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I’ve spent the last few weeks fighting my own instincts, thinking it for the best, and never once did I pause to consider that maybe I should trust them instead. That maybe I should trust him too.
“Yes.” I reach down and pull him up to me. “Yes, Hayden. I will marry you.”
He’s stunned, but no more so than I am.
Is this really happening?
When tears stream down his cheeks, I know for sure everything he’s told me is true. He loves me, and he will never dishonor me. He wants me to be his wife.
We’re like two blubbering fools. I dry his tears, and he dries mine, and it’s then I realize that I’ve never told him how I feel.
“I love you, Hayden. So very much. I just . . .”
More tears run down my face as he pulls away and takes out the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.
“I just wanted to do the right thing,” I finish lamely. He slides the ring on my finger, and surprisingly, it fits perfectly.
His answer is to kiss me, and as our lips touch, a cheer rises from the window of the restaurant.
“We have an audience,” I tell him.
Hayden looks toward the building.
“We do. And before they come out—” he pulls my chin toward him, “—I need you to know, you’ve made me the happiest man alive. I love you, Doctor Flemming.”
I think about our first meeting and laugh.
“You were so damn arrogant.”
“Amso damn arrogant,” he corrects me. “And obviously not great at being modest.” He waves a hand around the empty restaurant, which he’s clearly rented out for the occasion. “But I’ll work on it. And my many other flaws.”
I turn serious, needing him to understand.
“I fell in love with you, Hayden Tanner. All of you. I would never ask you to change.”
He raises his brows.
“OK, maybe there’s a few things from when we first met that are off-limits, like the hordes of women you dated.” The corners of his eyes crinkle at that. “But mostly, I just want you.”
I look down at my hand and wiggle my fingers. The diamond glitters in the sunlight.
Am I seriously engaged to be married?
“This is going to be hard to hide,” I say, a little giddy now, even though I’m nervous.
When I look up, Hayden holds my gaze, as he tends to do.
“I don’t want you to hide it. I was serious. Unless you want to take it off, then that’s OK with me too. I realize there are implications for you as well.”
“When I told you I didn’t care about the promotion, I was serious. I’ll be fine. And it’ll feel good to be honest, to tell them. But Angel . . .”
“My parents know about this.”
That manages to surprise me. “Really? Did your dad agree to change the terms?”
“No. Business before pleasure. He’s still convinced he’d do a better job of getting Angel profitable more quickly. But seriously, Ada, I don’t care. You have to believe me.”
I should have believed him three weeks ago.
