Chapter 30
Six weeks later
Amy pushed the massive centerpiece of two dozen red roses aside to gaze into the eyes of the man she loved. They sat at the dining table in Ben’s house, and Amy dreamed of many more nights like this.
Ben never ceased to amaze her. They’d just returned from a magical Christmas Eve sleigh ride at the ranch to find a fancy Italian dinner—laid out for them by Paige, if her and Ben’s whispered conversations were anything to go by—complete with candlelight and romantic music.
Finished eating, Amy pulled a rose from the arrangement and fingered the petals. Splendid, smooth, and vibrant. Like Ben. She couldn’t help comparing the man who sat across from her to the tortured man, who, four months ago, stood in the shadows of his parents’ front porch and told her about his wife’s death and his daughter’s kidnapping.
She raised the rose to her nose and inhaled. Closing her eyes, she savored its sweet scent, like she savored each day that Ben made her feel like the most-loved woman in the world. The past six weeks since the bachelor auction had been the happiest of her life.
“Gorgeous,” Ben murmured.
She opened her eyes to find him staring at her. Warmth filled her cheeks, and she gave him her most dazzling smile. “Thank you. For everything.”
“Come here.” Ben rose from the table and took her hand, leading her to the family room, where a glowing fire welcomed them.
Amy sank onto the sofa she’d helped him choose a couple weeks ago. “That was nice, Ben. Everything was perfect.”
Instead of sitting beside her, he dropped to one knee in front of her and took her hand. “When Melanie died, I thought I’d never love another woman again. I knew I would never feel that way about anyone else, ever again. But then you showed up and managed to poke holes in my armor. Before I knew it, you’d worked your way under my skin, so deep you became a part of me. I probably don’t deserve a second chance at love and happiness, but I’m taking it. Will you marry me, Amy?”
He pulled a ring box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a modest solitaire diamond flanked by a figure-eight design, cradling two tiny sapphires, in a white-gold band. The matching band had the same design with three tiny sapphires across it.
Amy gasped. “It’s beautiful. Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you!” The words came out a squeal. The excitement bubbling in her made her feel light and tingly.
Ben slipped the ring onto her finger, then sitting beside her, he pulled her into his arms and lowered his lips to hers.
A low moan escaped Amy when Ben’s lips met hers. He never failed to take her breath away and set her pulse racing. How she loved this man. Despite their lingering kisses, lengthy embraces, and Ben’s frequent declarations of what a temptation she was, he’d been a perfect gentleman, and Amy loved him all the more for it. He made her feel safe and comfortable; respected and cherished.
“Wow! Merry Christmas!” Ben’s breath came in ragged puffs when he finally pulled away. “Please say we can have a short engagement.”
Amy laughed. “I don’t want a long engagement either, but I’d like to wait until Spring, because, where I would like to go for our honeymoon, would be better after the snow is gone.”
He wrapped a lock of her hair around his finger. “I thought I was supposed to plan the honeymoon.”
“You can plan it, but I have a request of where I’d like to go.”
“Where?”
“Well, taking the girls into consideration—”
“Wait!” Ben said, “the girls don’t get to go on the honeymoon with us.”
“I know that.” Amy poked his stomach. “But I think we’ll both agree we don’t want to be too far away from them.” At his nod, Amy said, “I’d like you to take me to your mother’s family’s cabin.”
Ben’s smile faded, and the arm around her shoulders loosened.
“I know you spent some of the darkest months of your life at that cabin, but I also know some of your happiest childhood memories were from time spent there. I want to fill the cabin with happiness again. I want you to be able to take our daughters there so they can experience all the wonderful things you did as a child. Things, I never experienced.”
“Happy memories, huh?” Ben said, warming to the idea. His eyebrows rose and desire filled his eyes. “Honeymoon kind of happy memories?”
“Exactly.” Amy pressed her lips to his, releasing some of the passion she’d kept bottled up the past six weeks.
When the kiss finally ended, Ben smiled. “You know if we honeymoon at the cabin while there’s snow it’ll be more romantic. There won’t be anything to do except makehappy memories.” Amy giggled and pushed him away as he leaned in for another kiss.Talk about temptation.
Ben pulled a large manila envelope off the end table. “I’ve got another present for you.”
Amy opened the envelope and pulled out several papers held together by a paper clip. She looked to Ben for an explanation.
