Page 144 of Forgotten Desires

I truly can’t do anything but gape at him. That makes no sense. He has his companies, family, friends. Well, maybe not that last one. Layla has her school there, that freaking insanely priced apartment that would just sit empty. Plus, my company is going to be based out of New York.

“Crew, there’re a lot of reasons why New York works for us.”

“And we can do most of it remotely,” he tosses back. “We love it in Sugarloaf. We have a home, family, your friends are here, and Layla loves her cousins.”

My heart melts at that. She really does love them. “Yes, but what about our companies?”

“Bee, you don’t have to work. You know that, right?”

Yeah, I mean, now that I know a lot more about his net worth, I get that I don’t have to work. Yet, I do.

My hands rest on his solid chest. “I want to work. I love what Thea and I are building, we just hired Aarabelle, and I’d like to have something of my own. Work makes me feel useful.”

I hope he understands that.

“Okay.” Crew accepts it without a fight. “I want you to know if there’s a point where you don’t want to work, you don’t have to.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Like, maybe when we have kids?”

My brows rise and I gape at him. “Kids?”

“If you want.”

I literally don’t know what to say. “You want more kids?” I ask hesitantly.

He turns to face me, hands on my hips. “I never wanted kids, you know that. Then I had Layla and I learned how much love a father could have for his child. I figured she’d be my only child, and I’ve been completely fine with that. But . . . I want to have children with you, if that’s what you want. I want to watch you grow heavy with our baby, knowing that he or she will come into a house filled with love.” Crew sighs. “I’m fucking this up, but . . .”

“What do you mean?” He drops down on one knee, takes my hand, and looks up at me. “What are you doing?” I ask.

“Brynlee Knight, I married you, the woman I love, months ago. I stood in front of our family and friends and vowed to love you forever, only we agreed that forever wasn’t in our cards. When I asked you to marry me, I didn’t get to say the things I wanted, but I need to now.”

Tears fill my eyes and I drop down onto my knees in my tiny kitchen. “Crew . . .”

“I love you more than I have ever loved anyone. I want to wake up next to you every morning. I want your nights to be in my arms. I want us to be a family, whatever that looks like. I want trips to Paris and kisses on the terrace. Every single day I choose you to be my wife, my lover, my fucking world. I asked you to be my wife to give us something, but I ended up getting everything.” He reaches into his pocket, pulling out a box. “I spent today with your brothers and then visiting Howie. I asked each of them for permission to marry you again. I wish I could say that if I could go back in time, I would change things, but if I did that, I wouldn’t have you.”

He brushes the tears from my cheeks, and I take his face in my hands. “Yes.”

Crew jerks back with a grin. “I didn’t ask yet.”

I let out a laugh and then sniff. “Sorry.”

He opens the box and there is a diamond eternity band.

“So, I’m here, on my knees, asking if you will be my wife in every single way. Marry me. Marry me because you love me. Marry me because you know I love you with everything that I am. Marry me because we want to build a life together, a family. Be at my side—for eternity.”

I rest my forehead to his. “Is there a question?”

He chuckles, framing my face and lifting my head. His crystal blue eyes are shimmering with unshed tears. “My darling Bee, will you do me the honor of being my wife for the rest of our lives?”

My fingers wrap around his wrists. “Yes.”

He brings his lips to mine in the most tender kiss we’ve ever shared.

Slowly, the kiss becomes more passionate, and I’m desperate for him. It’s been weeks we’ve gone without each other, and I need him.

So much.

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