something he’s never admitted. We just know we can come to him for anything.” He glanced at the cabin, his eyes full of concern. “Tell me Theo won’t hurt her.”
“I’m counting on it.” Knox’s hands curled into fists. “His main goal in life is to get something over on me. If he can win Jade back—or just think he has—he wins. As long as Jade doesn’t provoke him, she’s okay.” At least, that was what he needed to believe.
Knox caught a glimpse of Zach casing the house, checking windows before he disappeared around the side. His heart pounded in his chest as he waited for confirmation that Jade was in there. He needed to be doing something, not standing here twiddling his thumbs.
They waited in silence, sweat dripping down Knox’s face until Zach returned, popping up from the other side of the woods. “Theo’s car’s parked out back. They’re both inside.”
“Thank God.” Knox blew out a breath.
“Okay, what next?” Asher asked.
Before Zach could reply, the cabin door opened and Theo stepped outside. He glanced around and Knox held his breath. But thanks to Zach, they were well hidden in the trees. Theo shut the front door and headed around back.
“Okay, boys, that’s our cue.” Neither Knox nor Asher could compare to Zach when it came to stealth, but they made it to the cabin and walked inside without issue.
Jade sat huddled in the corner of a bed, and her eyes opened wide at the sight of them. Zach put his finger to his lips and she nodded.
Knox rushed over and she flew into his arms. He held her tight, her legs wrapped around his waist, her arms around his neck.
Zach stood beside the front door, waiting for Theo, with Asher behind him, ready to help if needed.
“I found it,” Theo said, stepping inside, a water bottle in his hand.
Zach cold-cocked him with his handgun, and Theo crumpled to the floor. “Oops.” He grinned as he pulled handcuffs from inside his jacket and cuffed Theo’s wrists behind him. “You okay, sis?”
“Yeah.” She gripped Knox’s neck, holding on for dear life.
“You’re safe,” Knox whispered in her ear.
Still clinging to him, she turned and took in the sight of Theo passed out on the floor. “Jesus. Is he alive?”
Asher scowled. “I care more that you’re alive.”
“How did you find me?” she asked.
Knox was happy she held on to him and breathed in the coconut scent of her shampoo. Having her in his arms calmed him down.
“A combination of Celia doing the right thing, Zach tracking your phone, and its location triggering Holly’s memory of the cabin,” Asher explained.
“Celia! She called me this morning and told me not to go anywhere with Theo. But he came up behind me and took me by surprise.” Jade shook her head. “I can’t believe she tried to help.”
“Thank God she did,” Knox muttered.
Asher stepped closer. “Can you put her down so I can see for myself that my sister’s okay?”
Knox growled but let Jade slide down his body. He felt every inch of her, reassuring himself she was fine.
She hugged her brothers and thanked them for finding her when a low moan sounded from the floor.
“What happened?” Theo asked, his voice groggy. He struggled and realized he was confined. “Fuck. Who cuffed me?”
Jade walked over to the man who’d caused her so much pain. “Have you lost your mind?” she shouted at him.
“What? You said we could talk!” Theo yelled back.
“Because you threatened to hurt my baby!” Without warning, she kicked him in the ribs.
“Ouch! Dammit, cut that out. I just wanted you back.”
She turned away from him and glanced at Knox. “Take me home.”
Knox looked her over. Physically, she appeared fine, if tired, but he needed to be sure. “I’d rather have you checked at the hospital.”
She shook her head. “He didn’t hurt me. I just want to go home. I have an appointment with a doctor tomorrow, anyway.”
Knox didn’t like it, but he nodded.
Zach tossed Asher the keys to his truck. “You guys go. I’ll call the cops and have them take out the garbage. I’m sure they’ll want to talk to Jade, but I’ll let them know where to find her.”
“How will you get home?” Jade asked her brother.
“Don’t worry about me. You need to go home and rest.” He placed his hand on her stomach. “You gave us all a scare.”
