His forehead creased in a frown. “What are you talking about?”
Folding her arms across her chest and giving him a look filled with disdain, she said, “I saw you and Erin coming out of this hotel looking all cozy, laughing and smiling at each other.”
She had expected him to look guilty, not relieved. Her brows shot up when she heard him exhale loudly.
“So, that’s what has got you in a terrible mood.” He laughed shortly and drew closer. She took a step back and gave him a contemptuous stare.
He raised his hands in a gesture of pleading. “Please, Kai. You just have to trust me.”
“Trust you?” She laughed without mirth. “I did, but you threw it back in my face.”
“There’s nothing going on between Erin and I. I’ll explain everything if you’ll just come with me.”
“Why should I do that?”
“Kai, please, for the love we share and for the sake of our daughter, just come with me.”
Kaiya allowed that she couldn’t continue standing out there arguing with him, so she shrugged without relaxing her features. She decided to go with faith and to trust him.
Tyler helped his daughter from the vehicle and walked with them to the hotel’s dining room. Kaiya was stunned because the place is dark except for a spotlight.
What’s going on?
Tyler walked her and Lili to the spotlight. He got down on one knee and brought down a ring from his pocket and raised it.
“Oh, my God.” Her breath came in fast. She and her daughter shared dazzling smiles.
“Kaiya, finding you again has been one of the highlights of my life. You gave me a beautiful daughter, and you brought unrestrained happiness back into my life. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Kai, will you marry me?”
“Oh, my God!” Her hands went to her mouth. This was her dream come true. She didn’t care that it didn’t happen the way she would have liked —with them raising their daughter from birth and maybe on baby number three or four by now. She was happy; she loved their daughter and their life now.
“Yes. Yes. I’ll marry you, Tyler!” There was no point taking a moment to think about it. This was what she wanted. What she always wanted.
He rose to his feet, slipped the ring into her finger, and kissed her passionately. She hugged him and her daughter when he pulled away.
Suddenly the light came on, and she was stunned to see her sister, Finn and their children as well as Jalissa, Justin and her coworkers standing in a corner. Erin was also present in giving applause.
Tyler whispered to her that Erin had been helping him plan this engagement party and wedding.
“Wedding?”
Before he could reply, Jalissa and Kalilah interrupted them and whisked her and Lili away from Tyler.
“Congratulations!” They said in unison.
Smiling brightly and turning around to look at her fiancé who blew her a kiss, Kaiya asked, “Where are we going?”
“To get you and your daughter dressed for your wedding.”
They led her into the elevator and into an exquisite room where they showed her a glamorous fishtail wedding dress adorned with pearls.
Jalissa came to take a closer look at Kaiya’s engagement ring as Kalilah helped do Kaiya’s hair.
“Wow!” Jalissa exclaimed as she stared at the diamond ring. “If this is the engagement ring, I can’t wait to see the wedding band.”
Kaiya giggled, looking at the large stone that graced her finger. Love for Tyler poured out of her. To think she had spent almost all day in misery thinking their relationship was over while he was trying to make today perfect for her. Her happiness over the turn of events radiated through her.
Kaiya and Lili got dressed up quickly. Both dresses were made from white satin. Kaiya’s dress was long and tight-fitting with a long-sleeved lace bodice, Lili’s dress was a knee-length princess dress with a scooped neck. After ensuring that they both looked good, the women returned to the lobby so that Kaiya could get married to the love of her life, the father of her baby, and the man of her dreams in the presence of her family.
