“Miles,” I said, a sob breaking lose.
“You told me you were lost that first night we spent together,” he went on, rising to his feet. “And do you remember what I said?”
I nodded. “You said, ‘You’re not lost. You’re right here with me.’”
He opened the box, spoke low and soft. “You always have been. Stay with me?”
The sunlight winked off the big round diamond at the center of the ring’s setting, and I gasped.
“Is that a yes?”
I burst out laughing. “Yes!” Holding out my hand, I watched through tears as he slid the beautiful ring on my finger. It was a little big.
He looked at me sheepishly. “Sorry. I guessed at the size. It almost fits.”
I smiled. “Almost.”
He kissed me deeply, stealing my breath, our arms twining around each other. From inside the coffee shop and on the street, cheers and applause erupted. Miles lifted me right off my feet and swung me around, and I squealed in dizzy delight.
“This is crazy,” I said in his ear. “Are we really engaged?”
He set me down. “Well, I’m not too familiar with the concept, but I believe when you give a girl a ring and ask the question ‘Will you marry me?’ and then she says ‘Yes,’ that means you’re engaged.”
I lay my head on his shoulder. “I can’t believe it.”
“Told you your buns were worth matrimony.”
I picked up my head. “This was all a ploy for my buns, wasn’t it?”
“It was, and you said yes, so now I get to glaze those buns as much as I like. And also butter your muffin and polish your fine china.”
Skylar opened the door poked her head out. “We’re dying in here! You guys coming in or what?”
I turned to her, arms flailing. “Sorry! Yes, we’re coming.”
“Hard and often,” murmured Miles from behind me as he steered me through the door.
Giggling, I looked at him over my shoulder. “Promise me you’ll always make dirty jokes in my ear.”
He spanked me lightly. “With pleasure. Easiest promise I’ve ever made.”
? ? ?
The entire day, I floated around on a cloud, happier than I’d ever been, giddy every time I looked down at my hand. The feeling actually reminded me of being a kid and seeing a car in the Haas’s driveway for the first time each June. I’d know that my summer fun was about to start, and I’d go running across the orchard to play. We weren’t playing anymore, and we had a lot of important decisions to make, but for once it didn’t drive me nuts not knowing exactly what the next step was. Or the next ten steps. I had Miles. He had me.
That’s all I needed to know.
I knocked on the door, and when he pulled it open, I prayed those butterflies at seeing his face would never go away. “Honey, I’m home.”
He grinned. “Took you long enough.”
Before I could say another word, he pulled me inside, shut the door, and pushed me back against it, crushing his mouth to mine. Dropping my bag at my feet, I threw my arms around his neck and held him tight, reveling in the feel of our bodies pressed together, our hearts beating closely, our uncertainty gone.
“God, Natalie,” he murmured, taking my face in his hands. “I missed you so much. I missed you every fucking minute we were apart, and I hated myself for it.”
“It wasn’t all your fault.” I kissed his chin and his cheek and his lips. “Just mostly.”
“Hey.” He caught my bottom lip between his teeth, biting down gently. “Be careful, little girl. Just because I asked you to marry me doesn’t mean you’re off the naughty list.”
“What’s this? An overly amorous husband already?”
“Yeah. What’s your advice book say to do about that?”
I smiled. “Run.” Ducking beneath his arm, I took off running through the living room, squealing as I raced through the dining room and kitchen, Miles hot on my heels. Breathless with laughter, I looped back through the front hall and bolted up the stairs. Miles took them at least two at a time, grabbing me just as we reached the top.
“That’s it, little girl. You’re in trouble with me.” He threw me over his shoulder and I pounded my fists against his butt.
“Let me go!” I howled, kicking my legs.
“Never.” He went into his room and tossed me onto the bed, set his glasses on the table, then crawled on top of me, kissing my chest and throat and lips. “Do you hear me? I will never let you go.”
I dug my heels into his ass, pinning his erection between my legs. Desire swept through me. “But will you let me come?”
He gave me a wicked smile. “First and often.”
“Oh God, Miles,” I murmured as he kissed his way down my body. “I missed you. I missed this. I missed everything.”