Page 141 of Stroke of Fate

“Maybe one or two.”

Levi’s lips brush against mine, and a growl of frustration leaves me when he pulls back too soon.

His responding chuckle earns him an eye roll. “Why don’t you go change and meet me out back before the food I prepared gets cold.”

I snort. “You mean the food you paid for?”

“Same, same.” He grins, squeezing my ass. “I’ll make it up to you tonight.” The whispered promise sends a shiver of anticipation through me.

Upstairs in our bedroom, I trade my scrubs for a pretty dress, touch up my makeup, and let my hair out of the bun it’s been in the entire day. The loose waves look surprisingly good, and after a quick spritz of perfume, I’m all done.

Back downstairs, I step onto our little enclosed patio, and my mouth drops open in surprise. Levi went above and beyond.

Candles, rose petals, and string lights are scattered everywhere. It’s beautiful, and I can’t believe he pulled this off without me suspecting a thing.

“How long have you been planning this?” I ask, glancing at my boyfriend, who’s watching me take in all his hard work.

Levi steps forward, hands in his pockets, and I notice he’s tidied himself up while I was getting ready.

“You could say pretty much since the day I met you,” he says, swallowing thickly.

“What?” A nervous laugh escapes me, not quite sure what he means. “You’ve been planning my twenty-fifth birthday for that long?”

“No, I’ve been planningthismoment for five years.”

My eyes nearly pop out of their sockets when he drops to one knee, producing a ring-sized box out of his pocket. Before he even opens it, I’m falling to my knees.

“Yes! Yes!Yes!” I say, nodding frantically as my eyes fill with tears.

“I haven’t even asked the question.” Levi laughs, his eyes shining bright under the lights.

“Oh, right.” I flush, feeling my cheeks warm at my enthusiasm. “Ask away, Whiskey Eyes.”

His smile softens at the nicknames that have held strong through the years.

“I told you five years ago you were it for me, and tonight, I’m making it official. Bear Miller, will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?”

“Absolutely.Yes, a million times, yes.” My voice is shaky, but there’s no doubt in my mind that the man I’ve loved for the better part of five years is the one I want to call my husband.

Watching him slide the diamond ring onto my finger feels surreal. A beautiful, large, oval diamond sits in the middle of a gold band. It’s perfect.

Myfiancékisses me, and my heart skips a beat.

“I love it. I love you.” I say, cupping his face between my hands when we pull apart.

There’s nothing but love and adoration in his eyes, the same eyes that have always made me feel like I’m coming home whenever I look into them.

I don’t think my smile could get any bigger, but it does when Levi says, “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life loving you, Teddy Bear.”

THE END

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