I settled my eyes on Logan and Dom and said, “I love your son with all my heart. More than I ever thought it was even possible to love another person. He’s put me first so many times and I want to spend the rest of my life doing the same for him. And I want this,” I said as I motioned to the group of men. “Iwant this, I want Eli to have this and I want our children to have this.” My eyes dropped to Sylvie and I ran my hand down her slim arm as her pretty blue eyes met mine and she smiled. “I want it all and I want to give it all to him.”
It took me a moment to lift my eyes again. Every single pair of eyes was on me, but I didn’t feel the same niggle of uncertainty I’d been feeling when I’d arrived. I was the man who could give Eli what he needed and I was worthy of him. These men had to know that…
The silence was broken when Cade suddenly said, “Pay up guys!” and held out his hand. Lots of grumbles followed as severalof the men began pulling money out of their wallets and dropping it in Cade’s hand.
“What the-” I managed to stop myself as I remembered Sylvie’s presence.
“They had a bet going to see how long it would take you to ask Eli to marry you. Cade was the only one who said it would be less than six months,” Rafe explained
I chuckled and shook my head as Cade shot me a smile. “I knew you were a goner the first time I saw you look at him.” He cast his husband a glance and then grabbed his hand. “Let’s leave these guys to it…we have some private celebrating to do.” Rafe’s eyes heated and then he was leaning down to hug Logan and Dom goodbye.
All of the men filed past me one by one giving me their private congratulations and dropping kisses on Sylvie’s head. When it was finally just me, Dom, Logan and the little girl, I felt a little bit of apprehension return because both men hadn’t said anything. “You…you guys didn’t bet?” I finally asked.
Logan glanced at Dom before saying, “We had a private bet going.”
“What was the bet?” I asked.
“Which one of you would propose to the other first,” Dom said.
I stilled at that. “Has Eli said something?” I asked in disbelief.
“Eli asked Papa if he should buy you a ring,” Sylvie chimed in as she continued to run the brush through my hair.
“Sylvie,” Logan admonished. The little girl looked over her shoulder at her father. “Didn’t you pinky swear Eli that you wouldn’t tell anyone what you heard that day?”
“Oops, sorry Daddy,” Sylvie whispered and I saw her face fall.
I tipped her face up and said, “Don’t worry sweetheart, it was an accident. I won’t tell him.” Sylvie smiled and then lifted enough so she could whisper in my ear.
“He cried happy tears when Papa said you’d say yes.”
I felt tears stinging my own eyes and I carefully gave Sylvie a squeeze. She sat back and said, “Are you gonna say yes?”
I managed a nod before I could find the words. “Yeah. Yeah I am.”
“Can I throw the flowers?”
I laughed and said, “Yes, you can definitely be the flower girl.”
Satisfied, Sylvie sat back and began working on my hair again.
“Mav,” Dom finally said and I saw him lift Logan’s hand to his mouth for a brief kiss. “Take care of our son and let him take care of you. That’s all we ask.”
Emotion clogged my throat and I barely managed to say, “I will. I swear it.”
I forced back the tears that were threatening and focused my attention on Sylvie. “Sylvie, can you do me a favor and not tell Eli that I got him a ring?”
Sylvie studied me for a moment and then nodded. She held out her hand, fisted it until just the pinky was extended and said, “Pinky swear.”
I took hold of her pinky with mine and said, “Pinky swear.”
When she started brushing my hair again, I looked up at Logan and Dom and asked, “So which one of you lost the bet?”
Logan smiled broadly and cast a glance at Dom as color filled his cheeks. “Let’s just say the way we bet…we both come out winners.”
I rolled my upper lip to keep from laughing and forced my eyes back to Sylvie. “Fair enough,” I said as a smile spread across my mouth.
Yeah, Eli and I would have this. Nine years or ninety…it didn’t matter. We’d have it all.
