Dusk (Dangerous Web #1) - Aleatha Romig Page 0,34

“How? How did you figure it out?”

He shook his head once. “That’s not what’s important.”

“But Mr. Sparrow?”

Reid didn’t answer. Instead, in the common area of the apartments, he fell to one knee. “I never imagined doing this. I never thought I’d find someone who I loved so much that the idea of even a day without her would leave me helplessly empty.” His cheeks rose as his lips curled. “So I don’t have a prepared speech.” He reached for my hands. “I don’t even have a ring.”

My breathing racked against my chest as my lungs fought for air and my eyes again filled with tears.

“If I could ask for your hand, I’d ask my friend. I’d tell him that I love his sister. I’d tell him that she’s the first thing I think about when I wake and the last thought before I sleep.”

My entire body trembled as impossibly more tears fell.

“I’d ask him to trust me with her because if he would, I’d do every damn thing in my power to make each day of her life better than the day before. I’d love and worship her. I’d take her hand.” He squeezed mine. “And I’d walk beside her wherever life led us.” He cleared his throat. “I would promise him that I was raised by two of the best women who ever walked this earth, and they taught me that women are God’s gift to men. Women aren’t meant to be ruled over, but made of Adam’s rib to be a partner at our side. I’d promise him that I would do that. I would love you, stand beside you, lay down my life for you, and listen to you, because Gram always said that the only way to know someone is to listen.”

He leaned over my hands and kissed my knuckles. When he looked up, I couldn’t stop my smile. It wasn’t diminished by the tears but enhanced.

“Lorna, I can’t ask your brother for your hand, but I can ask you. Will you marry me?”

If I were to be honest, I had never imagined this scene either. I didn’t have a speech in my head that needed to be said. There was a big part of me that wished Reid could ask Mason, that I could have his approval.

And then I did.

I looked over at the elevator doors.

Mason was there.

Not in reality, but spiritually, in my mind.

The glare was gone.

My brother was smiling at me—at us.

I wanted to ask Reid again about Mr. Sparrow. I wanted to know if he planned for us to stay here in this tower with them. And then I caught sight of the suitcases. In that second, I knew that I didn’t care if we stayed or left. The only part that I cared about, the part that was deep inside me, was the desire to be anywhere with this man.

“Yes.” I fell down to my knees so that we were eye to eye. “Yes, Reid, I want to marry you. I want to get to know you better. I want to fall asleep beside you and wake up with you.” My smile grew. “I want to learn more about Gram, and I want to be the kind of woman she’d approve of for her grandson. I want to love you like you deserve. I know you couldn’t ask Mace, but somewhere in my heart, I believe he would have said yes.”

“Before or after he punched me?”

I smirked. “Probably after.”

Reid pulled my hands upward as we both stood. “Earlier, what you said about not belonging here?”

I nodded as I looked at the suitcases and back to him. “I didn’t. I don’t know. He wants—”

“He is taken care of,” Reid said resolutely. “The choice isn’t his. It’s yours. And you were right. You don’t belong in Mason’s apartment. You belong in ours.”

Ours?

Nerves like small insects scattered through my bloodstream. I was prepared to leave alone. I was willing to leave with Reid—almost excited.

But to stay?

“I-I...”

Reid’s smile bloomed again. “I know the decor is awful. I know it needs work to be a home. I guess to me it didn’t need to be more than my space. That was before. I want it to be a home now—our home.”

I looked around the common area. “But he owns this. And he doesn’t want me here.”

“He’s changed his mind.”

I shook my head. “I don’t know him well, but he doesn’t seem like the kind of man who often changes his mind.”

“You’re right again. He’s not.” Reid