She’d gotten to her side of the bed, pulled back the covers, and blinked hard when she spotted a diamond ring on her pillow.
The black velvet box that held the diamond in its slit was small, but not the ring. The ring’s diamond was prominent, and glowing under the lamplight on her side table.
The stone caught the light at every angle, causing Rylee to completely freeze in place.
She turned to the bathroom, doing her best to find the words to ask Xander about it, when she found him down on one knee inches away from her.
That made her gasp then press her hand to her chest.
Xander was silent for a beat before he chuckled nervously. “I’m scared ashellright now.”
Rylee released a small laugh that was all breath.
Instantly, she remembered her father’s comment during dinner and the look him and Xander exchanged in that moment.
“I’m terrified,” Xander continued, “Not because I don’t want to marry you, because,God, I really do. And I’m not terrified because I don’t think I’ll be a great husband or father, because I know for damn sure I will be.”
Her heart was pounding now.
“I’m scared you won’t let me show you any of that, Snoop.”
Rylee’s eyes were blinking so quickly now, tears forming as she kept them on Xander.
There he was, all six-foot-something of him. Arms bulging, shoulders squared. Just a whole lot of man, on one knee… for her.
“Three years ago, this life I’m living now with you was the furthest thing from my desires,” Xander confessed. “I wasn’t thinking wife, kids, house… a house she won’t accept.” He shook his head then licked his lips. “But then I saw you… snooping through my mother’s trash?—”
“Aye,” Rylee cut in, pointing at him. “I was not snooping through nobody’s trash.”
He smirked. “Yeah, you were.”
Rylee rolled her eyes and tried to fight back her smile but lost.
“And it was the greatest discovery of my life, Rylee,” he said, waiting for her attention again. “Because you entered my life with not just your amazing self but with absolutely awesome children who stole my heart just as quickly as you did mine.” He sniffed back his tears. “So for real, Rylee? I’m not asking you to marry me.”
Rylee’s brows wrinkled.
“Because that would be too easy, too cliché,” he added, pressing his hand to his chest. “I’m asking you to let me love you the way you deserve. To show you how amazing of a husband I can be to you because… you’re the love of my life. And it’s like I said, I understand Lennox will always be a part of you. But you’re my future, and though I’ve never met him, I think he’d like that for you… at least I’d hope he would.”
She smiled, the tears pooling more now in her eyes.
“And I think he’d like me for you too.” He nodded. “I know that shit. ‘Cause I’m me.”
She laughed softly this time.
“And because I love you so much, Rylee.” Xander extended a hand to her and Rylee closed the distance between them.
Once her hand was in his, Xander asked, “So, will you allow me a chance to do that? Will you be my wife, Rylee… please?”
Her bottom lip quivered at the sight of him and at his words. The gentle caress of his thumb over the back of her hand and the soft look in his eyes.
Her hand went to her belly and his hand covered hers on top of it.
And even though her heart was racing, her mind moving even faster with how much things had changed in just a few months, the only answer she wanted to say came out of her mouth with ease. So much ease.
“Yes,” she said, softly and with tears. “I absolutely will.Yes!”
The smile on Xander’s face could’ve lit the Manhattan skyline.
