A warm blanket touches my bare shoulders, and I sink into it as I’m wrapped in a comforting hug.
“Thank you,” I smile, feeling my goosebumps fade away.
“You’re welcome,” he says softly, standing behind me and slowly removing the blindfold.
The lights are dim as I blink my eyes to take in my surroundings.
The arena is empty, and the ice gleams under the partial lights illuminating center ice. Pink roses and candles overflow the area as I stare in surprise.
“The pink reminded me of you with your cute, sexy scrubs,” he murmurs, kissing my neck before taking my hand and leading us to the black carpet that takes us out across the ice.
Blinking back the tears, I inhale the sweet fragrance when we reach the center.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper in awe as the dozens of roses surround us. “Did you buy all the pink roses left in Florida?” I laugh softly.
“Pretty much,” he laughs. “I wanted it to be perfect.”
“It’s perfect,” I swallow through the lump in my throat. “It couldn’t be more perfect.” I finger the soft petal and smile.
“This place saved me,” he says, quietly taking both of my hands and linking our fingers together. “I spent a lot of days on the ice thinking if I just skated harder or faster, that I could outrun the demons of my past. I shut myself off from the outside world. Not feeling anything at all was better than feeling everything I didn’t think I could ever have.”
A tear slides down my face as he reaches out to catch it, brushing it away.
“I had forgotten what love felt like until I met you,” he smiles. “You woke something inside me, and I fought for years to keep it buried. I was scared that if I let you in, you wouldn’t like what you saw, when in reality you loved me more because of it.” He swallows hard, and I squeeze his hand as the tears fall down my face.
“You are so deeply carved into me, sunshine, that I don’t even know who I was before you,” he admits softly. “You make me feel like I’m a person my mom would be proud of. I don’t feel shattered when I’m with you. I feel whole.”
He drops to his knee, and my hand flies to my mouth. Tears are streaming down my cheeks now as I swipe them away.
“Savannah Elizabeth Montgomery,” he says, taking a box out of his pocket and lifting the lid. I gasp at the gorgeous teardrop diamond sitting nestled against the black velvet.
Smiling, he lifts the ring out and takes my hand. “Never in a million years did I think I would be fortunate enough to be kneeling in front of you now. You are and always have been my light, sunshine. I promise with everything in me to love, protect, and cherish this gift I’ve been given for as long as there is breath in my body. You’ve given me a reason to smile a thousand times a day. I’m a better person with you by my side, and I don’t want to do the rest of my life without you. Will you marry me andbe mine forever?” He asks softly. His eyes shine with more love than I could ever possibly feel in this lifetime. “Will you be my wife?”
I drop to my knees and smile through my tears.
“Yes,” I beam. “Nothing would make me happier.”
Crushing his lips to mine, I smile through my tears and kiss him back.
“You are going to feel my love every day I exist. Even after my last breath, my soul will stalk you,” he grins.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” I softly laugh.
Taking my hand, he slides the ring on and kisses it.
“It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen,” I whisper, holding it up to the light.
“Not half as beautiful as the person wearing it,” he smiles, kissing me once more before helping me to stand. “I’ve got one more surprise for you.”
“I’ve actually got one for you, too,” I say excitedly, reaching for my purse.
“Let’s get you off this cold ice first,” he says, picking up the discarded blanket and taking my hand.
“Wait, what about the roses? I don’t want to leave them here.” I look around at all the bouquets, wanting to enjoy their scent for as long as I can as a reminder of today.
“The guys are picking them up soon and delivering them to the house. They’ve been up my ass for the past week helping me with the details, so I’ll gladly put them to work,” he grins.
Laughing, I hug his arm as we walk back toward his car.
