“Yeah, let’s do this.” Vic exhaled. The little black box in his pocket was burning a hole in his jeans. He’d purchased the ring a couple of months ago. It was a custom ring, and he’d had to wait for it to come in to the jewelers.
As if sensing they were up to something, Tachina stepped outside. She blinked at the brightness of the sun and rested one hand on her belly.
“What are you two up to?” She arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at them.
“Nothing,” Kian said immediately.
“Just enjoying the weather.” Vic coughed.
“Mm-hmm…” She eyed them, suspicious. She moved to them with the elegance of a queen but the exhaustion of someone who just wanted to get a foot rub and take a nap.
Vic had been doling out foot and back rubs for weeks now. He never got tired of them. Most of the back rubs turned extremely pleasurable for the both of them…
He cleared his throat again. Now was not the time to start thinking of the last time he’d given her a back massage. The oils, her soft skin…
He pushed that memory down and looked back at Tachina.
“What did you say?” he asked.
“I said you two are acting strange.” She stopped a few feet from them and rested her hands on her waist. She jerked her chin to him. “What’s up?”
Kian elbowed Vic. He elbowed him back.
She narrowed her eyes on them. The light breeze caught the hem of her dress. He stepped forward instinctively and placed a steady hand at her lower back. She always felt warm and enticing to him. Her scent was like jasmine and honey. He kissed her temple before he could stop himself.
He guided her down onto the grass near the flowerbeds she had planted.
“Why do I feel like something’s happening?” she murmured.
“Because it is!” Kian shouted.
“Not yet,” Vic groaned.
His son was too excited about this day. He was shocked Kian hadn’t ruined the surprise before now.
“Sorry!” Kian slapped his hand on his forehead then ducked down behind the chair.
“What is going—” Her words died off as she watched Vic get down on one knee. Her breath hitched. Her hand flew to her mouth. Those big beautiful brown eyes of hers grew wide as saucers.
“Mom!” Kian shouted. He leaped up into view and almost tripped over his own feet as he thrust his sign up in the air. “Look!”
She stared at it, then at Vic, then back at the sign. Tears filled her eyes then fell down hercheeks.
“Oh my God.”
Vic took the ring box from his pocket. His fingers shook. Hell, all of him was shaking at the moment.
“Tachina,” he said. “You came back into my life with a plan, and I thought it would be as simple as you laid it out to be. Somewhere along the way, I realized that I wanted more of the life that I had always envisioned.” He rested his other hand on her bump. Stroked the warm rise of it using his thumb. “And that life, I wanted it with no one else but you.”
Her tears continued to spill down her skin.
“So in front of our son, who has somehow kept this secret like a big boy, I’m asking you, will you marry me? Be my wife. Let me spend our entire lives showing you how much I love you.”
He opened the ring box. Nestled inside was the ring he’d had designed for her. A sob broke from her as she took it in. It was elegant, classic, and reminded him of her.
“Vic…” Her voice and hands trembled.
“Mom! Say yes!” Kian had made his way to them and stood next to her. “Me and Dad practiced this. You have to say yes!”