by Rose Wulf
“I’ll be right there,” Blake called back without breaking stride. He’d made it to the bedroom, and a couple of quick steps more took him to his destination. Once he had what he needed, he turned and quickly moved back toward the kitchen and Brooke, curious to know if his guess was correct. And more than a little curious—among other things—to know what the answer to his question would be.
“So,” Blake began as he walked back into the kitchen. “What did he want to talk to you about?” He did his best to keep his nerves from showing. The last thing he wanted was to worry her or tip his hand.
Brooke released a breath. “He, um … he said that one of his tenants is going to be out by the end of the month. He offered to hold the unit for me.”
Then I was right, Blake thought as he nodded slowly in understanding. Carefully, he asked, “And … do you want him to?”
Brooke swallowed as though she were nervous, but her answer wasn’t long in coming. “No,” she admitted. “But I promised to find a new place as soon as I could. I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of you.”
Blake frowned and stepped up to her, framing her face with one hand. “I don’t think that.” He paused, his thumb caressing her cheek gently for a moment, and then he pulled his hand away, taking a step backwards. “The choice is yours, but, before you make your decision … let me make a counter-offer.”
“A counter-offer?” Brooke repeated. She watched, confusion mounting in her eyes, as he took another step backwards.
“This might seem crazy,” he warned as one hand dipped into his jeans pocket. “But I can’t figure out why I haven’t told you this before. Brooke, I love you.”
Brooke’s eyes widened at his confession, and her mouth fell open just a bit when he pulled his hand from his pocket and knelt on the kitchen tile.
Blake swallowed again, fighting against the sudden, unusual dryness of his mouth, as he held up the ring that he’d been hiding in his palm. He’d only purchased it a handful of days prior, and he’d honestly thought it would be a little while before he found the right time to use it, but now he couldn’t think of a better time. He could only hope she would feel the same.
Clearing his throat quickly, Blake forced out those all-important words. “Nearly losing you today has made me realize that ‘the right time’ is never guaranteed. So I’m asking now … Brooke, will you marry me?”
****
Brooke could barely breathe as she absorbed the scene before her. His words washed over her, caressing her ears and warming her heart. And she couldn’t help but stare at the diamond he was offering her. Never in her life had she imagined owning a ring like that. It was beautiful, yet simple and elegant. It was perfect.
And her family hadn’t met him yet—they’d only heard a few stories in emails and phone calls. And there was the one time he’d actually talked to her mother on the phone. They were definitely going to accuse her of rushing into things, or demand a test just to prove she really wasn’t pregnant.
But none of that mattered, because he was still waiting for an answer. So she took a deep breath and dragged her eyes to his as a smile curved her lips. “Yes,” she said.
The nerves in Blake’s eyes vanished as he allowed himself to smile and pushed to his feet in one fluid motion. They each took a step forward, and Blake slipped the perfectly sized ring on her finger. For a moment, they both stared at her hand, admiring the way the main diamond sparkled in the kitchen light.
And then their eyes met again, his hand came up, beneath hers, and wrapped around it gently.
“My family is going to have questions,” Brooke stated quietly.
“Probably,” Blake allowed. “But at least they can’t ask me about my intentions.”
Brooke laughed and curled her fingers around his wrist. “I should call my old landlord back,” she said, her voice softer than before.
Blake leaned in until their noses were almost touching. “You can call him in the morning,” he mumbled, his voice thick.
Brooke tilted her head and let her lips brush just barely over his. “I love you.”
Blake’s lips sealed over hers an instant later, and he kissed her with every ounce of desperation and passion that had built within her throughout the day. And she felt the rumble against her lips when she returned his kiss.
They both knew their new engagement didn’t solve all of their problems, but it didn’t matter. Jacob and his father weren’t going away any time soon, but that was no reason to put their lives on hold. Whatever happened next, they would deal with it together.
The kiss broke for a moment, and Blake quietly asked, “Does this mean you’ll at least let me buy you a new cell phone?”
Breathless laughter slipped past her lips, and Brooke said, “Sure.” She curled her hands in the collar of his shirt and tugged him back to her lips. “Now stop talking.”
Blake obliged her willingly, his arms wrapping tightly around her and pulling her close as their lips met again.
The End
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