“Well, since you’re not running,” he drawled, his striking blue eyes watching me intently. I realized he was nervous, and my heart melted. “So Charli, my crazy, beautiful girl…” He removed a small, black jeweler’s box from his pants pocket. “Let’s drive each other crazy forever?”
I blinked, startled, but at the ghost of a smile playing on his lips, I realized what he was asking.Yesorno. I gulped, blood whooshing to my head.
“Should I say this in French?” he teased at my failure to answer.
How could I? When emotions clogged my throat, overwhelming me.
“Okay then, no response yet. So here goes…” His gaze skimmed my face. “I’m not fluent since it’s school learned, but,Charli, ma folle beauté…er,” he frowned, “Je veux être avec…toi pour toujours. Jet’adore. Veux-tu m’épouser?” A smile tugged his mouth and clutched at my heart. “I think I got it right.”
Tears crowded my sight, causing his features to blur, but every single one, from his deep blue eyes to his sensual mouth and strong jaw, was etched on my heart. “It s-sounds beautiful,” I croaked, “but I don’t know what you said.”
“Charli, my crazy, beautiful girl, I want to be with you forever. I love you. Will you marry me?” he translated.
“I-I thought it’s,let’s drive each other crazy?”
He smirked. “That got your attention, didn’t it? Well?”
Heck, I should have known he would be unconventional if the time ever came for this, too.
Swallowing hard, I unlocked my seatbelt and reached for him. He dragged me onto his lap, and I pressed my face into his neck, emotions crowding me. “I love you, War, so much. So, yes!”
A deep sigh left him, and his arms tightened around me.
Most girls were wary of taking a chance on love again after their cheating exes. Yes, I’d been there, too. Except, my mother was my albatross. And War knew.
He was different from those egotistical pea-brains I’d dated. He’d been patient and waited until I was ready. However… “The prenup thing, I don’t want—”
“Blue, I don’t care about that. Whether we sign one or not, you are it for me. When I die, everything I own is all yours, anyway. Well, except something for Caleb, and a lifetime supply of kibble for Crash.”
I huffed out a laugh because our pet still maintained his freedom at the beach house. “I’d rather have you,” I whispered, my teary gaze finally lowering to the box he held.
I blinked, then swiped my wet eyes, gaping at the stunning pear-shaped diamond flanked by two smaller stones on either side on a platinum band, nestled in navy velvet. “It’s beautiful.”
He slid it onto my ring finger and pressed his lips to my knuckles, and then his mouth found mine—
A cell rang, blasting the quiet and hauling us apart.
Growling, War got his phone from the console and snapped, “Yeah?”
He listened to whoever it was, then exhaled deeply. “We’ll be there in ten. And Max, have champagne waiting.” His gaze met mine, a smile started, and he put his cell on loudspeaker. “Yup, she said yes.”
Ila and Ray’s shrieks overtook the bar’s din, landing in my ears, and I grinned.
He ended the call and pocketed his cell. “C’mon, Blue, let’s go celebrate.”
I sighed. “Must you call me that?”
“Of course. They’re what started this and made me fall for you.”
I rolled my eyes. “My panties?”
“Such seductive foreplay.”
I groaned at his corny comeback. He grinned, got out of the truck, and made his way around to my side. The truth was, I didn’t mind him calling me Blue any longer, not that I’d tell him, then I’d miss all his teasing responses when I complained.
He helped me down from the truck, and I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him. My engagement ring caught the streetlight, glinting like a beckoning light in the darkness. I met War’s dark eyes. “Thank you,” I whispered.
“For?”
