“Oh, no. She might see us kissing again,” Caleb said with a groan. “This time you’re going to have to explain it to her. Not it!” He held up his hands.
Sophia laughed out loud. “That’s okay. I’ve got this. I’lljust tell her that this is what happens when two people love each other very, very much.”
“I can’t argue with that,” Caleb said, pulling her against him for one last lingering kiss before she opened the front door and greeted her daughter.
EPILOGUE
A month later
“I’ve got this!” Caleb said, punching his fist in the air. He let out a deep breath he’d been holding, trying to shake off his nerves. After all, it wasn’t every day that one popped the question to the woman of their dreams.
Landon raised a brow and looked Caleb over from head to toe. “Is that your proposal outfit?”
“What’s wrong with it?” Caleb asked. He was wearing a black V-neck sweater and a pair of dark washed jeans. He let out a snort. “Only in movies do men wear tuxes to propose. I’m just going to be authentically myself.”
Landon shrugged. “I guess it’s okay. I thought you’d want the wow factor.”
“Sophia is always wowed by me,” Caleb said, earning groans from his brothers. “That’s okay. She wows me too. Every time I see her beautiful face.”
This time the Brothers Stone didn’t let out a single groan. They knew he and Sophia had found the real deal.
“Are you sure you’re all set? Because you know I wasn’t completely prepared for my proposal,” Xavier said, making a face. “I had to use a makeshift ring.”
Caleb was on the verge of strangling both of his brothers. “Aren’t the two of you supposed to be pumping me up?”
Xavier held up his hands. “I wasn’t being negative. Just trying to teach by example.”
“That was you,” Caleb told him. “I was born ready. Beautiful round-cut diamond in an antique setting. Check. Asked Skip for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Check. Got a little diamond necklace for Lily. Check. Memorized my speech. Check.”
Landon and Xavier exchanged a loaded glance.
“What was that look for?” Caleb asked. “Come on. Tell me.”
“Nothing,” Landon quickly said. “We just wondered if you told Mom.”
Ugh. He had completely forgotten to tell his mother about his plans to propose to Sophia. Daisy would be crushed if he proceeded without giving her a heads-up. Being so far away from her boys was hard enough. Caleb never wanted her to feel as if she wasn’t a part of the fabric of their lives.
“Argh,” Caleb said, slapping his hand to his forehead. “How could I have forgotten to loop her in?”
“You’ve had a lot on your mind,” Landon said, patting him on the back.
“Why don’t you FaceTime her now?” Xavier suggested. “She would love that.”
“Good idea,” Caleb said, reaching for his phone and dialing Daisy’s number. In a matter of seconds, she picked up and Caleb saw her radiant face staring back at him.
“Hey, Caleb! I was just thinking about you,” Daisy said, grinning.
“Of course you were. I’ve always been your favorite,” he teased. His brothers were out of the camera frame, so his mother couldn’t see them rolling their eyes.
“You know I don’t play favorites,” she said. “There’s always been enough love to go around. How are things in Alaska?” she asked. “And the lovely Sophia? Are you still keeping her happy?”
“I sure hope so, since I’m about to ask her a very important question that will change both of our lives.” He was getting a little choked up just saying the words out loud.
Daisy let out a gasp. “Caleb. You’re proposing to Sophia?”
“I am, Mom. I’ve found my other half,” he said, his voice sounding raspy to his own ears. Ever since he could remember, his mother had told him and his brothers that one day they would find their other halves. After his disastrous relationship with Abby and the subsequent fallout, Caleb had stopped believing in that possibility. Until now. Until meeting Sophia.
Tears streamed down Daisy’s face, and she made no attempt to wipe them away. “I’m so proud of you, Caleb, for being courageous and giving love another chance. You could have given up on love, but you didn’t. I think that I want to be like you when I grow up. You have my blessing, if you’re wondering.”
