“I knew I had to,” he leaned close to murmur into her ears. “You would’ve been miserable without him.”
Her eyes stung. She sniffed.
Oh no! Don’t get emotional. You need your brain firing on all cylinders.
“Just tell her, already!” Juanita flailed her arms in the air. “Stop pussyfootin’ around!”
Warm hands cupped her face, tilting it up until her gaze met his. Sultry brown eyes, unguarded, shining with unshed tears, opened up like a window to his beautiful soul.
“Rylie Malone, I love you. I love you so much I can’t think straight. I know you think I was in love with your sister. I thought so too, but the other night it hit me… I was never in love with Carlie. It was you, all the time! You were the reason I loved hanging out at your apartment.”
Could it be true? Had he loved her from the beginning? The pressure grew inside her chest, like her heart was trying to break through her ribs. His penetrating stare made her head spin, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away.
“You were the one who made me laugh,” he said, “who distracted me when I was too serious, who argued with me about everything, even the optimum temperature for a cup of coffee. You were the one who inspired me to plan thirty years into the future instead of fearing each day would be my last.”
With each word her old wounds began to heal, the scabs falling away to reveal fresh new skin, so tender she was afraid.
He moved toward her, brushing a soft kiss on her cheek, the heady scent of his cologne assaulting her overwrought senses.
“You’re the only woman who gives me the grace to show my weakness and the strength to get past it. You understand me because we’re so much alike. Our souls are cut from the same cloth.”
He pressed a kiss to the other cheek, and her lips cried out in jealousy.
“I love you, Rylie Malone. You are my up and my down. My laughter and my tears. With you, I can face anything. Without you, I’m empty.”
He took her hands in his.
In an incredible feat of strength and balance, he lowered gracefully onto his right knee, balancing with his prosthetic leg. She was so impressed it took her a moment to realize what he was doing.
He’s going to propose! I can’t believe this is happening!
Her pulse pounded in her ears so loudly she could barely hear his words.
“Rylie Malone, will you make me the happiest man who ever lived? Will you be my wife and the mother of our children?”
His image danced in her tear-filled eyes.
“Hurry up and say yes,” Juanita said, her cell phone aimed their direction. “My phone’s almost out of memory.”
A smile broke out on Rylie’s face—a big one—and she couldn’t make it go away.
“Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you!”
“I hope Carlie never sees this video.” Matthew rubbed the back of his head, a deep furrow on his brow. “I’ll never be able to come up with anything to top that.”
“Propose using some of her song lyrics,” Rylie said. “Carlie will love it.”
“Good idea.” His finger tapped on his phone.
“Excuse me. I’d like to have your full attention.” Jarrett’s hand turned her face toward his. When had he gotten up from the floor? His hungry look stirred delicious tingles in her belly.
His lips touched hers, and warmth dripped like honey in her veins.
“I love you, Jarrett,” she said as his mouth slid along the line of her jaw, tingles spreading in all directions.
He ripped those amazing lips away, leaving her breathless.
“I love you, too,” he said. “Do you believe me, now?”
She pursed her lips. “Hmmmm… maybe…”
“Maybe? That wasn’t enough?”
“Well… at one point, you mentioned some chocolate…”
Crinkles formed at the corners of his eyes. “So, if I give you chocolate, you’ll believe me?”
“And maybe take me to a dance?”
He laughed. Going to a dance had been their old euphemism for staying home with a video and popcorn.
“Dancing sounds good.” His lips curved into a sultry smile, his eyelids closing halfway. “I’m going to like doing the tango with you.”
As she gasped at his innuendo, he flung her back in the classic tango dip, her head inches from the floor, his arm under her back, his lips touching the arch of her neck. She giggled, helpless to move.
From her upside down vantage point, the door opened and a pair of men’s pants appeared. Her eyes followed them up to a white lab coat, topped by an all-too-familiar face.
“I think,” Dr. Campbell said, drumming his fingers on his arm, “It may be time to get you that private room.”
