“Holy shit!” she squeals, one hand coming to her mouth. “Are you serious? Oh myGod.”
“I haven’t even asked yet,” I say, trying not to laugh.
“Oh, yeah, right, I’m—sorry. Sorry! Ask away. Ask me. I’ll pretend I never said anything.”
“Don’t want you pretending, duchess. Not today and not ever. This proposal couldn’t have gone any other way if it wasn’t real.” I flick the box open.
Inside, there’s the tiny emerald ring nestled inside, set in brilliant gold. Something small and elegant and stylish, just like my wife.
Fuck me,my wife.
The diamond-clustered emerald felt perfect, delicate and stunning like her.
When I showed Hattie, she agreed, so I went ahead and bought it.
“Margot.” I say her name reverently, and she meets my gaze, the tears spilling over. “Before I met you, I told myself I wouldn’t ever marry again, because I didn’t think anyone else would ever fit into my family. But you came along and you proved me wrong, and I’ve been thankful every day.”
“I didn’t think you’d ask,” she says through her fingers, releasing a long, shuddering breath. “Not this fast. Not sosoon.”
“When you know, you know,” I tell her. “And I knew almost from the first week in this house that you were the exception to every rule. I knew since I kissed you in the attic. So, Margot Blackthorn, will you be my wife?”
She laughs wildly and holds out a shaking hand.
“You know I will! You know—Kane, you know, and so do I.”
“Hell yeah,” I say, taking the ring out of its cream satin and sliding it onto her finger. The perfect fit still feels like a relief. “But I had to ask.”
“I know we’ve talked about the future, but I didn’t think you were ready.” She’s half crying, half laughing, cupping my face in her hands. “I thought you wanted to wait a while, and… and I was cool with that.”
“Wait for what?” I take her hand and kiss her finger—the one with a glittering ring sitting on it like a star. “I told you, I knew since the moment we met.”
“Liar,” she says, tipping her head back to reveal her throat. “You hated me when we first met.”
“Didn’t hate you.”
“No, but you didn’t think I was the future stepmom of your kids.” She stops, thinking about that for a second. “Oh, do you think they’ll—”
“They’ll love it,” I assure her. “They loveyou.”
“Oh well, I know that. But I’ve never tried to be anyone’s mom, you know?”
“It won’t be hard. Nothing different from what you’ve been doing every day for months. You’re my wife and their friend and yes, an authority figure when you need to be, but you don’t push it. They respect you for that. That’s what matters.”
“I love them,” she admits, crying all over again. “But you’re right. If I didn’t think I could, I wouldn’t say yes, no matter how much I loved you.”
“And if I didn’t think they’d love you, if they didn’talreadylove you,” I say, sinking my fingers into her silky hair, “then I’d never ask.”
“You make me so happy, Kane. It’s kinda scary.” She holds out a hand, watching wide-eyed as the ring gleams elegantly in the low light, colorfully tinted from the stained glass.
“That’s okay,” I tell her, sliding my fingers between hers and holding our linked hands above my heart. “You can be scared. I’ll still be right here to hold your hand.”
“I. Love. You.” She laughs and turns back to the glass. “It’s almost a shame this is down here where no one will see it.”
“It’s our special place. Our little secret.”
“I mean, that’s nice, too.” She turns and presses her head against my shoulder.
For the longest time, we just stand there, lost in each other.
