me.
“See anything you like?” Christopher murmurs.
“They’re all stunning.” My gaze keeps skipping over each one.
As if it’s not hard enough already, the gentleman assisting us adds another display to the mix.
Instantly Christopher reaches for a ring, and taking hold of my left hand, he slips it onto my finger. My eyes widen as I take in the gorgeous blue diamond. I always imagined my ring having a princess cut diamond, but the square shape fits my hand perfectly.
My eyes dart to Christopher, then back to the ring, then to him again. “What do you think?”
The corner of his mouth curves up as he shakes his head once. “It doesn’t matter what I think. Do you like it?”
I stare at the ring on my finger again, and suddenly emotion builds in my chest, and my eyes begin to tear up. “Yes. I love it.”
“We’ll take this one.”
While Christopher fills out the paperwork and pays, I keep staring at the gorgeous ring on my finger.
It’s not how I imagined being proposed to, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
It’s our way.
Glancing up, I watch as Christopher signs a piece of paper, and then my eyes widen, and my brain activity freezes.
Holy. Shit.
Somehow I manage to keep my composure until we’re in the car, and then I turn and stare at Christopher. He notices and instantly asks, “Something wrong?”
“Eight million,” I state. “I could’ve chosen something else.”
I’ve grown up surrounded by wealth, and my own bank account can hold its own, but damn, eight million dollars for a ring?
“Don’t worry. I’m getting myself a Bugatti La Voiture Noire as an engagement present,” he jokes.
My eyebrow pops up. “Really? The one you’ve been looking at?”
“Yes.” Christopher starts the engine, then smiles at me. “I want the best for you, Dash. Only the best.”
Just like that, he melts my heart. Leaning over the console, I press a kiss to his mouth. Pulling slightly back, I whisper, “Thank you.”
His eyes lock with mine. “You can do better than a peck.”
Letting out a chuckle, I wrap my arms around his neck, and then I thank him properly. We’re both breathless by the time I end the kiss, and moving back to my side of the car, I can’t stop smiling as I slip on the seat belt.
As Christopher drives us back to Indie Ink, I stare at the engagement ring.
Hold up.
I tilt my head as the realization of what this means settles in me.
Sex.
I wait for the wave of anxiety to hit, but instead, only more excitement spills into my heart.
I’m going to have a baby with Christopher. I’m going to marry him.
God, he’s in every memory I have, and now he’ll be in every dream. My gaze turns to him, the man that’s always been by my side. The one I always chose above all others.
The only one I’ve ever loved.
CHRISTOPHER
I’m taking Dash out for dinner to her favorite restaurant so we can celebrate our engagement.
Seated at a table in the back where we’ll have privacy, my eyes keep going to her left hand.
Seeing my ring on her finger fills me with pride and love.
I order a bottle of the best champagne, and when we each have a glass, I reach across the table for her hand. Brushing my thumb over the ring, I say, “We’re doing this all backward but Dash Marcelle West, will you marry me?”
She begins to laugh while nodding. “Yes.”
“I’m sorry it wasn’t more romantic,” I murmur. “I’ll make up for it with the wedding.” Which reminds me. Taking my wallet out, I remove one of the credit cards and slide it over the table to Dash. “Once you start planning the wedding, just charge everything to that card. Also, anything you need and household items.”
Dash frowns at it. “You’re aware I have money as well, right?”
“Well aware,” I chuckle. “Let me do this for you. It’s important to me.”
“Okay.” Dash tucks the card in her clutch, then asks, “When are we telling our parents?”
I swallow the sip of champagne I took, then answer, “Tomorrow? Then afterward, we can move your personal belongings over to the penthouse.”
“Sounds good.”
Enjoying the champagne, we stare at each other and seeing Dash happy means everything to me.
This is how I want to see her every day for the rest of our lives. She deserves nothing less.
“What are you thinking?” she asks, her lips curving in a soft smile.
“How lucky I am to be the one who makes you happy,” I answer honestly.
Her lips curve more.