Page 122 of Faith
Voices reached them before they made it to the room at the back of the house where Dawn liked to spend most of her time. She’d redecorated since she moved in, and Gage had put his touches on the home as well, from what Zeke could tell.
“Hey, you’re here!” Pryce called out when he saw the three of them. “We were just getting started.”
“We have gifts,” Mont said, lifting the bag. “From all of us.”
“Perfect. Thank you guys. I know these will help out so much,” Dawn said. She hugged each of them, kissing cheeks, then showed Mont where the gifts could go.
“Can I get you anything?” Nina asked.
“A kiss?” Zeke replied.
Nina smiled and stepped into his arms, wrapping herself around him before she lifted her lips to his. “I love you,” she whispered before she pressed her lips to his.
Zeke growled and licked his way into her mouth.
Nina pulled back and gave him a look. “You’re supposed to behave.”
“That list did not include not kissing you.”
Nina breathed a laugh. “Should I revise it?”
“Nope. Too late.”
“Okay, everyone, let’s get started so we can enjoy the rest of the night. Thank you all for helping and for bringing stuff. I wasn’t sure how I was going to pull all of this off, but it’s so much more fun with all of you here to join us,” Dawn said. She reached for Gage, who nodded as she spoke. “When I first thought of donating to the children’s hospital, I knew there was only so much I could do, even with all this money that I don’t deserve?—”
“Yes, you do!” Edie called. “Every penny!”
“Thank you,” Dawn said, her cheeks turning pink. “But none of this would be as much fun without people to share it with.” She clapped her hands. “Okay, enough of me talking. We have wrapping paper and bows and ribbons and bags and all kinds of stuff, so we can get started, and then dinner will be ready in an hour. And the bar is fully stocked, so if you want a drink, help yourselves.”
“Thank you, Dawn!” Raina said.
Zeke let Nina lead him to a table on the side of the room. She grabbed a few gifts from the massive pile and carried them to where Zeke sat. They all laughed and wrapped presents, the pile of gifts to take to the hospital growing as the unwrapped pile got smaller.
“There’s one more left,” Gage said. “It has a name on it. Nina?”
“What?” Nina asked.
“I think this is for you.”
Gage was in on the whole thing, too. All the men were.
Gage walked over to Nina, the velvet box hidden in his hand. “It has your name on it. I think it’s for you.” Gage opened his hand and revealed the box.
Nina gasped, and all the other women in the room did the same.
She looked back at Zeke, but he was already on one knee.
“Nina Marie Rose, I’ve loved you most of my life. I lost too many years with you, wishing you were by my side, and I don’t want to lose one more second. I want you as my wife. I want you as my partner. I want you as the best part of my day every single day. Will you marry me?”
“Are you kidding? Why would you think you have to ask?”
“Well, I could have demanded you marry me, but I was told that was not the right way to start a life together.”
Everyone in the room chuckled. Zeke noticed the couples going to each other, the men hugging their women to their sides.
“I would love nothing more than to marry you, Zeke,” Nina said, dropping to her knees with him. She kissed him on the lips, prying his lips apart.
“I thought I had to behave.”
