Standing there in my tiny bathroom, he turned to me and said, “Marry me.”
“You can't propose to me because I'm pregnant. And definitely not in my bathroom of all places!” Two weeks ago, I would’ve given anything to hear those two words coming out of his mouth, no matter where we were. But things had changed since then, and I didn’t have just myself to think about anymore. “We can’t decide to be together just for the sake of our child. It’s a serious decision, and we can only make it if we’re fully committed to each other. The only way I'll say yes to a marriage proposal from anyone is if I know they want me to be their wife with every part of their being. Body and soul.”
“There isn't going to be anyone else proposing to you.” He wrapped his fingers around my wrist and gently pulled me forward. “Ever. I’m it for you, and you're it for me.”
My vision turned a little hazy. The damn hormones were already making me all weepy. “I know you're it for me, but that doesn't mean we need to rush into marriage just because we have a baby on the way. I still want you to take some time to think about it and ask me again if you decide you really want to get married. I don’t want it to be something you regret because it came about due to fear over our breakup or a sense of responsibility because of the baby.”
“That’s not why I want to marry you,” he growled.
“I’m not saying no forever. You know that, right?” I asked, rubbing my palm up and down his back in a soothing gesture. “At least take enough time to go out and buy a ring, for goodness' sake.”
“A ring,” he echoed, his dark eyes filling with a determined gleam. “Hold that thought.”
My jaw dropped when he dashed out of the bathroom. I followed after him, but not quickly enough because the front door banged shut before I made it into the living room. He wasn’t gone for long, though. Maybe three to four minutes tops.
Rushing back into my place, he strode toward me with purpose. My heart began to hammer in my chest when I realized he was keeping one hand behind his back. “Did you forget something in your car?”
“I didn’t forget it, exactly.” He brought his hidden hand around his body, and I gasped at the sight of the jewelry box clutched in his palm. “I just didn’t realize I was going to need it quite yet.”
My eyes filled with happy tears. “Is that what I think it is?”
“If you think it’s the engagement ring you told me I needed before you’d accept my proposal, then yes.” He flipped the box open with his thumb and lifted the box up to show me the perfect diamond ring nestled inside. “I picked this out for you about a month ago and planned to propose when you got home from Chicago. It took the jeweler a few weeks to get everything perfect because I wanted the best since you’ll be wearing this for the rest of your life. I picked it up from the jeweler a week after you broke up with me because even when I didn’t know why you’d shut me out, I refused to accept our relationship was over.”
Taking my left hand in his right, he dropped to one knee and stared up at me. “As thrilled as I am to know you’re carrying my baby, I’m not proposing to you because you're pregnant. I’m asking you to marry me because I can't imagine spending even one more day without you by my side. When I ordered this ring, I thought I knew how much you meant to me. But these past two weeks showed me how much I’d underestimated my love for you. You’re the first thing I think of when I wake up in the morning and the last thing on my mind when I fall asleep at night. Without you, I’m a shadow of the man I’m meant to be. Allie Henderson, will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife so I can spend the rest of my life making you as happy as being with you makes me?”
After such a perfect proposal, there was only one answer to give. “Yes! Of course, I’ll marry you.”
He slipped the ring on my finger and pressed a kiss against my palm. Then he lifted the hem of my shirt to brush his lips against my belly. All it took was that gentle touch for the chemistry between us to explode.
Rising up to his feet, Vaughn wrapped his arms around me and nuzzled the crook of my neck. “I missed you so fucking much.”