Page 120 of When You Were Mine

But nothing could have prepared her for the dazzling display of color and glittering lights, the pop and bang, and the familiar whistle that accompanied the shower of sparks that burned out on the icy lake.

From the communal area, she could hear the oohs and aahs, and it made her so happy to provide this experience for her guests. “It’s magnificent.”

Trevor kissed her cheek. “Youare.”

The rough press of his lips let her know he was experiencing this same surge of emotion. This bond between them, this sense of…completeness made her at once giddy and at peace. She squeezed his forearms where they belted around her.

During the finale, one of his arms left her waist, but she was too mesmerized to see what he was doing. The moment it ended, with red-and-gold sparks still glittering in the sky, he lifted her hand and slid a sparkling diamond ring onto her finger. It was rose gold and came in three separate pieces. Altogether, it looked regal. Fit for a queen.

She jerked up. “This is stunning. Where did you get this?” This wasn’t the kind of engagement ring sold at just any jeweler. It was too unique.

“I found it in Iceland. In that jewelry store.”

She eyed him skeptically. “You bought me an engagement ring on our first night alone together in thirty years?”

“Yes. Is that weird?” He fought a grin.

She laughed. “Not at all. If I’d seen this, I would’ve bought it too. It’s magnificent.”

But he’d gone serious, his gaze intense. “I love you, Elz. I love everything about you. Will you marry me?”

“Again?”

He grinned. “This time, it’s forever.”

“In my heart, I honestly don’t think I ever stopped being married to you, but, yes, Trevor, I’ll marry you. Forever, this time.”

Epilogue

“We probably should’ve plannedthis out better.” Jessica snuggled against her husband in the back of the town car. She’d slept most of the flight, so at least she felt rested. Which was important because it was Christmas Eve, and they were hosting a party.

“We’ll be fine.” Her husband sounded his usual confident self.

“I’m not sure how you can say that when we’ve got twenty people coming over.”

“The house is decorated. We just need to flip the switch on all those lights.”

It was so much more than that. “I need to get the food set up.”

“We ordered everything.” With a loose grip on her arm, his thumb stroked soothingly. “It’s all good.”

“I still have to heat stuff up.”

“And I’m here to help you.”

“That’s true.” She calmed down a little. “Besides, I’m so glad we got to celebrate our one-year anniversary in the same place we found each other again.”

He tipped her chin to place a kiss on her mouth. “I celebrate us every day, but I’m glad the press was there to make a big deal out of what you’ve done to the resort.”

“It was really good to see Darby and Emil.” The couple couldn’t keep their hands off each other. “They seem so happy together.”

They’d just returned from the opening of Hotel Pullman. The place had turned out even better than she’d first envisioned.

As the driver turned into the driveway, she sat up to put in the code. While they waited for the heavy iron gate to open, she took in the black steel ranch sign.

Robbers Roost

Their gazes crashed together, and smiles lit up their faces. “We did it. We got our ranch.”

---