Later,after we’ve taken a long soak in the bath together, Kieran tells me to get dressed. Of course, he won’t tell me where we’regoing no matter how many times I ask, which only makes me more curious.
I never would have thought Kieran Sullivan was a secret romantic, but he looks to be enjoying himself just as much as I am.
A car is waiting for us outside the hotel to drive us to a fancy Italian restaurant for dinner. Inside, it’s warm and softly lit with flickering candles and the faint hum of jazz music in the background.
Kieran orders for us without even glancing at the menu, and I just smile because it seems he knows what I like better than I do.
We take our time with each course, sipping our drinks and laughing quietly as we talk about what it will be like in a few years when the next generation of Sullivans will be running circles around us.
Kieran reaches across the table for my hand. “I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait.”
It’s enough to have my eyes welling with tears, though that’s not exactly hard these days with all of the hormones running rampant through my body.
But I can’t complain too much when the same hormones are also the reason I can’t wait to get back to the hotel and rip Kieran’s clothes off.
After dinner, we walk along the waterfront.
The night air is crisp enough to make me shiver, so Kieran shrugs off his jacket and drapes it around my shoulders.
His hand finds mine, and I lean into him, soaking up his warmth.
“This feels nice,” I murmur.
He hums, thumb brushing slow circles over my knuckles. “Yeah, it does.”
We walk a little farther before he stops suddenly, turning to face me. There’s something in his eyes that makes my heart skip a beat.
“What?” I ask, suddenly nervous. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
He doesn’t answer. He simply grips the lapels of his jacket and tugs me closer.
For a second, I think he’s going to kiss me, so I close my eyes, waiting to feel his lips press against mine.
But it doesn’t come.
Instead, he reaches into the inside pocket of his jacket.
My eyes fly open, and I’m about to protest about the lack of attention he’s paying to my mouth only to find Kieran on one knee in front of me holding a small velvet box.
The world around us seems to fade. The cold air stills, and even the river seems to hold its breath as I try to process what’s happening.
“Kieran…” I whisper, my heart in my throat.
Inside the box, nestled against the dark lining, is the most stunning ring I’ve ever seen. It’s a gold band with a single oval diamond in the center. It’s simple, and yet so perfect that my eyes start to sting.
“Riley.” His voice is rough with emotion. “When we got married, it was nothing but a contract. It wasn’tthis.” He gestures between us, his dark eyes glinting in the light.
“And I hate that that’s how our story started, so I want to rewrite it. This time, I want it to start by just asking the woman I love to be my wife.”
“But we’re already married.” I laugh despite the tears that spill down my cheeks.
“I want us to get married because wewantto, not because we had to. So, let me ask you, Riley Sullivan, my beautiful wife, themother of my child, will you do me the honor of marrying me, again?”
That’s it. That’s all it takes for the dam to break.
“Yes.” My voice shakes. “Of course, I’ll marry you.”
He exhales a breath that sounds like relief and joy all tangled together, then takes the ring and slides it onto my finger above the gold band that he bought me all those months ago.