She smiled. “I’m fine. And if the police need anything from me, a statement or something, I’m more than ready to help.” She frowned at Theo, then shook her head. “Come on.” Grabbing Knox’s hand, she started for the door.
He paused and looked down at his half sibling. As angry as Knox had been at Theo, he didn’t recognize the pathetic man cuffed on the floor and couldn’t conjure up the fury he’d felt earlier. “You could have had it all, you know. Now I just hope you get the help you need. From inside a jail cell.”
Squeezing Jade’s hand tight, they walked around Theo and out the front door.
* * *
Knox insisted on sitting in the back of Zach’s truck cab with Jade, while Asher grumbled about feeling like a damned chauffeur. Jade laughed and snuggled into Knox’s arms, giving him peace for the first time since he’d discovered she was missing.
Fifteen minutes after they’d left the cabin, the police had called Asher’s phone, wanting to speak to Jade. They were annoyed she’d left the scene before they had time to get her statement. Asher told them her lawyer would be in touch, and she’d talk to them then before disconnecting the call.
Once back in the city, Asher had dropped Knox and Jade at her apartment. Knox ordered in food while she showered. Then they sat and ate deli sandwiches in silence. The ring sat in his pocket, taunting him. But he didn’t think this was the right time. Not after everything Jade had been through today. He didn’t want to take advantage of her vulnerability now.
She was quiet and he gave her the space she needed.
She picked up her remnants of her meal, stood, and tossed them in the trash. “Knox?” She turned toward him.
“Hmm?”
“You’re very quiet. Are you upset about Theo’s arrest? Worried about Holly? What is it?”
Her worry for him touched his heart, especially since he thought the silence had been her doing. “I was just wondering what was going on in your mind.” He stood and tossed out his garbage, as well. “I spoke to Holly while you were in the shower. She’s okay. Miles is taking good care of her.”
“That’s good. And Celia? I still can’t believe she was involved. Is she in trouble?” Jade asked.
“I hope not. All she did was try to get me back in her life. As soon as Theo’s plan went crazy, she spoke up.” He might not want to be married to Celia—and would definitely never trust her again—but he couldn’t deny she had done the right thing.
Jade nodded.
“Holly said that Celia left my office once she knew we’d found you. I assume that’s the last we’ll hear from her.”
“I can’t say that’s a disappointment, but I am grateful for her help.” Jade yawned, covering her mouth. “Excuse me.”
He walked over and cupped her face in his hands. “You have to be exhausted.”
She nodded. “I am.”
“I should go and let you get some rest.”
She shook her head, causing him to release her face. “Don’t go. I have some things I want to talk to you about.” She clasped his hand. “Come on. Let’s relax.”
She led him into her bedroom and the heaviness in his chest eased. Though he didn’t know what was going through her mind, the fact that she wanted him here was enough. She stretched out on the bed, patting the mattress beside her. He walked around to the other side and settled in.
She turned to face him and he did the same.
“Did I tell you I made Theo stop so I could throw up on the side of the road?” she asked.
He laughed. “You sound awfully pleased with yourself.”
“I am. At least I made him suffer some.”
“You gave him a good kick, too.”
Her eyes sparkled with mirth. “He deserved it.” She sat up and curled her legs beneath him, facing him.
He pushed himself up against the headboard, ready to hear whatever she had to say. He studied her face. Though pale, even without makeup, she was beautiful.
“So I had a lot of time to think as we drove up to the cabin.” She rubbed her arms with her hands. “I knew I couldn’t run because Theo had a gun and he’d made it clear he’d shoot. He had a knife, too. But as long as I was calm, I wasn’t too worried that he would hurt me. So I stopped panicking and started thinking about you.”
“I’m sorry you got caught in whatever the hell this thing is between me and Theo.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “I was worried when I didn’t hear from you and then terrified when Celia told me what he planned.”
“It’s not your fault.” Jade gave him a small smile, one he appreciated. “Now to the important things.”
