Page 114 of Auctioned To Be Mine

There were a few murmurs, lighthearted teasing.

“Family is everything to me,” he continued. “I didn’t always know how to show that, but I’ve always known it. And I wanted everyone here today because what I’m about to do matters, and I want the people who matter most to me to be part of it.”

And then he turned and looked at me.

My breath stopped when I saw the look in his eyes.

“Victoria, I need you to know something.” He reached over and took my hand. “I didn’t know what I was missing until I met you. I thought I had everything figured out. I thought I understood what my life was supposed to look like and I was content with it. And then I knocked you on your ass.”

Everyone burst into laughter. They all knew our story by now.

“You were the most infuriating, capable, stubborn, and beautiful person I’d ever encountered. You hated me and I deserved it.” He squeezed my hand. “I’ve never had someone make me want to be a better person before. I didn’t want to disappoint you.”

My eyes were burning. I didn’t want to cry in front of the entire Blackwell family. But when Callum pushed back from his chair and got on bended knee in front of me, the tears started. He reached into the pocket of his khakis. I pressed my free hand over my mouth.

The ring was simple and stunning. A single stone set in a band that was delicate and gorgeous. It wasn’t too much, but it was just enough to tell me I was special. He knew me so well.

“I love you,” he said. “I love who you are when nobody’s watching and who you are when everybody is. I love that you’ll argue with me and call me on my nonsense and that you bought me for a dollar.” A soft smile. “I have never been more certain of anything in my life than I am of this.” He looked up at me and I saw the raw emotion in his eyes. “Will you marry me, Victoria?”

There were tears running down my face. I was aware of the table filled with family members that were all holding their breath. All waiting for me to give my answer.

“Yes,” I said. “Yes, obviously yes, you absolutely beautiful man.”

He laughed and slid the ring onto my finger. I pulled him to his feet and he kissed me with the family clapping and celebrating around us.

I couldn’t stop the tears and I’d given up trying. Callum held my face in his hands and kissed them away. I was a mess and I didn’t care even a little bit.

“I don’t want to wait,” I said. “Let’s get married right now. The captain can marry us, right?”

“What?”

“The captain of this boat.” I gestured vaguely at the deck around us. “He can do it, can’t he? Legally? I’ve heard that’s a thing.”

Callum laughed. “There’s no need to rush.”

“I’m serious. Right now. Today. Everyone we love is already here.” I looked around at the table full of Blackwells, who were all watching us with varying degrees of shock. “We have flowers.” I pointed at the hydrangeas. “We have champagne. We have witnesses. We have the ocean.” I looked back at him. “What else do we actually need?”

He searched my face. I think he was trying to figure out if I’d lost my mind or if I genuinely meant it. The answer was both, probably.

“I’ll do it,” he said simply. “Right now, if that’s what you want. Say the word.”

I looked down at the ring on my finger. The stone caught the sunlight.

“I’d love for you to have a beautiful wedding,” Callum said softly. “But if this is what you want, you know I’ll do it.”

I exhaled slowly. “Fine,” I said. “We’ll wait and do it right.”

He smiled. “Good, because I’ve already talked to Mandy.”

I blinked. “You what?”

“She’s got ideas. A lot of them.”

“And I will design your dress,” Cleo volunteered. “If you’ll let me.”

“Cleo, I would be honored.”

Someone popped a fresh bottle of champagne. Drew was filling glasses.