by Nina Lane
What was she doing?
Rhys couldn’t even believe what he was seeing. Kari. His Kari up on the bar, dressed to kill and singing like an angel. To him. And the song she was singing. It may have been the single most romantic song he’d ever heard. “Marry Me” by Train was the ultimate in proposal songs. But was that what was happening? What was she saying?
“Marry me.”
Those were the words that came out of her mouth. But it was just a song, right? After all, Dylan and Carmen had said she was scared. He looked across the room and assessed both of them and their goofy grins. Clearly they were no help. But Aunt Daisy had also said he should…that he should consider things. Not that he shouldn’t ask her. Not that she didn’t want to get married, but maybe he should consider what she might be feeling.
By the look of her on the bar, singing her heart out in a way he’d never heard before—God, her voice was angelic—there was no doubt in his mind what she was feeling and he’d be dammed if he was going to sit by and waste another second without that ring on her finger.
Leaving the crowd behind, Rhys strode across the floor until he stood directly beneath the bar. Kari dropped her arm that held the microphone and stared down at him, but somewhere behind them, Slade continued the song, serenading both of them. Rhys reached up and, taking her hips in his hands, he lifted her gently off the bar and down to the floor in front of him.
“Hi,” she whispered.
“Babe.” Rhys closed his eyes and shook his head. “You continue to both amaze and impress me every day. I can’t believe you did this.”
“I needed you to know how I felt.”
He grinned and kissed her gently on the lips. “I think I got the message.”
Rhys wasn’t going to waste another moment and, giving a silent thanks for having the foresight to grab the ring box before he left the station, he dropped to one knee right there in the middle of the Grizzly Paw in front of all their friends. With Slade’s voice singing the lines of the song he’d remember forever as their song, he flipped open the lid to show her the ring and asked her the question he’d been waiting to ask almost from the moment he’d met her. “Kari Fox, from the moment you came into my life, I can’t imagine you anywhere else but by my side as we walk through this life. I love you with my entire heart and being and I’ve been dying to know if you’d do me the honor of being my wife.”
Her hand flew to her mouth, but instead of crying, she dropped her head back in a burst of laughter before she looked down at him again. “Rhys Anderson, get up here.” She tugged him up so he stood in front of her again. “I thought I was the one doing the asking here?”
It was his turn to laugh, but he swallowed it when he saw how serious she was.
“You know I love you, babe,” she began. Her voice shook and she bit down on her bottom lip to keep it steady. It was a move that was both innocent and so devilishly sexy that Rhys’s body responded so hard that he had to force himself to focus as she continued to speak. “You probably also know that I was a little scared.” He nodded and tilted his head in question. She wasn’t going to change her mind, was she? He couldn’t bear it if she did. But the next words out of her mouth assured him nothing of the sort would happen. “But I know now that just because I was scared, it wasn’t because of my love for you. Of that I have no doubt. You are everything to me, and I both can’t and won’t consider a life without you in it. So, Rhys Anderson…” She looked down as if she were going to attempt to kneel, but Rhys held her fast. He needed them to start their union as he intended to go on: eye to eye.
She seemed to understand and nodded slightly before she finally said the words, “Be my husband.”
It wasn’t a question, which was fine by Rhys, because there was no other response he could imagine giving before he pulled her into his arms, besides, “Always.”
THE END
I hope you enjoyed Rhys and Kari’s happily ever after. I you want to know more about The Springs and the people who live and love there, please visit www.elenaaitken.com and subscribe to my newsletter here. As a thank you, you’ll receive an exclusive Series Starter Box Set and a short story that is only available to newsletter subscribers.
The Springs Series
Summer of Change
Falling Into Forever
Winter’s Burn
Midnight Springs
Second Glances
She’s Making A List
Elena lives, loves and writes in the Alberta Foothills with her teenage twins and their twin cats. As often as possible, Elena escapes to the mountains for inspiration and can often be found sitting by the lake plotting her next story.
To learn more about Elena Aitken and her other books, please visit www.elenaaitken.com
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COPYRIGHT
All books included with permission
Yours to Teach
Copyright © 2015 Cathryn Fox
Forever Begins With a Kiss
Copyright © 2015 Zoe York
Reign of the Vampire, Book 1
Copyright © 2015 Edith E. Bruce
Project Virgin
Copyright © 2015 Megan Crane
Committed
Copyright © 2015 Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott
All About the Bear
Copyright © 2015 Bianca D’Arc
Tango for Two
Copyright © 2015 Elisabeth Grace
Longing for Langston
Copyright © 2015 Renee Vincent
Laguna Nights
Copyright © 2015 Kaira Rouda
Peppermint Stick
Copyright © 2015 Nina Lane
Fighting for Forever
Copyright © April 2015 Elena Aitken
ALL RIGHTS RETAINED BY INDIVIDUAL AUTHORS
