Page 76 of The Man in the Painting

“For coming back for me,” he says. “I was lost without you.”

I swallow softly and step away from him. I reach into my bag to retrieve a velvety blue ring box. I flip the case open and drop down on one knee.

Abram laughs.

“What on earth are you doing, Melody?” he asks, his surprise evident in his tone.

I shrug nervously. “It’s just...we’ve wasted so much time between the both of us. I didn’t know the outcome of today’s meeting, but I came prepared, just in case....”

Abram laughs and shakes his head at me in amusement.

“And you wonder why I love you like crazy?”

“So, what do you say?” I ask, holding out the ring to him again. “Will you marry me, Abram Harden?”

Abram takes the ring from my hand and slips it on his finger. “Of course, Melody Hanson,” he says, helping me to my feet. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want forever.”

He drops to one knee next. “I don’t want you to ever doubt my love for you. I never want you to feel unloved. I might get it wrong sometimes, but as long as we are together we can do anything. This love, our love, is not something I saw coming. I didn’t know what love was until I met you but now that I know what this is, love, I never want to let it go. So now it’s my turn to ask you. Melody Hanson, will you marry me?”

I wrap my arms around his neck and smile into those gorgeous blue-green eyes that I fell in love with even before I met him.

“Yes,” I whisper with a big smile. “I love you. A million times yes.”

“I love you, too,” Abram says right before he lowers his head to mine in a heated kiss.

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