Yes, her dragon hissed.
Ryan turned so that she was at his side. "Come on or our dinner will get cold."
They started walking the short distance to the glass building. "We could've had a romantic dinner at home, you know."
"No way. After standing by my side for the past excruciating few months, you deserve something more than dinner at home."
She laid her head on his shoulder. "I have you, and that's enough."
He hugged her tighter against her side. "I don't think I can tell you enough how much I love you, Gaby. And since we're finally on that real date, maybe you'll believe me? I'm far from dying, after all."
She lightly slapped his side. "I've believed you since the first time you said it, but I just needed to give you a reason to fight."
He placed his free hand over her lower abdomen. "I would've done anything for you and the baby. Never think I need more than you two."
"Ryan," she breathed.
"It's true. Gaby, you're my whole world. And if me surviving a dragon dropping me from the sky and a broken back isn't enough to convince you, then I'll just have to think of how else I can prove it to you."
Gaby stopped and turned to face her male. "You don't need to try and convince me. I love you, Ryan Ford. Just try not to get yourself killed anytime soon. That's all I need."
The corner of his mouth ticked up. "I'll do my best."
"See that you do." She lifted her face to kiss him, but she pulled away before he could deepen it. "I can smell the pasta and garlic bread from here, and little junior approves. So let's hurry up and eat."
He brushed her hair over her shoulder. "I hope so because vomiting isn't really my type of foreplay, darling."
She punched his arm this time. "Don't even mention it, or you'll jinx it."
"Okay, okay. We're going to have a perfect dinner."
He held open the door to the glass building, and she remembered their first day together, when he'd pulled out the chair for her, and smiled. "At least now I know it's manners and not you trying to pull some sort of power play on me."
Ryan snorted. "That was an interesting first meeting, for sure." Once they were inside, he added, "Add in me free-falling through the sky, and we have quite the story to tell our kid, don't we?"
She smiled. "Yes, but let's hope it doesn't get any more complicated."
Ryan must have reserved the large room for them since no one else was there, just a table with some candles and dishes. With the sun setting, highlighting the peaks surrounding the clan, and the glow from the candles, it was the most romantic thing she'd ever seen.
He pulled out the chair and as she slid into it, she said, "Did you plan this yourself or did you get a little help?"
He grinned. "I did it myself."
Then he went down on one knee—a huge feat he wouldn't have been able to do even three weeks ago—and Gaby's heart skipped a beat. Ryan then took out a small wooden box, the type used to hold dragon mating rings, and opened it. Inside were two silver bands, engraved with words in the old dragon language.
Blinking back tears, she murmured, "Ryan."
"Gaby, you are the bravest, smartest, most beautiful woman I've ever met. While I'll admit I was a bit skeptical at first that anything could work between us, it just clicked. And even when faced with me possibly being paralyzed, you stood by my side. I couldn't ask for a more loyal or loving person to be my wife or mate. So I ask you—will you accept my mate claim?"
"Of course I will, but there aren't any witnesses. So it won't be official."
He held up the ring meant for her. "I can do this again later, the proper way. But for now, will you answer my question?"
She put out her hand, her fingers spread. "Of course I will."
He slid the cool metal over her finger and
kissed the band. When he looked up and met her gaze, love burning in his eyes, tears threatened to fall.