It was small and dirty, but it was beautiful.
"Connor," I breathed. "This is...wow. I love it. Do you love it?" I spun to face him, only to find him studying me. He leaned against the doorway, a small smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.
"What?"
"You." He stepped toward me and slid his hands around my waist and pulled me toward him.
"Do you like this one?" I prompted again.
"I like seeing you happy."
"I am happy," I said, laughing.
"I want to make you happy for the rest of your life," he said quietly.
"Are you...?" I broke off as he bent down in front of me, looking up with an earnest look on his face.
"Emma Elliott, I want to be the one making you laugh, and I swear I will spend every day working hard for you, for us, and making you happy. Marry me, Alabama."
I nodded, tears blurring my eyes. "Yes. Yes. Yes."
He pulled a ring out of his pocket, and gently took my hand and slipped the ring on the correct finger. "This was my mother's ring." He looked up at me then, and I saw all the masks and walls stripped away, the little boy that he once was and the real man that he had become far too soon.
"It’s beautiful," I whispered. It wasn't just any ring. The diamond had a yellow tint to it, mounted to a slim gold band.
I sank to the floor in front of him and buried my face in his neck.
We held onto each other for a bit longer, until he whispered in my ear, "Let's go make an offer on this house and get our life started."
The future had never looked more colorful.
Acknowledgements
To the romance community: Am I too forward to call myself a part of this thing now? The most voracious readers are romance readers; as a reader and writer, I’m proud to be a part of it. Thank you to everyone who leaves a review.
To my writing partner: Our chance meeting on a cold autumn day led the both of us into a lovely friendship. For me I hit the writing partner goldmine. I can’t thank you enough for answering the random questions, diving into plot with me and truly birthing this book baby along. This book wouldn’t be here without your constant encouragement and guidance. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
My parents: thank you for raising to me to be a reader. You started a fire in me to read, and I still haven’t reached the end of my TBR.
To my daughter, I’m both honored and a little horrified at the same time you want to be just like me. I hope I get it right, and I hope you write and sell way more books than me. You’re my biggest accomplishment.
To my husband, thank you for your unending support and listening to my random ideas. Your encouragement and love buoyed my own self doubt when I questioned if I could actually do this thing. Thank you for loving me.
About The Author
Claire Ripley
Claire has been raiding her grandmother’s romance novels since she was a kid and never looked back. A seed was planted for writing and she has loved creating stories ever since. Claire is a Southern girl at heart, making her home in the mid-Atlantic with her family.
Visit Claire online:
Instagram: @claireripley.author
claireripleybooks.com
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