“Excuse me, what is thisrockon your ring finger?” He stares at the glittering emerald with open-mouthed shock.
“That’s Abigail’s engagement ring,” Dane rumbles from behind me, emerging from my bedroom with a packed suitcase in one hand.
We only stopped by my old place to grab my clothes. I’ll be all moved out within a few days, and then Dane and I can start to make a home together in his house in Harleston Village.
We haven’t spoken about the powder blue house across the street. I don’t think either of us is eager to revisit the painful day when I found his secret shrine to me.
The momentary darkness of that thought immediately dissipates when his arm drapes over my shoulders, and he drops a kiss on the top of my head. Warmth suffuses my chest, and a happy grin nearly splits my features.
“Oh my god, you’re glowing!” Stacy exclaims, glossy black curls bouncing as she does a little shimmy of excitement on my behalf. “Are you really engaged?”
“We are,” Dane declares, his accented voice deep with pride.
“Dane proposed in York,” I say.
“So romantic,” Franklin gushes. “You have to tell us all about it. When did this happen?”
“Two days ago,” I say, still smiling. “It was deeply romantic and absolutely perfect.”
Dane beams at me. “I’m glad you think so.”
“Could you two be more stunning together?” Franklin enthuses. “Abby, you found your prince!”
I giggle, and my cheeks flush with a touch of embarrassment. I’ve secretly thought of Dane as my dashing prince, but I’ve never told him that.
His long fingers brush over my cheek, testing the warmth of my blush. His lips curve in that cocky smirk that makes my knees weak.
“I’m opening this bottle,” Stacy announces. “We’re celebrating.”
I peek up at Dane. “I don’t know…” I say slowly. “We were going to move my stuff to Dane’s house.”
“Ourhouse,” he corrects me. “And don’t worry about that. Spend time with your friends. I should go to the office and meet with Meadows. He’s texted me five times since we landed. I’ll finish moving your things over the weekend.”
“Perfect,” Franklin says, as though it’s settled. “Then we’re going out for karaoke and dancing.”
Stacy claps her hands. “Yes! A bachelorette party!”
A giddy laugh bubbles from my chest. “I don’t even have a date set yet for the wedding. It’s too soon for a bachelorette party.”
“We’ll have another one,” Stacy insists.
“At least three,” Franklin agrees.
“You’d better plan those quickly,” Dane says. “I’m marrying you as soon as possible.”
His tone lightens the fierce declaration, but I hear the dark warning beneath the words. He told me that we were returning to South Carolina to get married because it’s faster than the process in England. If Dane has his way, I’ll be his wife within a few days.
I go up onto my toes and press a quick kiss to his lips, a silent promise of my acceptance and eagerness to be married to him.
“Text me when you’re ready for me to pick you up,” he says, a subtle command. “I don’t care how late it is. Enjoy your celebration.”
My heart lifts. Until this moment, some part of me had still worried that Dane might be an overbearing husband. After what happened with Stephen, I know it will be difficult for him to let me out of his sight. We’ve agreed to share our locations on our phones, and I think that puts both of our minds at ease; we can find each other at any time.
Dane isn’t a mindless, possessive beast. He knows I value my autonomy, and he won’t stop me from spending time with my friends.
“Thank you,” I say, imbuing my gratitude with so much more than just simple thanks for the celebratory night out.
He’s trusting that I can handle myself.
