Page 214 of Three Reckless Words

Uncertainty? But why?

“This one’s special, Winnie,” he tells me. “Go ahead and open it.”

A strange feeling washes over me, this tingly excitement flicking through my nerves.

I feel like a kid on Christmas morning with a present bigger than me. I go to open it, reaching out.

The lid pulls up on a hinge like a regular wooden trunk, and inside—

Holy hell.

It’s amazing that I keep standing.

Inside, there’s a blue-lined velvet box, already open and holding the most gorgeous silver and gold ring. Small bees are engraved into it with wings of sparkling diamonds.

When I turn around, stunned, Archer waits on one knee.

“When I was young, I rushed into a bad marriage for all the wrong reasons,” he whispers, his eyes on mine, lit with emotion. “Now, I want to rush into marriage again. This time, though, for all the right reasons. You gave me back my courage, Winnie. You woke me up. You set me free from the past. Now, I need to know… will you bee mine forever?”

Oh my God.

Archer Rory is asking me to marry him and he’s using bee puns.

Ohhh my gawd, I’m crying until he looks like a blurry, smiling mess.

Probably the worst response to any proposal ever, but for once, it doesn’t feel inappropriate or annoying or wrong.

He doesn’t judge my feelings when they’re out of place. He’s not like my parents.

Mostly, I’m overwhelmed with the feeling that this is meant to be.

Sorry, meant to bee.

“You… you punned me,” I say, half laughing and half crying as I tug him up so I can kiss him. “Of course, I’ll be yours! I told you, I already am. I was from the start.”

“You’ll marry me?”

“Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!” I throw myself into his arms.

My next kiss is sloppy and wet, but he doesn’t seem to mind, folding both arms around me and pressing me against him until we both need to come up for air. He takes the ring from the box—from both boxes—and I hold out my hand.

It slides on my finger perfectly.

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper. The ring Holden gave me was just this soulless giant diamond some woman at a jewelry store probably told him was the height of fashion. But this ring is me—all me.

“I love you, Winnie Emberly. Keep making me crazy forever,” he growls.

Laughing, I wiggle my fingers so the ring sparkles in the light.

“Let’s get married soon so I can take your name. I’d rather start over as Wynne Rory.”

He grins. “Just say the word, woman. We’ll be married however you like.” He smooths a thumb across my cheek. “We could elope and get hitched in New Zealand for all I care.”

“While skydiving?”

He snorts.

“Not sure you’d hear my vows, but if that’s what you want, so be it.”

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