you sure?”
I laughed softly. “Yes, I’m sure. I—I want to marry you. I love you, Blake. How could I say anything but yes?”
His face split with a smile. He slipped the sparkling band over my knuckle and into place, pressing a kiss where it sat. He stood, bringing me with him and into his arms. We were wrapped together so tightly, I could scarcely take a breath.
“I love you, Erica. You’ll never understand how much, but I’m going to try like hell to show you.”
I held him back and the reality of our promise settled over me, warming me from limb to limb. Our love filled me, until I thought my heart might explode with it.
In that moment, I knew I could never love anyone the way I loved Blake.
CHAPTER FIVE
The rest of the weekend flew by. Blake took us out on the water, jetting us to outlying islands where we basked in the sun and listened to the steady rush of the ocean water until we were too tired or hungry to stay longer. We explored every quiet corner of the island. We ate and drank and made love. We talked and made promises. Every minute was like its own little paradise.
This commitment between us still felt new, like a dream. But so was being on the island, isolated from our real world. Every time my eyes lit on the sparkle of the band on my finger, my heart leapt. It was a brilliant and overwhelming reminder of Blake’s love. Both thrilled and apprehensive of what it meant for our future, I couldn’t help but fantasize about our happily ever after.
“Do you like the ring?”
I looked up at Blake, who’d caught me admiring it as our plane approached Boston’s dusky skyline. “I love it. It’s simple.”
“We can pick out something bigger if you want. I took a risk with it. I wasn’t sure what you’d want.”
“No, I want this. It’s perfect.”
“Good.” He grinned and squeezed my hand gently. “We’ll put another one next to it, and then I’ll know I have you for good.”
I envisioned its companion, and the meaning struck me.
“Like the bracelets.”
He nodded.
“You’ll have me cuffed and bound to you forever, Blake. You sure you want that?”
He leaned in, taking my lips in a gentle kiss. “That’s the idea.”
My heart twisted. A tiny flutter of nerves hit my belly at the thought of being Blake’s forever. His wife .
As our plane floated toward Logan Airport, I regretted that we were returning so soon. The break had been amazing but short-lived. I was still high on it, but less pleasant realities waited for both of us. Whatever trouble came our way, we’d face it together. I’d made Blake a promise that we always would. No more running and no more trying to be strong on my own. Fighting my own independent nature wasn’t easy, but sharing my life, the good and the bad, was more important now than ever.
When we stepped into the apartment, Alli met me with a squeal and tight hug. I laughed and hugged her back. The happiness of having my best friend so close compounded with this news, warming me.
Heath’s hand slapped Blake’s in a shake. “Congrats, man.”
A small smile spread across Blake’s face. “Thanks.”
Heath’s focus shifted to me and he pulled me into a tight hug. “Erica, future sister-in-law. You have no idea what you’re getting into with this one, but more power to you.”
I laughed and pushed him back playfully. The two men wandered into the living room and talked while Alli all but dragged me toward the kitchen so she could inspect the ring. She studied it for several seconds as the light danced off the diamonds. I smiled, thrilled all over again that he’d asked, that I’d agreed. Without even having had the chance to fantasize about what that moment between us might be like, I’d known immediately it was what I wanted.
Alli ran a thumb over the band, one eyebrow
I laughed softly. “Yes, I’m sure. I—I want to marry you. I love you, Blake. How could I say anything but yes?”
His face split with a smile. He slipped the sparkling band over my knuckle and into place, pressing a kiss where it sat. He stood, bringing me with him and into his arms. We were wrapped together so tightly, I could scarcely take a breath.
“I love you, Erica. You’ll never understand how much, but I’m going to try like hell to show you.”
I held him back and the reality of our promise settled over me, warming me from limb to limb. Our love filled me, until I thought my heart might explode with it.
In that moment, I knew I could never love anyone the way I loved Blake.
CHAPTER FIVE
The rest of the weekend flew by. Blake took us out on the water, jetting us to outlying islands where we basked in the sun and listened to the steady rush of the ocean water until we were too tired or hungry to stay longer. We explored every quiet corner of the island. We ate and drank and made love. We talked and made promises. Every minute was like its own little paradise.
This commitment between us still felt new, like a dream. But so was being on the island, isolated from our real world. Every time my eyes lit on the sparkle of the band on my finger, my heart leapt. It was a brilliant and overwhelming reminder of Blake’s love. Both thrilled and apprehensive of what it meant for our future, I couldn’t help but fantasize about our happily ever after.
“Do you like the ring?”
I looked up at Blake, who’d caught me admiring it as our plane approached Boston’s dusky skyline. “I love it. It’s simple.”
“We can pick out something bigger if you want. I took a risk with it. I wasn’t sure what you’d want.”
“No, I want this. It’s perfect.”
“Good.” He grinned and squeezed my hand gently. “We’ll put another one next to it, and then I’ll know I have you for good.”
I envisioned its companion, and the meaning struck me.
“Like the bracelets.”
He nodded.
“You’ll have me cuffed and bound to you forever, Blake. You sure you want that?”
He leaned in, taking my lips in a gentle kiss. “That’s the idea.”
My heart twisted. A tiny flutter of nerves hit my belly at the thought of being Blake’s forever. His wife .
As our plane floated toward Logan Airport, I regretted that we were returning so soon. The break had been amazing but short-lived. I was still high on it, but less pleasant realities waited for both of us. Whatever trouble came our way, we’d face it together. I’d made Blake a promise that we always would. No more running and no more trying to be strong on my own. Fighting my own independent nature wasn’t easy, but sharing my life, the good and the bad, was more important now than ever.
When we stepped into the apartment, Alli met me with a squeal and tight hug. I laughed and hugged her back. The happiness of having my best friend so close compounded with this news, warming me.
Heath’s hand slapped Blake’s in a shake. “Congrats, man.”
A small smile spread across Blake’s face. “Thanks.”
Heath’s focus shifted to me and he pulled me into a tight hug. “Erica, future sister-in-law. You have no idea what you’re getting into with this one, but more power to you.”
I laughed and pushed him back playfully. The two men wandered into the living room and talked while Alli all but dragged me toward the kitchen so she could inspect the ring. She studied it for several seconds as the light danced off the diamonds. I smiled, thrilled all over again that he’d asked, that I’d agreed. Without even having had the chance to fantasize about what that moment between us might be like, I’d known immediately it was what I wanted.
Alli ran a thumb over the band, one eyebrow
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