by Nikki Lane
“We’ll make it.”
She took a deep breath and sat her back against the seat. She hated being out of control. It drove her fucking nuts. If she could have, she would have called the doctor herself to find out the results of my tests. But they wouldn’t release any information to her since she wasn’t family, and she knew that.
What she didn’t know was her dad was bullshitting her when he said he couldn’t make it for dinner. He was already waiting for her at my parents’ house. I wanted everyone to be together when we got there. When we got closer to our destination, I saw it click in her eyes.
“Sunset beach?” she said incredulously.
I parked the truck and unclicked my seat belt.
“Seriously, Kieran?”
“You coming or what?” I said, getting out.
She huffed and made a dramatic scene getting out of the car. Thank God this day had finally come. If the cancer didn’t kill me, she seemed happy to do the job. Her mood swings over the last two weeks were giving me whiplash.
I reached for her hand as we braced against the wind. It was fucking cold out, and I probably should have picked another spot. But it was too perfect to pass up. She’d been wrapped in a thick jacket, hat, gloves, and scarf. I led her onto the sand, thankful that she decided on her “comfy shoes” as she put it. Lately, she’d worn nothing else—comfort had been her number one dressing requirement. I couldn’t blame her. As long as she kept coming to bed naked.
She howled a bit as another gust cut through our coats. I brought her all the way to the edge of the water.
“We have the whole place to ourselves,” I said.
Even the seagulls weren’t around.
“It’s twenty-three degrees out, Kieran. Who were you expecting to see?” She bounced a bit against the cold. “So, are you going to tell me why we’re at the beach in the middle of winter?” she asked, still holding on to my hand.
It felt so good in mine; I didn’t want to let it go.
“I called the doctor back,” I said, getting right to the point. Her cheeks were already red from the wind. “And I wanted to tell you alone before we told everyone else.”
Her eyebrows pulled together, and she bit her bottom lip. Damn, I wanted to kiss her. But my fucking heart felt like it was going to explode. I waited another few seconds.
“Kieran!” she cried. “What did he say?”
She looked at me with those big, brown eyes. Her long hair whipped behind her. I took a deep breath, counting my lucky stars that she stuck around, that she didn’t give up on me.
“Clean bill, all the way!” I finally blurted out. “Five-years clean, and I don’t have to go back for another year.”
The smile immediately fell over her face. “That’s amazing,” she said, bouncing up and down. Her voice cracked and when she pulled away to face me, a few tears fell from her eyes.
“Happy news, baby. Don’t cry.” I wiped the tears from her cheeks with my thumbs and gave her a kiss on the most beautiful fucking lips I’d ever seen.
She let out a gentle laugh. “You scared the shit out of me.”
I gave her a devilish smile. “Can’t go too easy on you. I’ve been holding that in for two weeks.”
She took a deep breath, and I could immediately see the relief wash over her. She loved me. I could feel it in my fucking soul.
“That’s the best birthday gift I could ever ask for. I can’t wait to tell everyone,” she said.
She reached for my hand, most likely to lead me to the truck.
“Wait,” I said. “Don’t you want to look while we’re here?”
“For what?” she asked.
“For that diamond you never found.”
She flopped her arms to her side. “Now? But it’s so cold, and we’re going to be late.”
“This is the best time to hunt, when it’s cold and windy. Just walk with me for a minute. You never know. We might get lucky.”
She held my hand as we took a few steps. At least the pebbled-covered sand was easy to walk on. But I couldn’t wait any longer. I reached into the pocket of my coat and felt the small hard rock. I clenched it into my sweaty palm, hiding it in my fist.
“Wait a second,” I said, stopping. “I think I see something.” Oh, fuck. I hoped she was buying this lame ass act.
Rose scrunched her face, the tip of her perfect nose red from the cold. “Really?” She didn’t sound too convinced.
I bent down, dropped the rock to get it sandy, and then picked it back up with my fingertips. “Right here,” I said.
I held it by its new mounting for her to see. The jeweler couldn’t believe I found one that big and clear. It was just over two carats after it was cut.
She gasped, touching her fingers to her lips. “Oh my God…Kieran.”
I thought about dropping to one knee, but I wanted to look at her up close, to let her know I meant every fucking word. I wanted to feel her in my arms. I held her tight, the bitter cold nothing to the warmness I felt when she was near me.
“Rose, you are my diamond in a sea of pebbles. And no matter how long I live, not one minute of it is worth living without you.” I held up the ring to her soft, slender finger. “Will you marry me?”
She nodded her head before the words came out. “Yes,” she finally said.
I exhaled, feeling fucking relieved, and slid the ring down. It was a perfect fit, thanks to Shelby.
“I love you, Kieran.”
I kissed her, knowing that I would never get enough of that feeling. I could have kissed her forever right there in the freezing fucking cold.
Rose’s face beamed as she gazed at the ring.
“I know it’s not a real diamond,” I said. “But I’ve been holding on to it for eleven years, feeling like it never really belonged to me. That it was meant for something special.”
“I love it,” she said, still gazing at her ring finger. “I couldn’t ask for anything more perfect.”
“Neither could I.”
She looked up at me. “Can I give you a gift, too?”
I pulled back a piece of her wind whipped hair from her face. “But it’s not my birthday,” I said. “And I’ve already got everything I could ever want.”
“Maybe not everything.” She pressed her body against mine and stood up on her tiptoes to lean into my ear. “I’m pregnant,” she whispered.
HOLY FUCKING SHIT.
She pulled back, the biggest smile I’d ever seen on her face. I clutched my chest. “W-What?” I felt fucking weak in the knees. It had been a while since I felt that weak. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she said, enthusiastically nodding.
“How sure?” I held my breath. “Because you remember what the doc—”
“Kieran,” she said, chuckling and grabbing my shoulders. “I went to the doctor a couple weeks ago. I’m sure.”
I let out a deep breath and a laugh. “Why didn’t you say anything?” She never brought it up again after that fucking disaster of a trip to my sisters. And I just assumed it was because the test came out negative. I felt like a total asshole for not bothering to ask.
“I wanted to be absolutely certain before I told you. And I wanted to surprise you.”
She hesitated, probably because I looked like I was going to fucking pass out from shock.
“Are you okay?” she asked
“Are you kidding me?” I said. “I can’t—” I took a sharp inhale. I tried with all my fucking might not to, but my eyes were burning. It was going to happen. “There is no way you’re ever going to top this.”
“Maybe,” she said, smiling. “But I’ll never stop trying.”
She wrapped her arms around me, and it felt so fucking good I could have died happy right there. But as long as I was still alive, and my heart was still beating, I knew I wouldn’t take one single day with her for granted.
About The Author
Nikki Lane
Nikki Lane grew up and still lives on the East Coast. She refuses
to moves any farther inland than the seagulls can fly. Nikki loves sweets and her two terrier babies. Her passion for romance stories keeps her awake some nights, thinking of new ideas. When she's not writing, she makes time for painting, crocheting, and catching up on her reading.
Books By This Author
The Second Time Around
Just when she thought it couldn't get any worse, Ricky Perry walks through the door. Alexa did good to avoid Ricky the first time around, but this isn’t high school and Ricky is as appealing as ever. Now she's stuck living back home with an overbearing mother, no job, and no prospects. Alexa knows it's time to get her shit together. But can she do that when Ricky is trying his best to break through the wall she's desperately trying to put up? Maybe he'll just give up and move on, or maybe Alexa will finally give in to the temptation the second time around.
Please note: content intended for mature audiences.
If You Let Me
