And there Ryan was, his gaze landing on her unerringly. He broke into a smile, and then he was running, crossing the distance between them in great, bounding strides and swinging her into his arms. “I’m sorry the flight was late.”
She inhaled the spicy scent of him and buried her face in his neck. “I said I’d wait forever, remember?”
“That doesn’t mean you have to like it.”
Shedidn’tlike it, didn’t like the distance his deployments caused. But she’d surprised herself, because she was okay. It wasn’t fun, but she handled it without any of the soul-crushing despair she expected. It helped that the people of Wellingford had descended while he was gone, making sure she never felt truly alone, even when she missed him so desperately she couldn’t see straight. The minnow Ryan gave her before he left—a partner for Mr. Smith—helped, too.
Bri kissed him, loving that he was here in her arms again.
“I’m crushing your poster.”
“I don’t care.”
But when she leaned up to kiss him again, he only allowed it to last a few seconds before he laughed and took a step back. “I care. Show me.”
She held her breath as he read, frowned, and seemed to read it again. “We’ll have our own little fire-starter in six months?” Then his blue eyes went wide and his gaze dropped to her stomach. “A baby?”
“I know we weren’t really planning on—”
He was there, sweeping her into his arms again and spinning her around. She laughed and hugged him. “I take it you’re not upset?”
“Upset? Why the hell would I be upset? This is the best news I’ve gotten. Ever.” He stopped spinning again and looked down at her. “There’s only one thing that could make this day better.”
Her heart felt like it was trying to beat its way out of her chest. A year together and he still affected her like he had the night of their first date—though she didn’t want to bean him with an encyclopedia nearly as often these days. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.” He stepped back and dropped down to one knee. “Be my wife.” Then he pulled a square box out of his fatigues’ pocket. “I was going to wait to propose until we made it to dinner, but this is better.”
She pressed her hands to her mouth. This was really happening. When she’d found out she was pregnant, she’d barely dared hope that he’d be happy, let alonethis. “Yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.”
Ryan raised his eyebrows. “Are you going to let me put it on your finger?”
Giddy laughter sprang free from her mouth. “I love you so much.”
“That’s good, because I’m pretty sure I’ve been in love with you since you pelted me in the face with that snowball.” He slipped the ring onto her finger. “This was my grandmother’s ring. Drew found it in some old boxes and gave it to me before this last deployment.”
It was gorgeous, an emerald-cut diamond nestled in a cluster of actual emeralds. Bri couldn’t keep the stupid smile off her face. “It’s beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as the woman wearing it.” He pushed to his feet and kissed her again.
“I don’t want to put a damper on this situation, but shouldn’t Drew be the one getting the ring since he’s the older brother?”
“My brother, Wellingford’s most eligible bachelor?” Ryan snorted. “We’ll all die of old age before he settles down.”
“Maybe he just needs the right woman.”
“I’m not too worried about it. I’ve found my right woman.” He pressed his hand to her stomach, which had barely started to round. “A baby. God, honey, you have no idea how happy that makes me—how happy you make me. I love you.”
“I love you too, Ryan.” She had a man who loved her—and whom she loved more than she thought possible—and now they were taking the first step toward creating the family neither one of them had experienced. Bri leaned against him. “I didn’t know it was possible to be this happy.”
“Honey, we’re just getting started.”