Dash steals a quick kiss before she lowers her legs, letting go of me.
While she gets ready for bed, I head back down and place the plates and cutlery in the dishwasher. Turning off the lights, I walk to the bedroom.
I plug the charger into my phone and check my emails while I wait for Dash to finish. When she’s done, I grab a clean pair of sweatpants from the closet and head into the bathroom. I hurry through my routine, and when I’m finished, and I open the bathroom door, my lips curve up from seeing her in my bed.
Turning off the lights, I crawl under the covers and pull her to my side. Her scent envelops me as she snuggles against me.
“Night, beautiful,” I murmur, pressing a kiss to her hair.
“Night.”
With a smile playing around my lips, I close my eyes and soak in the feeling of holding Dash as we fall asleep.
Chapter 8
DASH
That bastard.
After hearing things from Christopher’s perspective, it all makes sense now.
Josh made me feel like less. Nothing I did was good enough. I had to walk on eggshells around him, scared I’d do something to upset him. He was always quick to point out something he didn’t like. Toward the end of our relationship, he controlled what I wore, what I ate, how I spent my time.
To think I let that asshole control me like that. God, what was I thinking? I wish I could go back in time and slap some sense into my younger self.
But Christopher is right. I deserve the world. I deserve him.
My lips curve up as my thoughts turn to this morning. Waking up in his arms felt… right. Feeling his abs under my palm and his chest under my cheek had heat pooling in my core.
“Are you ready?” Christopher suddenly asks.
My head snaps up, and then I nod. “Definitely.”
He waits for me to get up, then he takes hold of my hand. “Time to put a ring on that finger,” he grumbles playfully as he tugs me closer to his side.
I let out a happy burst of laughter.
Excitement bubbles in my chest, and I keep stealing glances at Christopher as we head to the car and on the drive to Tiffany’s & Co.
As we walk into the store, I take a deep breath, and then euphoric exhilaration explodes through me.
Shit, we’re really doing this.
I’ve dreamt about this day since I was a little girl, but I never thought it would be with Christopher.
I should’ve known, though.
I glance up, and my gaze drifts over his face, his sharp jaw, the scruff, those intelligent brown eyes.
I’ve always loved him. I just ignored any romantic thoughts because he’s my best friend. Now that we’ve agreed to get married, and I’m allowed to see him in a romantic light… it’s dizzying how fast I’m falling.
Or maybe I’ve always been in love with him, and now I’m allowed to feel it?
Does it matter?
I’m going to marry him.
Christopher says something to the shop assistant, and then we’re led to a private room.
Once we’ve taken a seat, the assistant takes my ring finger size, then brings us a display of engagement rings. I’m left breathless by all the beauty in front of me.
“See anything you like?” Christopher murmurs.
“They’re all stunning.” My gaze keeps skipping over each one.
As if it’s not hard enough already, the gentleman assisting us adds another display to the mix.
Instantly Christopher reaches for a ring, and taking hold of my left hand, he slips it onto my finger. My eyes widen as I take in the gorgeous blue diamond. I always imagined my ring having a princess cut diamond, but the square shape fits my hand perfectly.
My eyes dart to Christopher, then back to the ring, then to him again. “What do you think?”
The corner of his mouth curves up as he shakes his head once. “It doesn’t matter what I think. Do you like it?”
I stare at the ring on my finger again, and suddenly emotion builds in my chest, and my eyes begin to tear up. “Yes. I love it.”
“We’ll take this one.”
While Christopher fills out the paperwork and pays, I keep staring at the gorgeous ring on my finger.
It’s not how I imagined being proposed to, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
It’s our way.
Glancing up, I watch as Christopher signs a piece of paper, and then my eyes widen, and my brain activity freezes.
Holy. Shit.
Somehow I manage to keep my composure until we’re in the car, and then I turn and stare at Christopher. He notices and instantly asks, “Something wrong?”
“Eight million,” I state. “I could’ve chosen something else.”
I’ve grown up surrounded by wealth, and my own bank account can hold its own, but damn, eight million dollars for a ring?
“Don’t worry. I’m getting myself a Bugatti La Voiture Noire as an engagement present,” he jokes.
My eyebrow pops up. “Really? The one you’ve been looking at?”
“Yes.” Christopher starts the engine, then smiles at me. “I want the best for you, Dash. Only the best.”
Just like that, he melts my heart. Leaning over the console, I press a kiss to his mouth. Pulling slightly back, I whisper, “Thank you.”
His eyes lock with mine. “You can do better than a peck.”
Letting out a chuckle, I wrap my arms around his neck, and then I thank him properly. We’re both breathless by the time I end the kiss, and moving back to my side of the car, I can’t stop smiling as I slip on the seat belt.
As Christopher drives us back to Indie Ink, I stare at the engagement ring.
Hold up.
I tilt my head as the realization of what this means settles in me.
Sex.
I wait for the wave of anxiety to hit, but instead, only more excitement spills into my heart.
I’m going to have a baby with Christopher. I’m going to marry him.
God, he’s in every memory I have, and now he’ll be in every dream. My gaze turns to him, the man that’s always been by my side. The one I always chose above all others.
The only one I’ve ever loved.
CHRISTOPHER
I’m taking Dash out for dinner to her favorite restaurant so we can celebrate our engagement.
Seated at a table in the back where we’ll have privacy, my eyes keep going to her left hand.
Seeing my ring on her finger fills me with pride and love.
I order a bottle of the best champagne, and when we each have a glass, I reach across the table for her hand. Brushing my thumb over the ring, I say, “We’re doing this all backward but Dash Marcelle West, will you marry me?”
She begins to laugh while nodding. “Yes.”
“I’m sorry it wasn’t more romantic,” I murmur. “I’ll make up for it with the wedding.” Which reminds me. Taking my wallet out, I remove one of the credit cards and slide it over the table to Dash. “Once you start planning the wedding, just charge everything to that card. Also, anything you need and household items.”
Dash frowns at it. “You’re aware I have money as well, right?”
“Well aware,” I chuckle. “Let me do this for you. It’s important to me.”