Kenzie blinks confusion. “What? What rock are you—” Her gasps silences her as she stares down at the finger I was holding.
“Dean?” she squeaks. It’s a vivid silver ring, with a princess cut diamond flanked by a halo of rubies and smaller diamonds.
“Kenzie Jo Miller,” I say as I lower myself to one knee, holding her hand as delicately as I can. “Will you do this rebel the honor of making me an honest man?”
There are tears in her eyes as she laughingly says, “No one can get that silver tongue of yours to be honest.”
“You can,” I whisper softly. “Just say yes…”Please, say yes.
“Of course, yes!” She giggles, wiping her tears with her other hand.
I hoot as loud as possible, my joyful cry echoing down the mountain. I lift her around the waist and swing her around till she’s banging on my shoulder to be put down.
“Mom’s going to lose her shit planning this wedding.” Kenzie sighs, staring at the ring with a smile flanked by her teeth worrying her bottom lip.
“That’s because Barb loves me,” I add, proving the point that it’ll be a little while longer for me to get real honest.
Kenzie rolls her eyes at me but doesn’t stop smiling. “She tolerates you at best, Dean.”
“But she’ll love me when I put a grandbaby in you.” I nibble at her neck, a hand quick to grab at the swell of her buttcheek.
“After we’re married,” Kenzie moans.
“Whatever you want, lemon drop. So long as you’re my Valentine forever.”
“Forever,” she whispers back and I end the conversation by capturing her lips as the sun dips below the horizon.
And the rebel still comes out when I need him.