Page 88 of A Cowboy's Bride
He all but shoved the bag into her hands.
She leaned back on the high armrest, examining him for a moment before peeking inside.
At the top, once again, was a tissue wrapped candle.
“It’s exactly what I wanted,” she teased, pulling it from the bag and ripping away the tissue.
The label saidSmells Like The Best Husband In The World.
“Aww, that’s so cute.” Happiness swelled up inside. They were going to do this thing. Be engaged. Be together, eventually as husband and wife. “Am I supposed to light this when you’ve done something good?”
“That’s a plan. You can also light it when I screw up to remind yourself that I’m not terrible all the time.” He tipped his head toward the bag. “You didn’t finish.”
She put the candle on the side table next to her teacup and peeked back into the bag. A small notebook with a picture of a sunset on the front cover lay at the bottom. She laid it in her palm. “It’s pretty.”
He nudged her elbow. He was fidgeting so much it was like he had ants in his pants. “Open it.”
“Did you write me a poem? A dirty limerick—” Petra stalled. The very center of the notebook had been cut away leaving a square barely big enough to hold a ring. “Oh my God.”
She carefully lifted out the ring and turned the shining top toward her. It was a small cluster of white and blue stones, and it flashed in the sunlight shining through the window.
Petra lifted her eyes to Aiden’s. “It’s beautiful.”
His expression went back to a smile. “I didn’t screw up?”
She shook her head, slipping the ring on her finger. Holding her hand up to admire it. “It’s exactly what I wanted.” She considered. “How did you get that so perfect?”
“Your mom,” he admitted. “We’ve been texting ever since your birthday, and at one point she sent me some of the pictures that you’d scrapbooked back in the day.”
He linked their fingers together, pressing a kiss to her hand just above where the shiny ring sat.
“I’m glad you get along with my family, and I’m glad you’re brave enough to put up with them on a regular basis,” she teased, happiness still bubbling inside her.
“They’re good people. Other than I’ve had to veer the topic away from some blunt conversations about sex at times. Your mother is determined.”
“That’s one way to put it,” Petra said with a smile, pressing her hand his cheek.
“Your dad said something about thank God you were the last to get hitched, because each of you got more twisted and creative. I do need to hear what happened with Julia and Zach.”
“We’ll make sure that happens when we go over tomorrow to spend the day with them. I bet they’d love to tell you the story.” She curled herself around him, her cup of happiness nearly full to the brim. “Thank you for my ring.”
His face turned suddenly serious for a moment. “I figured it was something we needed. We didn’t have one before because we were pretending. But we’re not pretending anymore. I love you with everything in me, no matter how quick it seems.”
“I love you too.” Her throat was tightening, and tears were threatening to well up, which was silly considering how happy she was. “You want to see the surprise Christmas present I got you?”
His gaze dropped to the buttons on her shirt as he undid the first snap. “It’s exactly what I want.”
She tugged his hands away with a laugh, crawling off the couch and pulling him with her. “It’s not here, although you can totally havethatlater. Come on. I can’t wait to show you.”
Aiden wassure he was grinning from ear to ear. Every time Petra or one of her gal gang grabbed hold and towed him somewhere, it was amusing as hell.
They made it across the living room before catching the attention of Kevin and Declan who sat by the fire.
“Going somewhere?” Declan asked.
“Nothing to see here,” Aiden said.
“I’m showing Aiden his surprise,” Petra announced over top of him. She squeezed his fingers. “Everybody’s welcome.”
