She shook her head. “Today.”
“You’re going to say ittoday?”
“No. Yes.” She wasn’t making any sense. “I love you. Marry me.Today.”
He blinked at her. “Today,today?”
“Yes. Gatlinburg is three hours from here. There’re wedding chapels all over the place. It’s not Vegas, but I’m sure we can findsomething.”
A blinding grin spread across his face. “You’reserious.”
“Fuck yes, I’m serious.” She had never been more serious about anything in her life than she was of the man standing in front of her. “I don’t want a big wedding. Almost everyone I want to invite is here. Bree might kill me, but she’ll get over it.” She shrugged. “In a couple ofyears.”
He kissed her deeply and possessively. She was consumed and rebuilt. Weakened and strengthened. He took everything she had and gave her everything she’d everneed.
“Do I still need to ask your dad forpermission?”
The screen door opened and Kaden tromped out followed by a bouncing Kimber and her mom. “Come on, kids, everyone in thecar.”
“We want to ride with Chris and Aunt Denny,” Kimbersaid.
Denise raised her eyebrows atChris.
“Sure, they can ride withus.”
“Yay!” Kimber skipped to the truck and waited for her grandmother to open thedoor.
Her dad came out of the house and pulled the door shut behind him. He held a ring out to Chris. “You’re going to need this. It was Karen’s mother’s.” He kissed Denise on the temple and strode down the steps to help her mom with thekids.
They both stared down at the ring. “I guess this means I have hispermission.”
Denise grinned. “I guessso.”
He stepped up onto the porch, then knelt down on one knee. “Denise. Will you marryme?”
She threw her head back and laughed, then held her left hand out. “Yes. I will marryyou.”
Chris stood and wiped the back of his hand across his forehead. “Whew. Thank goodness. That was one of the most nerve-racking things I’ve ever done.” He slid the ring over her finger. “Can’t tell you how long I practiced thatspeech.”
The ring wouldn’t go past herknuckle.
“Uh oh,” he said. “Is this a badomen?”
Pulling the ring off, she rolled her eyes. “It means my grandmother was all of five-foot-two and ninety-pounds with all her clothes on. We’ll get itsized.”
He stopped her from stepping off the porch. “Denise. Are you sure this is what youwant?”
She could see the concern in his eyes. “I want you. I want a life with you. There’s no amount of planning or waiting or tulle that’s going to changethat.”
His arms banded around her so tightly it squeezed the breath right out of her. Or maybe it was the overwhelming happiness that made herbreathless.
“I love you,” hewhispered.
She smiled. “I loveyou.”
“Aunt Denny,” Kimber called, hanging out the window. “Grandpa wants to know if we’re going anytime soon and if you’re going to stay here and make decorations allday.”
“Decorations?” Chrisasked.
