Chuckling, he reached into the front pocket of his jeans, held out a small black velvet box. “Open it.”
Her heart thundered in her ears but she still heard the soft gasps emanating from the increasing crowd that gathered around them. She took the box he offered and opened it with trembling fingers, a soft sigh escaping her at the sight of the diamond engagement ring nestled inside.
It was round, sparkly, perfect. She pulled it from the box and held it between two fingers. Chris snagged it and went down on one knee before her, his warm gaze meeting hers.
“Jane, will you be my wife? Will you and Lexi, Logan, and Sophia live with me so we can be a family? Together?”
The entire room was rendered silent; even the children had stopped talking and running around as they all watched Chris
ask her to marry him. She couldn’t believe he was doing it in front of them all. He wasn’t used to having such a big family, had told her before that he found it to be just a bit overwhelming.
To ask her to marry him in front of the entire clan was momentous. Huge.
“I asked your parents’ permission earlier. They approve,” he whispered. “Your brothers, too.”
“Give the man an answer,” Cameron shouted from the back of the room.
She laughed. And cried, all at once as her gaze met Chris’s. “Oh, yes,” she said on a sob, throwing herself into his arms. He hugged her close before moving her away, chuckling when he slipped the ring on her finger. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too, Jane.” He stood, brought her back into his embrace, smoothing his hands up and down her back. “Too much to risk losing you. Know that I’m always here for you, sweetheart. No matter what.”
“I know.” She glanced up at him and drew her hand across his cheek, savoring his closeness, his scent, the way he watched her, all the love and desire and want glowing in his eyes. Then lowering her voice, she whispered, “You should’ve done this later, though, when we were at home. You didn’t need to make this into such a big deal.”
“Freaking Cam,” Chris muttered and she gasped, glanced in her big brother’s direction. His face had Gotcha written all over it.
Not that she was complaining. After all, Chris had asked her to be his wife.
Everyone burst into applause and shouts of happiness as they swarmed around them. Her mother rushed her first, yanking Jane into her arms.
“You got a good one,” Lydia whispered, kissing her cheek. “Don’t let him go.”
Jane cried even harder, overwhelmed with happiness. Mac grabbed her kids and brought them to her and Chris. They all embraced, even Lexi, who smiled and said she was happy, though Jane knew this wouldn’t be the end of that particular challenge.
But everything was going to be all right. They could get through this. She had Chris by her side, supporting her. Loving her.
And that was all that mattered.
“Are you happy?” he asked her much, much later, when they were back at her place, in bed. Alone. Outside, snow fell, already a thick layer on the ground, and the children were snug asleep in their rooms
“Yes.” She drew her fingers down his bare chest, careful of his ribs. He was still a bruised-up mess. “I still can’t believe you did that.”
“I can’t, either.” He chuckled. “I wanted to prove how much you mean to me. And I wanted your entire family to share in our happiness. Oh yeah, and Cam made me do it.”
She lifted up on one elbow, smiling at him. “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. Though my brother is a complete jerk.”
Reaching out, he cupped her cheek, his touch gentle. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Leaning in, she kissed him. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For my gift. For you.” She kissed him again. “For everything.”
“You are my everything,” he whispered against her lips. “Don’t ever forget it.”
She knew, without a doubt, she wouldn’t.