Page 199 of Bride By Initiation

"When do we get to find out?"

"Maybe we should let it be a surprise," I suggest, even though I'm dying to know.

"No way!" Sean declares.

"So you aren't mad?"

He grunts. "Don't be a little brat." He leans into my ear and palms my ass, squeezing my cheek. "Don't think this means I'm not going to bend you over my knee later tonight and spank you."

The ache in my core burns hotter. I murmur, "Don't tease me before parentgeddon."

"I should?—"

The doorbell rings.

I glance at the clock. "They're early."

"No, I asked them to come now. I need to talk to your dad about work stuff," he claims.

I pout. "No work talk."

"Don't worry. It won't take too long. You and the others can catch up. But don't you dare tell them about the baby until I'm here," he adds, walking toward the front door.

I grin, happy he's as excited as I am about the baby. I toss the box into a drawer and follow him into the other room.

He opens the door to Bridget, Dante, Mom, and Dad.

We all exchange hugs and kisses and then Sean disappears with my father.

"You aren't going with them?" I ask Dante.

"No need," he says, and opens a bottle of wine. He pours a glass and hands one to each of us ladies. He holds his up and says, "Salute."

"Salute," everyone replies.

I pretend to take a small sip and then put it down. We gather around the island and make small talk until Sean and my father reappear.

I smile at Sean. "Everything good?"

He beams. "Yep."

Relief hits me. "Should we eat?"

He grabs my hand and kneels.

"What are you doing?" I question.

Nerves, mixed with a bit of arrogance, fill his expression. It reignites my ache as he says, "Zara, I didn't ask you to marry me the right way. I didn't give you the wedding I should have, and I didn't ask your father for your hand. That's on me."

I bite on my smile, knowing the truth about how we were married and the circumstances we faced.

He kisses my hand and continues, "Since we got married, everything in my life is now complete. You're the piece in my life I didn't know I needed. So I want you to marry me again, in front of our families, like we should have done in the first place."

I blink hard, but a tear drips down my cheek.

He pulls a ring out of his pocket. The trilliant cut, curve-sided, pink amethyst is as big as my wedding diamond. It matches the color in our brands.

I gasp, putting my hand over my mouth, gaping at it. Besides my wedding ring, it's the most stunning gem I've ever seen.

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