Page 116 of The Rebel Billionaire

"With Aiden'swhiskey?"

"Forget the whiskey for a second." Lucas lifted me to sit on the island, sliding my skirt up my thighs so he could stand between my legs, bringing us almost eye to eye. His green eyes roamed over my face, resting on my lips, my hair, my chin, before finally meetingmyown.

"What's up?" I whispered. He was being weird. Almost like he was nervous, but Lucas didn't get nervous. He was the most confident man I knew. Nothingscaredhim.

In answer, he kissed me, pressing his lips to mine and leaving them there, our breath mingling for a long moment before he nipped my lower lip and brokethekiss.

"Before we open the whiskey, I wanted to give you this," he said, pulling a blue velvet box out of hispocket.

My heart stuttered in my chest. My breathfroze.

Was that what I thoughtitwas?

Speechless, I looked into Lucas's eyes and saw his heart exposed, overflowing with love, tinged withnerves.

"Lucas?" I managed to ask, afraid to hopetoomuch.

He flipped open the box to revealaring.

Thering.

The most gorgeous ring I'deverseen.

A classic emerald-cut diamond with a halo of pavé diamonds and matching pavé diamonds on the band. Vibrant blue sapphires ran around the sides of the raised mount. From the top, the sapphires gave just a hint of blue, bringing life to the ice of all of thosediamonds.

It was gorgeous and sparkly and just on the elegant side of too much. Exactly the ring I would have chosen formyself.

In explanation, Lucas said, "There isn't a gemstone the color of your eyes, so I had to settle for sapphires. Maggie said you likedsapphires."

He'd taken Maggie with him to buy me a ring? I opened my mouth to tell him it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen, but no soundcameout.

I looked from the ring to Lucas, unable tospeak.

"You changed my life, Charlie Winters," he said. "I never thought I could love anyone the way I love you. Every morning, I wake up next to you and think I must be dreaming. There will never be another woman for me. There's only you. For the rest of my life, there's only you. Will youmarryme?"

Tears spilled over my cheeks as I nodded, my throat too tight for words. Lucas let out a breath and pulled the ring from the box. He rested his forehead against mine as he slid the ring on my finger. It was a perfect fit. More tears slid down mycheeks.

I'd been wondering, hoping, secretly imagining our future. I'd had no idea Lucas had been doing the samething.

"I love you,Lucas."

His forehead still against mine, we both looked at the ring on myfinger.

"What do you think about a Christmas wedding?" he asked. I gave a waterylaugh.

"That's only six weeks away,"Isaid.

"Do you wantsomethingbig?"

I knew if I said I did, Lucas would agree, though he'd hate the circus of a big wedding. I shook my head, rubbing my foreheadagainsthis.

"I really don't," I whispered. "I just want to be marriedtoyou."

Jacob and Abigail were planning the wedding to end all weddings, and just the thought of all that work gave me hives. Vance and Maggie's wedding hadn't been huge, and it was beautiful, but it was still more than I wanted. Lucas interrupted mythoughts.

"I want to get married at Winters House," he said. "At Christmas. After Gageishome."

My heart lurched in my chest and I sat back to study hisface. "What?"