“What?” she asked innocently as she trailed her hand over his crotch.
He took her hand and put it back beside her on the couch. He laughed as she pouted. “Behave yourself. I don’t need Evan asking why I’m walking around hunched over. I’m still battling the hard-on I got from carrying you in the door. I don’t need any encouragement where you’re concerned.”
She still had to fight the urge to squeal like a girl and shout, “He loves me!” Unlike her parents who had wanted to make all of her decisions, when Declan took care of her, she felt loved. He was so gentle with her and sensitive to her every need. Even though it went against every instinct he had, at her request, he asked Mac to help the girl who had hit her. Sara had come by the hospital that morning to apologize. She and her parents cried as they apologized and thanked her profusely. Thanks to Mac’s influence with the district attorney, Sara would not do jail time and instead would perform community service at a local children’s shelter. Sara told Ella she had gotten rid of her cell phone, and she never wanted another one. Ella was pretty sure she would change her mind about that later on, but was happy that she realized how dangerous it was to use while driving.
The next thing she knew Ella jerked awake. She couldn’t remember dozing off, but she must have. Evan sat beside his father on the coffee table in front of her. “Do you think she’s okay, Dad?”
“Yeah, she’s fine. I bet she must be hungry.”
“Are we gonna ask her?”
“Yep, you know what to say, right?”
Ella had shut her eyes while she listened to father and son talk. She wondered what plan they were hatching. She felt Evan poke her in the shoulder and opened one eye to look at him. “Yesss?”
Evan giggled. “She’s alive, Dad. Are you hungry, Ellie?”
“I’m starving, Evan. Whatcha got for me?” Evan and Declan moved to the side and she spotted a pink cake behind them. “Mmmm, is that strawberry, my favorite?”
Evan nodded. “We made it for you. Can you sit up ‘cause I got something to ask you.”
Ella smiled. Could he be any more adorable? She looked over at Declan who had been strangely silent through their exchange. He looked a little pale. Maybe he should find something else to do with Evan besides baking. She settled back on the sofa after getting comfortable and said, “Alright, kid, lay it on me.”
Evan cleared his throat and looked at his father. When Declan gave him a slight nod, he said, “We made you your favorite cake so we can celebrate if you give us a good answer.”
Ella lifted a brow. “So what you’re saying is I have to answer the question right or I don’t get any cake?”
“Yeah. Daddy says we can only ‘cept one answer. Can I ask you the question now?”
“Please do, I’m starving.”
When Evan and Declan each dropped to one knee in front of her, she laughed. Boy, this must be something major if they were reduced to this. When Evan asked, “Ella, will you marry us?” It took her a few seconds for the words to sink in. Her head started spinning and her heart was racing. She heard Evan say, “What’s wrong with her, Daddy? She hasn’t said anything.”
“Ellie?” Declan was starting to sound a little panicky.
As the implication of what was going on hit her, Ella started laughing. “Oh my God, yes!” She threw her arms around a nervous looking Declan and an excited Evan. “I’d love to marry you guys. I can’t think of anything in this world I would rather do!”
Evan squirmed out of her hold, running to the kitchen to get some plates for the cake, while Declan crushed her against him. “Is this a real yes?” he asked.
She felt tears running down her face as she said, “Yes. I . . . I’m so happy and surprised.”
With a huge grin, Declan said, “I knew you couldn’t say no to Evan.”
“I couldn’t say no to his daddy either.” When Evan came back into the room, they were lost in a long, drugging kiss. He wedged his way between them holding up a ring box.
He held it out to Declan and said, “I got her ring like I was supposed to.” Then looking confused he added, “We really will need plates though, won’t we?”
Declan slid the beautiful princess-cut diamond ring on her finger and asked her formally, “Ella Marie Webber, will you marry me?”
Her tears continued to fall as she said, “I would love to marry you, Declan, and you, Evan.” Father and son beamed, and the three admired the diamond on her finger.
“Ellie, I only have two more things to ask of you. Please don’t make me wait long and please don’t let your mother hurt me.”
She burst out laughing thinking there was something really wrong with her. How could she be crying one moment and laughing the next. Being in love had shown her one thing, she never knew what to expect, even from herself.