Did Emily need him, like he needed her? She’d become his fresh air. He couldn’t breathe without her.
“You have everything to offer.” Emily held his face with both hands. “You have something I don’t. Something money can’t buy. The one thing I want more than anything else in the world.”
Understanding dawned on him and his heart soared as he pulled her closer. “Emily, I can’t bring your father or brother back, but I can give you a mother and brother. As annoying as he can be at times, Robert’s a cool big brother. And I’ll even throw in a little sister, although I must warn you, she can be a pest sometimes.”
Tears filled Emily’s eyes. “That’s a good start.”
“I’ll give you cousins, aunts, and uncles.”
“That sounds wonderful, but I want more than your family, Jake.”
His brow furrowed in confusion.
She dragged her finger along his jaw and down his neck, igniting a fire in his veins. She rested her palm against his chest. Dropping her voice to a low, seductive whisper, she said, “You have so much to offer, Jake.”
Jake’s pulse raced, and he sucked in a sharp breath. “I’ll give you your own family, Em. I’ll give you sons and daughters, as many as you want. So many, you’ll wish you could be alone again for a while.”
She smiled, her dimples creasing her cheeks. “That’s exactly what I want.” She gripped his shirt in her hand and pulled, closing the remaining distance between their lips. When the kiss ended, she added, “And as far as I’m concerned, you’re the only one who can give it to me.”
Anxious to start a life with Emily, Jake released her and slid off the swing. He dropped to one knee in front of her. “I wasn’t planning on doing this right now, but...” He scratched his neck. He should have thought this through better. “I don’t have a ring or anything, yet, but Emily, will you marry—”
“Get back up here. Of course, I’m going to marry you. You aren’t getting rid of me.”
Jake wrapped her in an embrace and kissed her again. Finally, when they parted, he picked up her left hand and stroked her ring finger with his thumb. “So, what kind of ring do I buy for an heiress, who doesn’t want to put on airs.”
“You’re not buying me a ring.”
“Didn’t you just agree to marry me?”
“Yes, but I don’t want you to buy me a ring.”
“Listen, Em, I’m very comfortable financially. I don’t have the kind of money you do, but I can afford a nice ring for you.”
“I don’t want you to buy me a ring, because I want to wear my mother’s wedding ring when I marry.”
Jake took in the sheen of tears in her eyes. “I think that’s a wonderful idea, but I hope you’ll give them to me and let me place them on your finger to make it official.”
“Of course I will. What makes you think I wouldn’t let you do that?”
Jake smiled. “I don’t know, maybe because you’re no longer the docile, emotional woman I fell in love with. You’re stubborn, smart, and sassy.”
Emily’s eyes widened in feigned offense.
Jake rushed to add, “And when you see something you want, you go for it.”
“Aren’t you glad I do?” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his lips back to hers.
“Very glad,” he said breathlessly when the kiss ended. “So, when do I get to stake my claim and put your mother’s rings on your finger?”
“Not until after the bachelor auction.”
“But that’s not for two more months.”
“Yes, and we’ve only known each other for three months, and we weren’t even together for half of that. Don’t worry, I promise we’ll have a short engagement.”
“A very short engagement, please.” When she nodded, he pulled her to her feet. “Come on. I’ve got a present for you. Since I don’t get to buy you a ring, I hope you’ll consider this an engagement gift. Unofficial of course, because we won’t technically be engaged for another two months.” He made his voice sound like he was being tortured.
But he was having the time of his life with this woman.
