And then he touched her. Sam gasped as Brody’s palms cupped the back of her upper arms. Her eyes flew open wide, and she found herself gazing into the sapphire depths she’d fantasized about since the first day they met.
She placed one tentative hand on his lapel, then another. “You’re really here.”
He nodded. “I know. Your new job is so close I was able to walk over here from my office.”
Brody walked? Through a public space? “Who are you and what have you done with Brody Eden?”
“I smacked him around until he came to his senses and realized that he was in love with you. And then I knew that I would do anything to hold you again, including walking through several public places to find you.”
Sam didn’t know what to say. Her jaw dropped open, the words escaping her. There were so many things packed into his last statement she could barely process them. But the word love was blinking in her mind like a neon sign.
Brody glanced down at her throat and smiled. “You’re wearing the necklace I bought you.”
She nodded. “I wanted a piece of you with me. This was all I had left.”
“I’m sorry for the things I said to you. I lashed out because you were right about everything. I’ve been hiding from my life because I was afraid. I punished you because of my own insecurities. Deep down, I could never really believe that you wanted to be with me.”
“Why?” she managed.
“Because you are everything I wish I could be and never dared to hope for in a lover. You’re confident in yourself. You’re comfortable in your own skin. You know your own worth. I envy that about you. I couldn’t understand why a woman like that would even look at me twice.”
“Brody…”
“But I’ve realized,” he interrupted, “that that’s my problem, not yours. I’ve got an appointment after Thanksgiving with that doctor in New York. I know a lot has changed since I last saw a specialist, but I’ve been too afraid to go and find out that I’m still a lost cause. We’ll see if they can do something to help me feel better about myself. But if not, that’s okay, too. I need to learn to accept myself and see value in who I am either way. Like you said at the beach house, I need to find something I like about myself and be more confident in knowing I have good qualities, inside and out. And I think you can help me with that.”
So much had happened in the week they were apart. She was stunned by his honest words. “How?”
“First, you can tell me that you love me, because I love you and there’s nothing more I want to hear than those words coming from your sweet lips.”
Sam’s heart was racing double-time in her chest. The blood was rushing to her ears making it difficult to hear anything else. But she heard that he loved her and that was the most important thing. “I do love you, Brody.”
He smiled and Sam nearly melted into his arms. He had the most amazing smile. She didn’t know how anyone could see any flaws in him when he looked at her that way. He handed her the rose he had in his hand. “This is for you. And so is this.”
Brody reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box. “I told the woman at the jewelry store that I wanted a ring sparkly enough to satisfy a woman with pink glitter running through her veins. This is what she showed me.”
He slipped down to one knee in front of Sam and opened up the hinged lid. Inside was the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen in her life. It was a large cushion-cut diamond surrounded by a double circle of bead-set diamonds. The platinum band had diamonds set into it, as well. And he was right. It was sparkly enough even for her.
“Samantha Davis, I was living in the darkness before you came into my life. You’re like my own personal ray of sunshine. That’s why I bought you that necklace. You make me want to step out into the light and stop being afraid. If you will do me the honor of being my wife, I promise you a wedding with five hundred people there if you want it. I’m done hiding, and I’m ready to start living the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”
Sam could only nod yes. The tears flowed over as he removed the ring from the box and slipped it onto her finger. It was the perfect size. Somehow, she was certain he’d found that out on the internet, too. When he stood up, Sam threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
She was stunned to hear the roar of applause coincide with their kiss. When she finally pulled away and looked around, she was surprised to see they were surrounded by people. Her new boss was clapping enthusiastically with tears in her eyes. At some point, the entire accounting department had come out to watch the proposal unfold. Sam had been so wrapped up in the moment, she hadn’t noticed anything but Brody.