“I’m listening.”
She nodded and drew a deep breath, her fingers plucking at the comforter on the bed. “When you and I met up again, I had more walls built around my heart than a castle. But each time we were together, those walls came down, one by one, starting with that first kiss.”
He grinned. “It wasn’t just a simple kiss, was it?” He skimmed his knuckles over her cheek.
She shook her head. “No. It bound us. More and more, you let me see who you are inside.” She touched his shirt over his heart. “You’re such a good man. And I kept asking myself whether or not I could believe in what I saw.”
She looked him in the eye, her face full of an emotion he didn’t dare name. “You made it impossible for me not to fall in love with you. I knew it on the island but was too afraid to say it out loud. Then Theo pulled a gun, and the whole ride to the cabin, I thought, what if I waited too long? What if I’d never be able to tell Knox how I felt about him?”
His heart slowed as he waited. Reaching out, he stroked her cheek. “Say it now.”
Her smile grew wide. “I love you, Knox Sinclair.”
His heart began to beat faster as she said the words that made everything right in his world. “And I love you, Jade Dare.”
Her sparkling eyes and wide grin lit him up inside, and he decided it was time, feeling more certain of her answer now than when he’d initially purchased the ring.
She leaned forward and her lips met his. Their connection went soul deep, because they were finally on the same page. In no rush, he kissed her for a long time, their tongues twining, their lips locked.
Finally, he was ready. He broke the kiss, then grinned before rolling off his side of the bed to stand. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the box that had been poking at him all day—a reminder that they had a future once she was back home with him. He walked around to her side of the mattress.
“What are you doing?” She wrinkled her nose in confusion.
He dropped to one knee. “Jade, there is nothing I want more than to spend the rest of my life with you. And before you say anything, I want you to know that I would have asked you to marry me even if you weren’t pregnant with my baby. That’s a bonus for us both. But I love you more than life itself. Will you marry me?” He lifted the top of the box.
Her eyes opened wide, her gaze on his and not the ring. As much as he appreciated her lack of materialism, he really wanted to see her reaction.
“How? When did you go shopping?” she asked.
“I took Asher with me earlier in the week. Now will you please answer me? And look at the ring?”
Keeping her gaze steady on his, she said, “Yes. I will marry you.” Then she glanced down and squealed in excitement as she looked at the ring he’d picked out just for her.
“It’s a heart… I love it.”
He stood and pulled the ring out of the box, then slid it over her finger. “I picked a heart because you own mine.”
“It fits,” she said, wriggling her fingers.
“Thank Lauren.”
Laughing, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his neck. “This is one wedding I promise will go off without a hitch.”
“Damn right.” He lifted her so he could sit, then settled her on his lap. “I’d planned to pop the question after your doctor’s appointment tomorrow, but something made me grab the ring and keep it with me today.”
“Intuition,” she murmured. “I’m glad we’re here and alone when you did.”
He thought about the type of affair they might have. “Are you set on the idea of a big wedding?” he asked.
“God no. After all I’ve been through? I just want to say I do,” she said.
He toyed with a long strand of her hair, happier than he could ever remember being. “Good.” He didn’t want a spectacle, though he’d give her anything she desired. “I’d like to do it before the baby is born if that’s okay with you.”
“Yes.” She threaded her fingers through his hair as they talked. “And while we’re at it, I’d like to get married before I start showing.”
He placed his hand over her flat belly, excited to see her grow bigger with his child. “I’m sure you and Serenity will get started planning soon.”
Anticipation lit up her expression. “Speaking of relatives, you have a choice.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”
“We can make phone calls now, telling our families the good news…” Her voice trailed off.
“Or?”
“We can do this.” She straddled his lap and pushed him back onto the mattress. “Take just one more night for ourselves before we spread the news.”
He pulled her down until their lips met in a kiss, giving her his answer. Not only would she always come first with him but kissing her would always be his favorite pastime.