“Declan, she’s beautiful. Did you buy her?”
“She’s yours. She’ll be a great horse for you to find your confidence on.”
“Mine?” I don’t know what to say.
Horses are clearly important to Declan and his family—I don’t know anyone else who keeps horses—but I’ve never had a riding lesson in my life. I’ve never gotten a gift like this before either.
“Does she have a name?” I’m still trying to process the overwhelming gift.
And all the while my guilt about Ruairi keeps knocking at my rib cage, asking to be let out.
“Her official pedigree title is Snow Royalty, but you can name her, Amelia.”
“Snow.” I kiss her face, the golden glints in her brown eyes winking back at me. “Do you like it, beautiful girl?”
She shakes her head and nudges my hand.
“Best friends,” I whisper, with my back to Declan so that he can’t see the tears stinging my eyes.
I should be happy. I’m having a baby. I’m in love with a wonderful, caring man who loves me too. We’re embarking on a whole new chapter in our lives. Together.
But I’m only delaying the inevitable.
When Declan finds out that this baby could be his son’s, I don’t know what’s going to happen.
Stroking the top of Snow’s head, my fingers brush against something small and hard. I lean over the stall to peer more closely and find something metal tangled in her mane. Careful not to hurt her, it takes me a while to untangle it, but when it comes free in my hand, I realize that it’s a ring.
A diamond ring.
With one stunning heart-shaped diamond in the center.
“Declan?”
He drops onto one knee and takes my left hand in his. “Amelia, I’m in love with you. You’ll never know how much joy you’ve brought to my life, but I will never stop trying to make you as happy as you make me. Will you marry me?”
“I…” The word yes is on the tip of my tongue. But Ruairi’s memory is batting it out of the way and yelling to be heard. “Declan, I… I would love to marry you...”
He misses the gigantic silent ‘but’at the end of the sentence. He’s too busy scooping me into his arms, swinging me around the stables, and setting me down again and checking that he didn’t hurt me.
“I’m tougher than I look.” I can’t help giggling at his boyish excitement.
This is how it feels to be in love. This dizzy euphoria, the feeling that we’re untouchable, that nothing and no one can ever drag us down again.
Declan slides the ring onto my finger, and I hold it in front of my face. It’s now or never, I tell myself.
“Do you like it?” he asks.
“It’s perfect.” And I mean it.
“I knew it was the right one the instant I saw it.”
My heart is frantically trying to avoid hearing me say the words out loud. But I must… I can’t live with this any longer. “Declan, there’s something I need to…”
I freeze. My panties feel warm and wet, the way they feel when my period is early and I’m unprepared.
I swallow, and my heart goes into reverse as I touch between my legs, and my fingertips come away crimson.
We both stare at the blood for one interminable moment.
