“The greasy-haired man?”
Miles and Max chuckle. “Yeah, that guy.”
I shake my head. “No, I think I’ll leave that work up to you two.”
“Are you still interested in a paralegal career?” Max asks.
“I don’t know. Maybe. It’s been a while since I’ve thought about it.”
Miles glances at me briefly before returning his eyes to the road. “We’d like to help you go back to school.”
The men had one remaining secret to reveal right after our fresh start. Their original cover story about working as software consultants had some basis in truth. When they were in college, they developed a software application, sold it to a big tech company, and invested the money.
Once I knew their real jobs, I had wondered how they could afford a beachfront rental on state employee salaries. It was a relief to realize they really had been as honest as they could be, under the circumstances. Of course, they use this as an excuse to spoil me even when I tell them not to.
“You don’t have to help with tuition. I’ll get there eventually.”
“We know you will,” Max says, “but selfishly, we’d like to spend more time with you. We could help with tuition, and you could cut back on your work schedule.”
“I don’t know …”
“Think about it,” Miles says. “We can talk about it sometime in the near future.”
We’re on the scenic highway, and when we’re about an hour from home, Miles pulls into an overlook lot.
I’ve been enjoying the view all along, but the curving coastline looks even better when I’m in my men’s arms. The two brothers stand side-by-side behind me, and I lean back, resting against both of their chests as I gaze out toward the horizon. It’s bliss.
The sun is warm on my face, the ocean breeze cools my skin, and I decide I couldn’t be any happier …but I’m wrong.
“We have another suggestion for saving college funds more quickly,” Max says.
“Mm … what’s that?” Education is the furthest thing from my mind when I’m pressed against the heat of their bodies.
“With the end of your lease approaching, we’d like you to move in with us.”
I turn to smile up at both of them. I’m not surprised by the question; I’ve actually been expecting it, and it’s lovely to be asked.
Miles strokes his hand up and down my arm. “We’re planning to look for a house before our lease ends, or maybe have one built, and we’d like you to be involved in those decisions.”
“Oh.” This part is a surprise, and I’m quiet for a moment, taking it all in. As they promised, the two of them have been showing me every day that they’re committed to me. All the secret mission wedding stuff aside, they’ve never given me any other reason not to trust them. They make me feel safe, loved, and cherished every single day.
“I would love to move in with you,” I say. “I’ll just need to discuss things with Ana and Marissa, and make sure they have plans for housing. Ana just got a new job, so she may want to take over the lease on the townhouse.”
“That’s perfect, and when you talk to them about that, you can also ask them to be bridesmaids,” Max says.
“What?” Itiswindy, and I’m pretty sure I misheard him.
“Bridesmaids,” he repeats. “In the wedding. When you marry us.”
My head juts out as I squint at him. “What? What kind of proposal is that?”
“It’s a warm up … for this kind of proposal.” In perfect twin coordination, Max and Miles each drop to a knee. Their eyes are on me as they both fish in their pockets and pull out ring boxes, opening them at the same time to reveal two diamond rings. Two!
Suddenly, I’m trembling and need to reach for the nearby railing to keep me steady.
Miles takes my hand. “We’ve known you were the woman for us for a long time now. You’re smart, beautiful, strong, and funny, and we want nothing more than for you to be our wife.”
“Others may think our relationship is unconventional,” Max says, “but it’s never felt anything but perfect and natural ever since we met you. We want to spend the rest of our lives making you happy, because you do that for us every moment that we’re with you.”
