Claim (Talon Security Book 2)
Page 17
When Travis reappeared from inside with a pizza box, I sat up straighter in confusion.
“We just ate.” I wrinkled my brow in confusion.
Sam shot me a knowing wink, which confused me further.
“I know, baby. Just go with me here.” Travis chuckled, depositing the box in front of me and lifting the lid. All the pepperoni had been picked off, the way I always did. Then he shocked the hell out of me by dropping to one knee.
“But you don’t like it separated,” I sputtered, my filter deserting me in my moment of shock.
“But you do,” he murmured as he gazed up at me. “I want to give you everything, Em. My love, my name, my ring. I love your adorable quirks, your warm heart, and your spirit. I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy. Will you be my wife?” he asked, opening the black box he held to reveal a beautiful antique ring.
“Oh my God.”
“Is that a yes?” He grinned.
I nodded profusely, as he slipped the ring onto my shaking hand.
Cheers from our friends erupted around us as Travis pulled me up and into his arms.
“I love you,” I breathed, barely containing the joy that wanted to erupt at knowing I got to keep my happily ever after.
“Love you too, baby.” He squeezed me closer, only releasing me when my brother moved alongside me.
“Congrats, Emmie.” Ryan grinned, wrapping an arm around me. “You did good,” he murmured in my ear. “You always have. I’m glad you found such a good guy. He’ll take care of you. You deserve it; you took care of me for so many years.”
I clutched him tighter. “We took care of each other, Ry,” I murmured.
He nodded, stepping back, and with a chin lift to Travis returned to his seat next to Sid.
Travis didn’t hesitate to reclaim me, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me close. “Okay, baby?” he murmured in my ear.
I looked up at him, sure my smile could break my face in two. “Never better.”
****
It was later, after our friends and family left, that Travis and I lay in bed wrapped in each other’s arms. I couldn’t stop admiring my ring, a sapphire with diamonds surrounding it. It was antique and classic and so completely me I couldn’t believe it.
“I would have asked sooner,” he admitted as his finger toyed with strands of my hair. “But I wanted your brother’s permission.”
My heart melted, and I propped my chin to his chest, grinning up at him. “Did he make you work for it?” I demanded playfully.
Travis flashed that boyish grin I loved so much. “I waited until I knew he wouldn’t say no,” he said with a chuckle.
“Smart.” I grinned. “I was beginning to worry that you’d changed your mind. Or maybe you were bored now that our lives are so normal.”
“Nothing in this world could ever make me change my mind about you, Em,” he replied with conviction. “And plus, baby, you may think our lives are normal, but you held a yoga retreat in our backyard a day before a preschool graduation, and I’m about to speak at the White House. I’d say our lives are anything but normal—or boring.”
He had a point.
I hadn’t scaled back on work much. I loved teaching at the preschool, and yoga was a much-needed stress reliever for me. Plus, where would Theo master his handstand scorpion pose if I stopped teaching?
“You think you can handle a little more excitement?” I asked hesitantly. When his brow raised, I continued. “Since we’re going to get a new little niece or nephew, I figured it’d be nice if our kids were close in age. I thought maybe we could turn practicing into the real deal.”
He had me pinned beneath him so quickly I wasn’t even aware I’d moved. “Really?” he growled, pressing himself between my legs. “You’re ready?”
“I’m ready,” I assured him with a grin. “I mean, we can’t let things get boring around here,” I teased.
He grinned, his eyes smoldering as they looked down into mine. “Baby, one thing’s for sure, life with you? Anything but boring.”
~The End~
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