“I do,” I said softly.
Then it was his turn.
He examined the options, his long fingers brushing each piece slowly and deliberately.
“This one,” he said. “Gotta go with a halo setting.”
Mine was a 3-carat sculpted cushion-cut diamond, reverse halo set, with a thin diamond crusted white gold band, floating, giving off main character energy. I loved it, and it's exactly what I would’ve chosen for myself.
I blinked back tears, but I didn’t plan to cry. “Can I just say… I wasn’t ready for you to be this thoughtful.”
“You weren’t ready for a lot of shit,” he said, smirking. “And look how that turned out.”
He held the ring out, waiting. “Let me put it on you, Angel.”
I nodded and held out my hand.
The moment that band touched my skin, I felt a deep connection, as if I had been waiting for that precise feeling. I put his on right after.
“Come here,” he whispered, pulling me into his lap.
I leaned into him, and he kissed me with so much love and heat that if we didn’t get up soon, we weren’t making it to dinner.
That’s when he pulled back, thumb brushing my jaw.
“Today has been perfect. You fuckin perfect.”
And it had been, but the day wasn’t over.
We’d made it to Ignite at 6:00 PM on the dot. I’d worked really hard pulling this together and hiding it, so being late wasn't an option, not for us or any of our guests. I was trying not to sweat through my damn dress because pulling off a surprise for a man who didn’t missanythingwas a full-time job.
I’d spent the last month planning this—coordinating schedules, blocking off the private dining room, making sure the rooftop was free, sending my “don’t say a damn word” texts like I was running an undercover sting operation. And tonight was the night. DaVinci had no clue, which was a miracle within itself.
Ignite’s valet opened my door first. The evening sun caught the orange of my dress, my curls moving in the breeze. DaVinci rounded the SUV and stalled out the moment he saw me, gaze running the length of me with no shame.
“Angel,” he said, voice dropping, eyes dragging over me. “You're showing out today.”
“All for you husband,” I said, smiling. “Come on, I’m starving.” I lied.
“Lead the way then,” he said, smacking me on the ass and watching it jiggle.
“Baby, focus.”
“Shit, my bad.” He grabbed my hand, and I led him inside. Ignite was dim and warm, all amber lighting and jazz-infused hip-hop humming through the speakers. The staff gave me the little nod I’d coordinated earlier, the okay sign that everything was set, and I prayed he didn’t catch it.
We were halfway down the hallway toward the private dining room when we turned the corner and—
“Surprise!”
Gold confetti cannons erupted in a soft, glittering burst. The room came alive as our families, some of his teammates, Omni, Tess, Malik, Sametra, and everyone else, stood decorated in celebration, clapping, cheering, and smiling.
DaVinci stopped clean in his tracks.
“What the—”
I tugged him forward. “Surprise, Mr. Bryns.”
He took one look at me, mouth twitching, unable to decide between laughing and cursing. Then he shook his head slowly.
