Page 83 of Trust

“Are you asking me to move in with you?”

He shook his head, and she frowned.

“Oh.”

He didn’t understand the tone.

“I don’t want us to justlivetogether.”

Her brow furrowed as she studied him in silence.

He sighed. “I am cocking this up, aren’t I?”

“I don’t know what this is.”

He stepped closer and took her free hand.

“I want you to live here with me as my wife.” Her eyes widened, but she still said nothing. Jakob plowed ahead. “I know it’s fast. It’s insanely fast, but when you know, you know. And I know. I know I want to marry you and have babies with you. I want to hang out together watching TV. I want to be with you always. And I understand if you want to wait. And I alsounderstand if you want a long time to plan a big wedding. I’ll wait. As long as you want me to.”

She blinked a few times. “I don’t want a big wedding. Something small with mainly family and very close friends.”

His heart turned over. “Are you saying yes?”

Her expression was serious, then…her lips curved. “Jakob Wulf, I love you. Of course, I’ll marry you.”

There was a beat of silence before what she’d said registered.

“Yes!” Then he grabbed her up off the ground and spun her around.

She was giggling. “Put me down before you make me sick. You know I get motion sickness.”

He set her down, then pulled a velvet box out of his pocket. “I had this made, but if you don’t like it, we can get something else.”

Popping the box open, he showed her the ring. A square diamond sat within a platinum setting made up of plumeria flowers. Twisting vines encircled the piece, and a rose gold thread was in the inlay pattern. He heard the click of her swallow.

“Jake, it’s stunning.” When she looked up at him, her eyes were filled with tears.

Happiness warmed him as he took the ring out and slipped it on her finger. It fit perfectly.

“I love it.”

He pulled her into his arms. “I love you.”

Bending down, he brushed his mouth over hers and was thinking about taking it much further to celebrate, until he heard someone clearing their throat. With regret, he pulled back and looked over his shoulder. Ben stood at the gate that led to the backyard.

The last few weeks had been hard on Ben. Not that Jakob didn’t think his best friend kind of deserved some of it, but hehated seeing his friend suffer. Ben and Lani had talked once or twice, but Jakob knew they needed to clear the air.

“I guess she took pity on you, huh?” Ben asked. He was dressed down, even for him. His Kingston Surfing t-shirt, which had seen better days, was tucked into a pair of khaki shorts.

“Wait, Ben knew?” Lani asked.

Jakob nodded, looking down at her. Her eyes were narrowed on him. “What?”

“Please tell me you didn’t do something stupid and ask his permission. That will just piss me off.”

He snorted. “No. I asked for his help with the ring. I created the design, but I wanted a second opinion.”

Her expression cleared. “I love my ring.”

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