Page 57 of Unsaid Things

Swallowing, she looked into his eyes, taking in the sincerity and love radiating from them. That look gave her strength. “I feel like I’m taking advantage. That I’m just mooching off you by letting you pay for everything. And my brother’s the kind of person who does that, who wants me to do it for him, and I don’t want to be like that. I don’t want you to ever feel like I’m using you or that I’m only with you for money.”

“Abby.” Her name on his lips was a combination of admonition and request. His hands came up to cup her face, holding her still so that she couldn’t look away from him even if she wanted to. “Abby, I love you. And you love me, right?”

She nodded, warmth spreading through the cold dread that had settled in her chest.

“Do you believe me when I tell you that Iwantto take care of you? That you can’t take advantage of me, because I know everything now, and I choose to do it? That I want to share everything I have with you?” His heavy gaze held her in place, impressing on her his seriousness.

She nodded again. “Yes.”

“Good.” He brought his mouth to hers, sealing their understanding with his lips on hers, firm but not punishing.

Pulling back, his eyes roamed her face. She was sure she looked a mess, having cried off all her makeup hours ago, her face all puffy.

“No more lies.”

“No more lies.”

“No more walls to keep me out.”

She nodded, this one harder for her. “No more walls. But Lance? You’ll have to help me with that one.”

A small smile tilted the corner of his mouth, finally softening the seriousness of his expression. “I know, sweetheart. We’ll work on it together.”

She nodded, this time going up on her toes to kiss him. He wrapped his arms around her, dragging her up against him, and she opened for him. When he broke the kiss, they were both breathing hard. His eyes roamed her face again, and he nodded once, like he was agreeing to something in his own mind.

Taking a step back, he held her at arms’ length. “Wait here.”

“What?”

“Wait here. I’ll be right back.” And with that he turned and went into the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

Lance moved quickly in the bedroom, not wanting to keep Abby waiting. First he got the ring out from where he’d stashed it, sliding the small velvet box into his pocket. Then he got the lighter out of the nightstand and lit the candles that they had in the room, one on each nightstand and a couple on the dresser. He would’ve liked more, but he hadn’t planned on doing this today. Lighting up the living room and kitchen with candles would’ve been better. But he was tired of waiting. He didn’t want to wait anymore. He was doing this now.

Tidying up the stray dirty clothes on the floor and straightening the sheets and comforter on the bed, he scanned the room one more time. This would have to do.

With a deep breath, he opened the door. Abby still stood in the middle of the living room where he left her, one arm hugging her body, the fingers of her other hand tugging at her lower lip. Her eyes met his, questioning.

Taking her by the hand, he led her into the bedroom, shutting the door so that the room was lit with the warm glow of candlelight. He backed her up to the foot of the bed and had her sit down.

She looked up at him, the golden light making her skin luminous, her eyes dark blue pools. Uncertainty crinkled her brows together. “Lance? What’s going on?”

He took her hands in his and gave her a smile that he hoped was reassuring. Kneeling in front of her, he scooted close enough so he could loop his arms around her.

Her hands went to his shoulders, a little smile appearing on her lips, but that crinkle of confusion still on her face. “What are you doing?”

“Abby, when I met you at that party this summer, you intrigued me. You rolled your eyes at me when I tried to charm you and snarked at me when I tried to flirt. You made me work hard for every date, every kiss, every step forward. And I fell in love with you for it. You’ve made me better, stronger, more confident than I would be on my own. If I hadn’t met you, I’d be living in Texas, working at my dad’s shop, miserable. You gave me the courage to take a chance, to live the life I wanted, and not the one planned for me.”

He tightened his arms around her, afraid she might try to interrupt him. But she let him speak. “I hope that I’ve made your life better, made you better, too. I want us to keep making each other better forever.” Letting go of her with one hand, he pulled the ring box out of his pocket, settling back on his heels so he could open it and show her the ring. He swallowed, meeting her eyes, that shone with unshed tears once again. “Abby, I love you. So much. Will you marry me?”

Her hand covered her mouth while she took a deep, shuddery breath. Then she threw her arms around his neck. “Yes!”

He caught her in his arms, holding her tightly against him. She lifted her head, and he kissed her, pouring all his love and happiness into that kiss. His free hand slid up to cradle her head, his other arm clamped across her back. He held her still while their tongues slid together, tasting and twirling around each other. He didn’t think he’d ever get enough of her.

Pulling back, he broke the kiss and set her down. She kneeled in front of him while he pulled the ring out of the box. He took her trembling left hand in his and slid the ring onto her finger. She held out her hand, admiring the way the candlelight glinted off the princess-cut diamond in a simple white gold setting. It wasn’t the traditional solitaire. He wanted something that fit her, something simple and beautiful, but unexpected. So he chose this stone set in a slim band that swooped alongside two faces of the diamond, holding it flat against her finger.

“It’s beautiful.” The smile she gave him when she looked up stole his breath. “I love it.”

He reached for her again, unable to not touch her for long. Not now. Not with his ring on her finger. She came willingly, settling on his lap, straddling his thighs and wrapping her legs around him, her arms wrapping around his neck as his came around her waist, their mouths meeting with a hunger that eclipsed their last kiss.

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