“I bought it weeks ago. I’ve known since the beginning that you were the only woman I ever wanted to marry. I was just waiting for you, for you to be sure, for you to not think it was too fast.”
“Oh my God, Ethan! I love you.” She threw her arms around his neck. “I am sure, I’ve never been more sure of anything. Yes, yes I’ll marry you!” He held her tightly a minute more before pulling back so he could put the ring on her finger.
“It’s so beautiful.” She whispered. It was platinum with a large diamond in the center and two smaller flanking it on either side. He slid onto the sofa pulling her legs over him so she was draped across his lap and held her tightly.
His hand slid to her abdomen and her breath caught. Her eyes filled with tears as he reverently touched her.
“How long?”
“Not very long. Only a few weeks. I didn’t know. They did a blood test at the hospital.” He jerked at the mention of the hospital.
“Everything that happened? All the drugs?”
“The Dr said the baby was okay after everything and that the meds he gave me were safe. He did warn me that the risk of miscarriage was higher in the first trimester. But I knew that."
He pulled her tightly against him and breathed deep. The knot that had been in his chest for two days loosened.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this? I mean you said before you didn’t do babies. And before, you suggested the… the morning-after pill.”
“I am… thrilled. Though that doesn’t seem like a strong enough word. I don’t remember when I said I didn’t do babies but I didn’t mean that I never wanted my own. I do, with you, our babies.” Erica couldn’t help the tear that rolled down her cheek. “I only suggested the pill because you were so adamant that you weren’t on birth control, I though you didn’t want… I wouldn’t want you to…” He took a deep breath and sighed. “I am sorry I ruined your five year plan.”
“It’s not ruined, I just wanted to be married and settled down first.”
“We will be.” He vowed. “I want us to be married just as soon as we can arrange whatever kind of wedding you want.” Erica smiled and brushed impatiently at her tears.
“I know I don’t want to walk down the aisle in a splint so we have to wait until it comes off.”
“Okay.” He laughed.
“I want a big family, I always have.” She said softly.
“Okay.”
“You’re being very agreeable.”
“I will do anything to make you happy, Erica.”
“Ethan.” She lifted her head and looked at him using her hands to frame his face. “Stop it,” He frowned at the admonishment. “You make me very happy. But no one can be happy all the time. No one can be safe all the time. You put too much on yourself. You cannot be responsible for everything all the time.”
“Tell me what I can do then, because this is the only way I know how to be.”
“You can give me the words. Because I need to hear them, and you can come home to me every night and put your arms around me.” He squeezed her slightly where his arms were already around her.
“I love you Erica. I promise to tell you every day, every hour if necessary, but never doubt that it’s how I feel.” He was serious but his gaze was brimming with love.
“I love you too. Forever.”
Look for the next books in the Reynolds Security Series:
Knock Out
Second Chances
Morning After (A Reynolds Security Novel) Page 22
