“Excellent.” I lean down and kiss droplets of water from the tip of her nose.
The gentle rumble of the boat’s engine increases and few minutes later, the whole thing lurches away from the dock. Mallory grabs the railing with both hands. I brace myself behind her body to protect her from the jerkiest movements. “I’ve got you.”
We’re instantly drenched. Water splashes up and over the railing. Mallory yelps and inhales a mouthful.
“Yuck.” She sputters and spits it out, shaking her head.
Shit. There’s no way I can propose out here. One of us will end up flying overboard.
“Do you want to go inside?”
She looks longingly at the indoor area and back to the water. We’ll have the best view of the falls when the boat makes its turn and we head back. But we should still be able to see from inside. Hell, if not I’ll just take her for another ride tomorrow.
My proposal can’t wait another second.
Mallory
Soaked and shivering, Chaser leads me inside. We still have a clear view of the surrounding falls and it’s easier to hear the announcer inside. I’m still worried I’m ruining the experience for Chaser.
He tugs on my hand and I turn away from the falls to find him with one knee against the ship’s wet, rusty floor.
“Chaser? Are you okay? Did you slip?”
He shakes his head and fumbles a small blue, velvet box out of his inside jacket pocket.
My heart thumps. My body trembles. This can’t be…
Chaser wraps his fingers around my left hand and stares up at me, so much love shining in his eyes.
“Mallory, you make me a better person.”
“What are you doing?”
He answers with a half-smile. “Even when I screw up you love me and help put me back on the right path. I want to travel down every path with you by my side for the rest of my life. Every second we’re apart, I want to be by your side. I love everything about you—your voice, your kindness…” He squeezes his eyes shut for a brief second before asking, “Will you marry me?”
Tears stream down my face and my throat closes, cutting off the yes that I want to shout at the top of my lungs. Frantically, I nod my head up and down while thrusting my hand in his face. “Yes,” I whisper in an excited rush. “Yes, yes, yes!”
He fumbles with the box for a moment, then grins at me. He lifts his chin. “I wanted to do it out there when we were under the falls, but I was afraid the ring might pop out of my hand and into the water or we’d go flying overboard.”
“Good call.” Wild laughter spills out of me and then dies in my throat when I finally take in the ring. “Oh my God, Chaser. It’s so beautiful! It’s Princess Diana’s ring!”
“Not exactly,” he says, slipping it on my finger. “It’s square, not oval.” He winks. “I wanted it to be unique to my princess.”
“It’s beautiful.” A halo of tiny diamonds sparkle around a large, square cut cornflower blue sapphire. “I love it so much.”
Cheers and clapping explode around us and we both look around.
“Kiss her!” someone shouts.
My cheeks heat up and my gaze shoots to Chaser, who stands and pulls me into his arms. He tips his head down, studying my face for a moment. “You gonna be my wife?”
“Only if you’re my husband.”
“Perfect,” he murmurs, closing the distance between our lips.
The burning heat in his eyes is more than arousal. It’s a vow.
“I will love, protect, and cherish you until I die, Mallory,” he whispers before brushing his lips against mine.
I wrap my arms around his neck. Our slick, plastic ponchos crinkle and slide together—an obstacle to getting as close to him as possible. Finally, he pulls back.
Nervous from all the inquiring stares, I lead him to one of the benches up front.
“When did you?” I hold my hand out, wiggling my fingers in front of me. “Did you find it while you were on tour?”
“Nope. Put a deposit on it last time we were home. Picked it up the night before we left.”
“Oh my God.” Wild laughter spills from my lips followed by shame. “Chaser,” I whisper.
“You thought I was running off to get high, didn’t you?” His gentle question doesn’t hold any judgment.
“Maybe a little…”
He cups my cheek and touches his forehead to mine. “I don’t blame you. And I’m sorry you ever had to worry about that.”