I had no idea I was, and Rayden’s brow creased. “You okay, babe?”
I nodded. “You are such a brave girl. You know that?” Sitting down again, Elenora frowned, looking at me like I was silly. “My mommy died on my sixth birthday too. Every year at a certain time in the day, I celebrate by lighting a candle for her.”
“Oh. Every year?” she asked. I nodded. “How old are you?”
Smiling, I squeezed her hand. “I’ll be twenty-four later this month.”
“Wow. Did you ever forget to light a candle?”
I shook my head. “Never. I always make the time because it’s special to me.”
“I’m going to do that every year too.” She giggled. “Then, I’ll remember you too.” She stood, walked around to my side, circled my neck, and kissed my cheek. “And I can also tell my friends of a man who chose me to celebrate this day with him.” She whispered in my ear, and when I pulled back to look at her, my brow furrowed in confusion, she held out her hand.
“What’s—”
“Say yes.” Elenora gestured her chin at Rayden, who’d moved as I took the ring in her palm.
He was kneeling behind me. “Will you marry me, Sianna Saxena.”
“I-I...Rayden,” my voice was stuck somewhere deep inside my throat, and it came out thick and heavy.
“Elenora!” someone shouted.
“I have to go now, but I hope you marry him.” She kissed my cheek and was gone before I could respond.
Rayden straightened then dropped into the seat next to me. “Hey, you don’t have to answer now.” He ran a finger along my jaw.
“It’s not a no,” I said. “But a too soon.”
“Too soon?”
“We’ve only dated for the last four months.” I searched his face for signs of disappointment. There was none.
“How long more?”
“At least another four.”
“Want to make sure I’m not an outright jerk?” He grinned, yet I sensed the underlying regret in his words.
I felt like shit. Taking his hand, I smiled. “Can I make you a promise?” He nodded. “I’ll wear your ring for the next four months on one condition.” His head tilted to one side, waiting. “You don’t tell anyone you proposed.”
He stared at me for a moment before breaking into a laugh. “On one condition.”
“Really? Do you always have to challenge everything I do?”
He slid closer and lifted me onto his lap. “But you love it, right?”
Laughing at his ticklish foray of my neck with the tip of his nose, I nodded. “What condition?”
He leaned back, his eyes searching mine, the intensity one I hadn’t witnessed before. “You promise me forever.”
My brows jumped up. “That’s one tall order.” I chuckled. “What if I don’t like you four months later?”
“Then I’ll stalk you.” He shrugged. “Anyway, what’s there not to love about me.”
And that’s what I loved about him. His cocky yet sweetly mischief demeanor. “Forever, Rayden.” I kissed him lightly on the nose.
“Promise, babe?” He kept his gaze trained on me, refusing to blink.
