Page 102 of The House Swap

‘Good. I love you too. So much.’

Okay. This was it. He was going to do it. He was going to go for it. Good job he still had the ring in his pocket.

He fastened his fingers around the box and Cassie said, very fast, ‘James, I really love you and will you marry me?’

What?Hewas just about to propose toher.

‘I’m sorry?’

Cassie looked down at the ground.

‘Oh myGod,’ James said, panicked. ‘I didn’t mean I’m sorry in a bad way. I meant I’m sorry as in what did you just say, because…’ He had the box firmly in his hand now. He let go of her and knelt down on the grass in front of her and opened the box. ‘I would love to marry you, Cassie.’

‘Oh my goodness,’ she said. ‘Oh my goodness,James. Oh my goodness. We’re gettingmarried.’ She leaned down and kissed him and he put his free arm round her waist, pulling her in towards him. He would never tire of holding her in his arms. He really wanted her to try the ring, though.

He drew back for a moment, took her left hand and slid the ring onto her wedding finger.

It fit her. Serious relief.

‘Iloveit,’ she said. ‘It’s beautiful.’ Clearly, she liked it. An even bigger relief.

‘Not as beautiful as you,’ James told her.

And then they kissed and kissed under the stars.

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