myself, especially when the rumors weren’t true. I knew the truth, and my family knew, and that’s all that mattered.”
I frown and lace my fingers with his, wondering where this is going.
“I’m a planner, Aspen. An overthinker. I usually make a schedule for things and stick to it. And I had a plan for this. But being here with you like this right now, open and raw, sharing our feelings, is the appropriate time to lay it all on the line.
“I knew the minute I saw you standing in my brother’s kitchen two years ago that you were going to change my life. I felt a connection to you that I simply couldn’t explain. And then I messed everything up, and it took me years to fix it.”
“Callum—”
“Let me finish, love. You are everything wonderful in my life, and I love you so completely, so madly that it’s an ache in my chest. Your passion for life, your work ethic, your humor, they all breathe life into me. Being with you has made me a better person, and I never want to lose you. So, I’m asking you here, in this beautiful place—
“Wait.” He scurries off the chair and kneels next to me, holding my hand.
Holy shit.
Prince Callum Wakefield is going to ask me to marry him.
“I’m asking you here, in this beautiful place, if you’ll do me the honor of becoming my wife. Spend your life with me, Aspen. I promise you I’ll remind you every single day how much I love you and how grateful I am to have you in my life.”
I lick my lips as Callum pulls a ring out of his pocket and offers it to me.
“Callum.” His name is a whisper on my lips. I can only imagine the complications that will come with marrying royalty. Will I have to sell my café? Will I have to move to London? How will everything happen?
But as I stare into his brown eyes, so hopeful and full of love, I know that I’d do all of those things and more to be with him for the rest of my life.
“I have so many questions,” I admit as I lean in to rest my forehead on his. “And before I answer, I need to tell you that I love you, too. We haven’t said the L-word before now.”
“I love you so much, Aspen.”
“Yes, I will marry you, Callum.”
He leans back and stares at me as if he’s surprised.
“Did you think you’d have to talk me into it?”
“Honestly, yes.” He laughs and slides the ring, this stunning emerald ring with diamonds, on my finger, then pulls me in for a soft, romantic kiss.
“Holy shit, we’re getting married,” I say against his lips.
He urges me to my feet and tugs me into the bedroom.
“These flowers were a nice touch, by the way.”
“That was the resort because they know it’s our last night here,” he replies and kisses my shoulder as he pushes my sundress off and lets it pool around my feet.
Aside from my panties, I’m standing naked in front of him.
“I wasn’t planning to get married again,” I admit to him. I’m naked, and this is the time for confessions. “Not to anyone. Because loving someone that much means setting yourself up for loss.”
“Sweetheart, I can’t even imagine the pain you’ve been through. The thought of losing you that way isn’t fathomable.”
“I wanted to die, too.” He pulls me in to hug me close, skin to skin. “And then you happened. I wasn’t ready for you years ago, Callum. Even if we’d started dating then, it wouldn’t have worked because I hadn’t finished healing yet. And I certainly would have run in the other direction if you’d proposed. I needed time. And maybe hanging on to the anger is what gave me that time.”
“And now?”
“Now, I can’t imagine my life without you in it. I know everything is about to change big time. That it’s not as simple as you moving to Montana and us living a quiet life in my little house with my little business.”
“I wish it was that simple. For your sake.”
“I’m marrying all of you. The man and the prince. And you have important responsibilities that I admire very much. We’ll figure it out.”
“You’re a wonderful woman, Aspen. I’m a lucky bloke.”
I grin as his mouth descends to mine, and with all of the words we needed to speak spoken for now, we fall onto the bed. Instead of the frenzied, intense sex I’ve