“I have something for you,” he says, surprising me yet again.
“Not more presents.” He has already showered me with gifts every day since we got here. Massages, manicures, pedicures, facials. I’ve turned into a pampered princess.
“You’ll like this one,” he assures me.
Leon unlaces his arms from around me, and I turn to face him just as he is pulling a small box out of the pocket of his dress shorts.
“That looks like a ring box,” I blurt.
“That’s because it is a ring box.” He pries the lid away from the base to reveal the biggest, shiniest diamond I have ever seen. “It’s an engagement ring.”
It’s fucking huge, is what it is.
“How, when, did you…” I stutter incomplete sentences, unable to comprehend how he got a ring for me.
“I had a FaceTime call with a jeweler in Canada when you were at the spa, and I had it flown in specially.”
He put serious effort into buying me an engagement ring: the ultimate gesture of love.
“Leon, you didn’t need to buy me this,” I say softly.
“Oh, yes, I did. I want everyone to know who you belong to.”
I get it. He’s claiming me, and I can’t say I’m not mad about it. In fact, I’m swooning. Hard. Harder than I did when we first kissed.
“Let’s rewrite our story together. Be mine?” Leon drops to his knee, making me laugh as my eyes fill with emotion.
“I’m already yours.” I shake my head at how crazy this all is.
“Yeah, but I never got to do this part. If I did, I don’t remember. And I want to do things right.”
I nod, agreeing to the whirlwind that is our life now. “Yes, Leon. I’ll be yours.”
With trembling hands, uncharacteristic of Leon, he carefully places the giant diamond, which looks like something out of a museum and belongs to royalty, on my ring finger, just above the wedding band that I haven’t taken off since the night we got married. I’m never taking it off.
“It fits.” I sigh, staring at it. It’s perfect.
“I knew it would.” Leon rises to his feet as I throw myself into his arms to the sound of cheers and whoops from Leon’s crew who line the bridge. My crew. This is crazy.
I get the fright of my life and jump when fireworks suddenly burst across the sky, crackling, banging, and whizzing, lighting up the night in shimmering shades of pink, yellow, and blue. Some green.
“You did this?” I ask, spellbound.
“I did this for you.” He gently kisses me, opening my heart and soul, which I happily share with him. They feel truly safe under his care.
We gently break our kiss to watch the spectacular display.
“They are so beautiful,” I gasp as I watch the sky fill with vibrant colors and light.
“You are,” he whispers. “And we’re going to build a beautiful life together.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Erika
Stretching out on the bed, I blink once, then twice, trying to remember where I am. Then it hits me: I’m on Leon’s yacht. Sorry, our yacht. “I’m not sure I will ever get used to saying that,” I mutter to myself in a daze.
I lift my head and peek out the circular window on the other side of the bedroom. To my surprise, even though I’ve slept well, it’s still dark. I feel like I’ve been asleep for hours; I’ve slept more this vacation than I have all year.
