“No worries.I’ve been getting to know the other women.They all seem very nice.A few of them told me about some PT clinics that are looking for help.”
His smile widened.“Oh good.You thinking of going back to work?”
“I haven’t decided yet.It depends on how things go after our ‘other visit’ today.”
“Makes sense.”
She tipped her wrist and checked the new watch Sam had given her.“We’ll need to leave in about an hour if we’re going to make it on time.”After the barbecue, they were heading to the local shelter where Angie had started volunteering.There, they would pick up their newly fixed one-year-old Pyrenees mix and a kitten Sam had insisted on naming Pucky.Who was she to argue, if it brought a smile to his handsome face?
“Shouldn’t be a problem.I already told Blue we had somewhere else to be today.”
“Thank you for that.”She looked up into his gorgeous blue eyes.“I have a question for you.”
His eyebrows rose.“Hit me with it.”
“You introduced me as your fiancée.What’s up with that?”
“Oh.Something I forgot to tell you.”He looked around before resting his hands on her waist.His expression turned serious.“This isn’t exactly how I planned this, but … here goes.I want you tobecomemy fiancée.For real.I want to marry you.”
“What?”Her hand flew to her mouth.
“Marry me, Angie.It can be a short engagement or a long one.I don’t care as long as you say yes … and as long as we tie the knot by next summer.”He touched her hand, still covering her mouth, with the tip of a finger.“I want to put a ring on this.What do you say we go pick one out?”
“W-when?”she stammered stupidly.
“Well, if we leave now, we could check out a few options before we bring our furry friends home.There’s this jeweler not too far from the shelter, and I asked them to set aside a few rings I spotted the other day.Like the house, though, I want you to make the final decision since you’ll be the one wearing it.”
“Are you s-serious?”
“Never been more serious about anything in my life.”He gathered her hands in his and brought them to his lips, planting soft kisses on them.“I told you before that with you, I’m a complete man.You make me want to try harder, to be better.I never knew I could be this happy.There’s a reason the universe messed up my ankle and threw us together.Don’t fight the Force, Ange.”
She burst out with a teary laugh.“You’re moving at hyperspeed here, Han.I’m not sure I can keep up.”
“Then strap in and come along for the ride.I promise it’ll be an adventure.”His navy blues drilled into hers.“I promise I’ll take good care of you.Say yes.”
“Yes,” she whispered.
He picked her up and twirled, making her squeal, before he set her back on her feet.Her heart was racing, her breathing choppy, matching the cadence of his.
“Everything okay over there?”Cam called out.
“Couldn’t be better!She said yes!”Cheers went up, and Cam howled his approval—despite his look of puzzlement.
Sam cupped her face.“I’ll explain it to him later.”As he looked down at her, happiness radiated off him, and Angie ate it up.His broad smile and the love shining in his eyes told her he had found his home.In him, she had found her own.
She was right where she wanted to be.For the rest of her life.
THE END
