Malcolm tipped his cap in response and smiled at the woman beside him.
“Ms. Murielle, my chef, who is like a mama to us all, prepared this delicious feast on short notice. Give her a round of applause so she can hear you because I’m sure she’s in the kitchen giving orders.”
Kensie cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, “Ms. Murielle, we love you.”
Everyone chimed in, repeating her declaration.
Once the noise leveled off again, I picked up Kensie’s left hand and turned her to face me. “I want everyone to know that I’ll treasure tonight forever. I feel your love and support, and I’ll carry it with me always . . . and all because of the woman in front of me. I know some of you have been wondering why Kens is not wearing a ring, and I don’t want you to question my love or my intent anymore.”
Kensie frowned, and I kissed the tip of her nose.
“I’ve been walking around with this in my pocket. Wanted to give it to you the other night but decided it wasn’t the moment.” I wryly commented, “I was insensitive and didn’t value her as I should have that night, and I want to rectify that.”
Her mouth gaped.
“Figured tonight, after I broke my own record, would be the moment I let her know again how much I value who she is and who she will be.” I held up a rose gold ring with a square-cut solitaire yellow diamond that glinted in the light. “We’re not traditional, and my back hurts, so you all just pretend I got down on one knee as I ask this woman who exasperates me to my soul but can’t imagine anyone else to share my everyday life to marry me.”
Kensie wagged her finger at me. “You exasperate me more.” She scanned the room and stopped at an ecstatic Saraj and a beaming Ms. Murielle who’d stepped out of the kitchen. “Should I give him another chance?”
The whole party yelled, “Yes!”
She held her left hand out with the brightest, giddiest smile. The party roared when I slid the ring on her finger, which fit perfectly. Kensie hugged my neck and whispered, “I can’t wait any longer.”
“I got you,” I promised.
Although she might not know it yet, I meant forever. When I arranged for a jeweler to bring his finest diamond to a private suite near the track two weeks ago, I’d only done so for the optics of Kensie having a ring on her finger. However, when I was presented with the precious gem, something shifted inside me. I wanted the ring to represent my love and commitment to her. Whatever reservations we had about love due to our pasts, we could work through them together.
The love and support she’d given me were worth fighting for. Kensie brought out the romantic part of me I never knew I had, and I wanted everyone to witness the depth of my emotions for her. For the first time, I truly understood why Kensie shared her life with the world.
Chapter 25
Kensie
As I held his hand, I grew impatient with every congratulation and well-wishing. I needed to be alone with Canaan like yesterday. The yearning had been building and churning since he declared his love this morning. Now, the yearning had become a fireball of desire that settled in my sex, demanding release. Why doesn’t Canaan have the same urgency? Or maybe he did and was better at hiding it.
Saraj shook Canaan’s hand, and Canaan hugged him, thanking him for handling Emme. I no longer knew if our friendship would withstand Canaan, or whether I wanted to remain friends with her. We’d grown apart after college, and the chasm had deepened once Emme started dating Matt. My guilt about being with Canaan ended when Emme went to kiss him when she saw me standing at the door.
I didn’t know if our engagement was now real, but I was open to being with him, however long we lasted. I did believe in him, and I trusted Canaan with my heart.
Saraj hugged me tightly and pulled back. “Baby girl, I had tears in my eyes. He loves you.”
“I know, and I love him.”
He winked. “Now, go and enjoy the best part of having your own man. Between Mama Murielle and me, we’ll handle the crowd.”
“I might start calling her Mama Murielle. She’s amazing, isn’t she?”
“The way she handled the food and the staff so efficiently while still bringing her down-home Southern charm . . . beyond compare. The best.” Saraj pushed me closer to Canaan, who had been talking to one of his crew members. “Get out of here.”
After I scratched the inside of Canaan’s palm, he shot me an amused glance. He soon excused himself and led me away from the party to our suite at the back of the house.
Curving my arm around his waist as we edged out of the party area, I asked, “Are we really doing this? Like becoming a couple?”
He squeezed me to his side. “Yes. These last two months have taught me that I don’t want to be without you.”
As soon as we were in the bedroom, I began unbuttoning his shirt while Canaan kicked off his shoes and pressed something on the side table. A wall opened beside the table, leading to another room. “Was saving this for whenever we had sex again.”
“Ooh . . . Is that one of those BDSM rooms where wild shit goes down like inFifty Shades?” I licked his collarbone and placed tiny kisses on his chest. “You taste so good.”
