“Think about what it would do to her if you got in a car accident tomorrow or were diagnosed with a terminal disease.” She tapped the palm of her hand against her temple. “Your logic doesn’t make any sense, big brother. You’re trying to protect her from life, and you’re crazy if you think you can do that.”
God. Sabrina was right. He had no way of knowing what tomorrow would bring, but he did know one thing for sure, he wanted to face it with Sophie. “Thanks.” He jumped off the stool and kissed the top of Sabrina’s head before racing out the door.
***
Sophie was watching a sappy romantic drama on TV when a soft tap on the door startled her. With the blanket wrapped around her shoulders like a cape, she tiptoed to the door. “Who is it?”
“It’s Dalton.”
She was already emotionally exhausted and didn’t feel like going another round with him tonight. Opening the door a crack, with the chain still in place, she said, “I’m too tired to do this tonight. Can we just talk tomorrow?”
“I need to see you now. Please.”
Since her heart was already shattered, he couldn’t do any more harm. With a heavy sigh, she released the chain and stepped back as she opened the door. “What’s so important that it couldn’t wait until morning?”
He produced a huge bouquet of roses from behind his back. They weren’t wrapped in pretty paper or ribbon and the thorns seemed to be crudely cut, which told her they’d come from a garden instead of a florist.
Holding the multicolored blooms to her nose, she said, “They’re lovely, but you didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I did.”
He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand and it took everything in her not to melt into his touch. But she was still hurt and angry and confused and it would take more than a bouquet of flowers to undo the damage he’d done.
“Can I get you something?” she asked, leading him into the kitchen. “I have to put these in water.” She tried to reach a vase on the top shelf, but when she would have pulled the small wooden stool up, he moved in behind her, resting his chest against her back as he got the vase down for her.
“Thank you.” She closed her eyes, trying to collect herself as she ran cool water into the glass vase. Arranging the flowers carefully, she said, “They really are lovely.”
“Not half as lovely as you.” His warm breath caressed her cheek as he whispered, “I’m sorry, Soph. I screwed up earlier.”
She’d already shed enough tears to last a lifetime and refused to surrender to her sadness again. “It’s not your fault we’re not in the same place. You had every right to say no.”
“I said no because I was scared.” His hands glided down her ribcage and over her hips. “Scared to death or hurting you again.”
“So you said.” She didn’t believe it now any more than she’d believed it then. It sounded like a copout to her, a ready excuse.
“And you don’t believe me, do you?” His hands rested on her shoulders as they both stared out the window above the sink, into the darkness.
“It doesn’t matter what I believe.”
Turning her to face him, he said, “I came here today not even sure you’d want to give me another chance. When you were not only willing to resume our relationship, but suggested we get married, I was blindsided.”
“Yeah,” she said, feeling the embarrassment well up at the reminder. “I guess I should apologize for putting you on the spot like that.”
“You have nothing to apologize for,” he said, firmly. “The fact that you were willing to put yourself out there like that and risk rejection just reminded me how courageous you are.”
She didn’t feel courageous. She felt like a fool. “We don’t have to talk about this anymore,” she said, trying to slip out of his arms. “You made it clear how you feel. I don’t know where we go from here, but-”
He kissed her hard, his tongue sweeping into her mouth before she could steal a breath.
“I know where I want it go,” he said, dropping to one knee.
“Don’t do this,” Sophie said, her eyes filling with tears. “Please. I don’t want you to propose to me just because you feel sorry for me.”
“My sister made me realize what a fool I’d been.” He kissed her hand. “She made me realize that I was trying to protect you from life and as much as I might want to, I can’t do that. All I can do is promise to be there to support you when something terrible happens and never to give up on us, no matter how bad things get.”
He was saying everything Sophie wanted to hear, but she couldn’t help wondering what had happened to cause the one-eighty since he left.
“I don’t regret turning you down earlier, Soph.” He smiled at her questioning look. “Because if I hadn’t, we never would have had this moment, and I know you’ve been dreaming about this since you were a little girl.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat, wondering how he knew.
“After I left my sister’s place tonight, I went to see your parents. I wanted to ask for their blessing before I proposed to their little girl.” He smiled as he gestured towards the roses. “That’s where I got the flowers. Your mama assured me you couldn’t have a proper romantic proposal without flowers.”
Sophie giggled, imagining her mother schooling Dalton.
“Then I went back to my place to get something I bought before you moved to L.A.” He pulled a velvet box out of his pocket as he looked up at her. “It may seem crazy, buying a ring so soon, but I’d known you so long already and… well, the truth is I’d always known you were the reason I’d never committed to anyone else. I was waiting for you to realize we belonged together.”
She pulled on his hand, trying to tug him up when she remembered the hard tile against his knee. “Stand up.”
“No.” He smirked. “I’m not done yet.”
He didn’t need to say another word. He already had her.
Opening the box slowly to reveal a huge oval diamond flanked by baguettes, he said, “Today you proved to me how much you believe in me. In us. It’s my turn to do the same.” Slipping the ring out of the box, he held it up. “I can’t promise bein’ my wife’ll be easy. But I can promise you that I’ll always love and cherish you. I’ll be honest with you and from now on and I’ll share everything with you. No more secrets. I swear.”
His vow meant more to her than the large diamond poised over her finger because she knew Dalton was a man of his word. “That’s all I ask.”
“And all I ask is that you agree to spend the rest of your life lovin’ me, even when you hate me.” He smiled. “That you agree to bless me with a few babies that look just like you.” He looked around the kitchen. “And that we can spend a whole lot of time right here.”
“In the home I built for us,” she whispered, touching his cheek.
“Sophie Easton…” He set the ring on the tip of her finger, his bright eyes shining with adoration. “Will you marry me?”
She nodded while giving in to the tears as he slid the ring on her finger. “Of course I’ll marry you.”
He stood, sweeping her up in his arms as he buried his face in her neck. “I left the center today believing this could be the first day of my new life.”
“It’s the first day of our new life, Dalton.”
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