My pulse picked up and the look in Lyric’s gaze fueled it to beat even faster. But he still looked confused. He’d understand in just a few seconds.
“I’d always been scared to give my heart to anyone other than my family or let people in. But you broke down my walls and took out all my defenses with your love. You’re an incredible man and I couldn’t help but surrender to the feelings I have for you.”
Tears shimmered in Lyric’s dazzling gaze as he looked down at me. I heard murmurs around the room and a few sniffles, but right then I only had eyes for the man I loved and it was time to bring this speech home.
“I love you, Lyric Knight. You are my everything. Will you marry me and be my knight in shining armor for the rest of our lives?”
His eyes widened with surprise and then a deep chuckle rumbled from deep within him. Before I could worry too much about it, Kace walked over, took Autumn from his arms where she’d remained listening to my speech, and then smacked Lyric on the back of his head.
“When a lady professes her love for you and asks you to marry her, you don’t act like a dumbshit.”
Kace’s body froze and then he searched the room, his gaze landing on Embry. “Find me after my friend pulls his head out of his butt and I will pay you.”
Everyone laughed when Embry motioned with two fingers from her eyes to Kace’s to say,‘I got my eyes on you, don’t try and get out of paying.’
Then all eyes were back on us and where Lyric had dropped to one knee in front of me. “I wasn’t laughing at you or your proposal, but at the fact that you beat me to the very thing I’ve been planning to do myself.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black box. “This has been waiting for you to get home and the right time to ask you the same question you just asked me.” He flipped open the box top and I gasped.
It was the perfect ring.
“I can’t imagine a life without you in it. When you were gone—” he paused and closed his eyes for a moment as if in agony.
“When you were not with me, it was the worst two days of my entire life and a part of me felt as if I had died inside. But we are here, together, and I’m never letting you go. I love you with all my heart, Red.” He reached out and touched my cheek. “My answer is yes, I will marry you, and since you asked first, I assume your answer is yes too?”
I was nodding frantically and raised up on my knees further and threw myself into his body. He caught me and wrapped me in his arms. Tears were rolling down my face and I decided,what the heck, I deserved my emotional moments. These were life-altering memories we were making.
“Yes, Yes, Yes,” I chanted.
We eased back from each other and Lyric slipped the ring onto my finger. Cheers went up around the room and I knew I would remember that moment for the rest of my life.
Ourlives.
I looked down at the oval-cut ruby and diamond halo solitaire ring and my heart pounded with happiness. Then I looked back into Lyric’s eyes.
“I love you so much,” I whispered. “I don’t want to wait long.”
“If we had our marriage license I’d marry you right this second. And if my parents were here with us or they might kill me. I can’t wait to make you my wife so you pick the day and I will be by your side.”
“We’ll help,” all the ladies called out in unison.
I turned and looked at all my friends. I was so lucky to have every one of them. “Thank you,” I said and turned back to Lyric.
“How about next month at our place? Something low-key, outside, our family and friends with us. Think your parents would make it?”
I’d said I didn’t want to wait. I wanted nothing more than to be Lyric’s wife, but I wanted everyone there. And that included Jett. He was waiting for his ship date to leave for the military and I wasn’t getting married without him. And July was the perfect time for an outdoor wedding.
Lyric pulled me up to stand and held both my hands in his. “They wouldn’t miss it and that sounds amazing, sweetheart. Should we seal it with a kiss?”
“Kiss, kiss,” Autumn said. She squirmed out of Kace’s arms and ran over to us, wrapping her arms around our legs.
Then Embry’s brother Hudson, who was the same age, started yelling, “Kiss, kiss,” as he started running around the room. The kids had been really quiet, but they were done.
“No kissing!” Embry exclaimed. “You all do too much of it. How about we get to the pizza that’s getting cold?”
That got all the kid’s attention, including Autumn, and they all went running for the kitchen in search of the food. The men and ladies followed, leaving Lyric and me alone.
“I’m ready for that kiss now,” I told him.
