Page 6 of Finally Forever
“Ainsley Grace Belle, will you do me the honor of being my wife? Because I can’t imagine my life without you.”
My breath catches, and a tear slips down my cheek. In typical Sebastian style, he managed to get dressed in a shirt and jeans, but his hair is a little damp. I hadn’t noticed before.
“Did you shower?” In one of the other bathrooms? While I was showering? How is he so fast?
“Is that your answer?” he asks with an amused chuckle and a slight gloss in his brown-blue eyes.
“I—no. I mean, yes. Yes! I’ll marry you.”
He stands, and I jump into his arms, showering him with kisses. I’m not even sure if this is real. Me being passed out on the floor in the shower after slipping and hitting my head makes more sense.
But my feet are off the ground, and Sebastian’s strong arms are around me, holding me so tight my lungs squeeze. He kisses the tears from my cheeks and assures me it’s not in my mind. He knows me so well.
“I did not expect this,” I say.
“No?” He sets me on my feet but keeps me tucked against his chest, his hands clasped low on my back.
“Why would I think you want to marry me?”
He flashes a big, beautiful grin. “Maybe because I’ve changed my life to be with you. I tell you I love you all the time and try to show you how much I do.” He rolls his hips once, and I giggle. “There’s also the fact that I died to be with you. Literally. I would do it again, too. You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
Just like that, my eyes fill with tears again. I’m a sniveling mess. “When you put it like that, I don’t know how I missed it,” I tease and let out a laugh that ends in a sob. “I can’t believe this. I can’t believe you. Who would have thought you were such a romantic?”
“Only with you, Ainsley. You bring it out of me.”
“I’m glad I do.” I push up on my toes and kiss him.
He pulls away. “Do you want the ring? You jumped into my arms before I could slide it on your finger to make sure it fits.”
“Omigosh.” I settle down on flat feet and wipe away my tears. “Yes. Let me see it, please.” I hold out my hand, not caring that it shakes with a mix of nerves and excitement.
Sebastian holds my hand with one of his and slides the platinum band onto my quivering finger.
“It fits,” he murmurs with a hint of pride. “What do you think?”
I draw my hand close and press my palms together to keep my hand from shaking. Intricate purple flower buds, with tiny turquoise stones, wrap the delicate band as if growing toward the diamond. The prongs holding the solitaire consist of the same buds and purple stones, as if they’re presenting the diamond as an offering.
“Do you like it?”
I half-laugh, half-cry. “I love it.”
“Do you get it?”
“The turquoise is the Mediterranean Sea, and the purple buds are lavender?”
We took a trip to the lavender fields in the south of Scotland the summer after Sebastian joined me—surprised me—in the small village of Moy. At that time, I’d never seen anything so beautiful in my life.
His smile brightens the room. “It took six different jewelers for me to find one good enough to make this for you. Roses, tulips, vines, no problem. But no one has ever requested a ring inspired by lavender fields and the Mediterranean Sea.”
“It’s perfect.”
“The purple is your birthstone, too.”
“I know.” I can’t stop staring at it.
“What do you think about the diamond?” he asks eagerly.
“It’s huge.”
