“They’re all true.”
“You’re biased.”
“I’m observant.” His thumb stroked across my knuckles. “You don’t need to know politics. That can be learned. What can’t be taught is character. And yours is extraordinary.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. My brain was short-circuiting. Queen. He wanted me to be queen. Me. Riley Hawkins. The woman who couldn’t even keep a literary agent without getting financially abused.
“I’ll think about it,” I managed.
He nodded, accepting that. Not pushing. Points for him.
Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring.
It was antique - old gold, intricate filigree, a deep blue stone set in the center. It belonged in a museum. Or on a queen’s finger.
My breath caught.
“My mother gave this to me,” he said. “For you. It’s been in our family for generations. It was her mother’s, and her mother’s before that.”
“Caelan...”
“It’s a promise,” he continued. “That I’m serious. That this isn’t a passing fancy or a mistake or any of the things Vix accused our bond of being. I love you, Riley. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And I’ll spend every day of that life proving it.”
I took the ring. Examined it. The stone caught the light, deep and endless.
This was insane. Completely, utterly insane. Two months ago I was crying in my apartment over rejection letters. Now I was being offered a crown and a prince and a literal fairy tale ending.
Life was weird. Also, apparently, a romance novel. I really should have seen that coming.
“I accept the ring,” I said slowly. “But you’re still in dangerous waters.”
His lips quirked. “I’m aware.”
“There’s a lot of work to do. Trust to rebuild. Conversations to have.”
“I know.”
“And if you ever - ever - keep secrets from me again, for any reason-”
“I won’t.” He said it fiercely. “I swear on everything I am. No more secrets. No more decisions made without you. You’re my partner. My equal. I should have trusted you with the truth from the beginning, and I will never make that mistake again.”
I searched his eyes. Found nothing but sincerity.
“Okay.” I slipped the ring onto my finger. It fit perfectly - of course it did. Because apparently even jewelry was conspiring to make this fairy tale thing happen. “Okay.”
He reached for me. Pulled me across the sofa until I was pressed against his side, my head on his shoulder, the ring glinting on my hand.
“I love you,” he murmured against my hair.
“I know.” I paused. “I love you too, by the way. In case that wasn’t obvious.”
“It was.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “But it’s nice to hear.”
“Every day. For the rest of our lives. I’ll show you.”
I smiled despite myself. “I’m eager to see you do so.”
34
