He came back to the table, turning my chair a bit so he could kneel in front of me at eye level. His warm brown eyes were tight as he stared at me, reaching out to run his thumb along my cheek before he took my hand. “Do you know what today is?” he asked.
“March 21st?” I quickly combed my mind for any significance. “The first day of spring, I think?”
Nolan’s huge smile softened his handsome, rugged face. “Yes. It’s also three months since we met.”
“Oh,” I laughed. “Wow. Happy three month anniversary.” I leaned forward to kiss him lightly but noticed he was tense. “What’s wrong?”
Nolan chuckled, looking down at our clasped hands. “You know, it’s funny. I’ve had much bigger guys threaten to kill me on the ice. I’ve had a slapshot aimed straight for my head many times. I’ve had bruisers try to take me three against one. But I don’t think I’ve ever been as nervous as I am this second.”
I giggled, confused. “Why on earth would you be nervous right now?”
“Because you might say no,” he whispered, leaning in to kiss me. His mouth moved against mine gently, dreamily, and I completely lost track of whatever he had been talking about.
When he pulled back, he slipped a tiny box into my hand.
I froze. Then I forced myself to start breathing again as I looked down from his wide eyes, opening the ring box to see a large brilliant diamond with a smaller sapphire on each side. The blue stones made the white diamond look icy.
“I know it’s too soon, but I want to marry you on the anniversary of the day we met. I need you to move in with me as soon as possible. I don’t want to wait to start my life with you,” he said quickly. “Sharolyn, will you marry me?”
He really wanted me. He was going to make a life with me. He didn’t need me to change. “Yes,” I breathed.
Nolan kissed my hand before sliding the ring on my trembling finger. “I love you so much, baby. I promise to take care of you, and show you every single day that you’re the most precious person in the world to me.”
“I love you,” I whispered.
“Oh, sweetheart, you’re shaking,” he said, wrapping me in his arms. “We’ll do whatever sort of wedding you want. If you don’t want a lot of people, we’ll keep it tiny. I don’t want you to be overwhelmed. I promise I won’t make you give a toast, and we won’t do that silly garter thing.”
Taking his face in my hands, I kissed him hard, pouring all of my heat, love, and joy into our lips. He listened to me. He loved me. And I’d spend a lifetime trying to be just a tiny bit louder for him. For us.
EPILOGUE #2
* Sharolyn *
*** December 21st ***
Nolan grinned at me, looking so striking in his perfect tux. He picked up his champagne and stood as our fifty-four guests raised their glasses, eager to hear the groom’s toast.
But I stood up too. “Ladies first.”
His eyes widened in shock. Turning to a room full of our friends and family, I took a deep breath and smiled. Holding Nolan’s hand firmly, I raised my glass. “This will be short because I’m shaking.” Everyone laughed, but I could see that it was kind-hearted. My mother and sister were beaming. My dad looked stunned. Jenny’s eyes were already gleaming with tears.
“My new husband is a big, loud ruffian type, and you know I’m a quiet little mouse. I just wanted to say that we should always remember to be open-minded, and when someone looks at you with love in their eyes, listen to them. Even when you think it’s a bit nuts.” I turned to Nolan. “I love you quietly. But I’m going to learn to love you loudly. And I’m going to love and care for our kids whether they turn out loud or quiet.” I had to be careful not to blink for a second as my tears welled up.
Nolan’s warm eyes were blazing. “I’m so proud of you I might explode, sweetheart,” he whispered.
I grinned, waving my glass to the room. “To my wonderful husband, and to seeing you all again at a baby shower in a year or less!”
Nolan’s hot, deep kiss was not appropriate in a room where our parents were watching. Yet for the first time in my life, I truly didn’t care that people were staring. With his arms around me, I could handle anything.
*** The End ***