Chapter 34 #2
“I am sure Unkie Ash will get it for you, too,” I said, smiling as she danced around the room in her cute blue dress. She went to Ryder, crawled onto his lap, and showed him her bear. He smiled and asked questions.
“He’s good with her,” I murmured, watching him smile and laugh with her.
“He loves her,” Klaus said. “He’s a good man. He’d make a good partner to someone someday.”
I nodded. He really would.
Of course, the idea of him with anyone made my stomach flip uncomfortably. I pushed the feeling away as Anson and Evan came back into the room.
“What’s going on?” I demanded as they settled on the couch and looked at me.
“That was Enzo,” Anson started. “He said Cole hasn’t come home yet, but he asked if we could stay behind for a few days while he works on getting a message to him.”
“We can’t,” I said, frowning. “You guys all have meetings and life things.”
“We told him that,” Anson said. “He, uh, had a solution.”
Klaus shifted me on his lap. “What’s the solution?”
“He wants Rosalie to come stay at his place,” Evan said, his voice low.
I blinked at that news, and at the same time, Klaus let out a snarl.
“Absolutely not,” Klaus snapped. “Has he lost his damn mind?”
“It’s Rosalie’s call,” Evan said, his gaze fixed on me.
“What?” My voice shook.
“Think about it like this. If this stalker prick is still out there, they won’t be able to get to you with Enzo because they won’t know you’re there.
His place is massive. He said you’d have your own room, your own bathroom, and he’d make sure you were safe.
He has guards all over the damn place, so I do think you’d be safe from outside forces,” Anson said.
“It’s the fucking inside ones I’d worry about,” Klaus grumbled.
“I don’t like the idea of you staying here without us,” Evan said.
“I don’t. I know you want nugget to know Cole, but baby, I worry.
We can’t be with you. I-I want to be, but I can’t miss this casting stuff for the movie.
Anson has all these meetings, and Klaus has to deal with his companies.
We can try again later. I think it’s best. We can’t just leave you and Ellis here—”
“I’ll stay,” Ryder said. “With Rosalie and Ellis. I’ll stay.”
I looked at him in surprise. “Really?”
“You asked me not to leave, so I may as well work. I’ll stay.”
Everyone was quiet for a moment before Evan spoke. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I’ll do it,” Ryder said.
“You can stay here. It’s not far at all from Enzo’s place,” Klaus said. “If this is what Rosalie wants. She could stay here with you and Ellis, and you can take her to see Cole.”
“Enzo wants her there twenty-four seven,” Anson muttered. “Said he’d get Cole there and it would give them time to be a family together.”
“What about Enzo’s son? I-I don’t want to impose,” I said.
“He said Ethan would take him to stay at a hotel with him,” Evan said softly.
“That’s not fair to him,” I said. “Either of them. I don’t want them to be out of their home because of us.”
“I’d say Cole could stay here, but I’d rather he not,” Klaus said. “Of course, we could do it if you want.”
“I think that if we’re doing this, Ellis should probably get to know Enzo, too, since Cole is close to him,” Anson said. “I’m not happy about it, but it is what it is. I just… worry.”
“Ro, what do you want to do?” Evan asked.
“I-I miss you guys. I want to go home but…” I looked over at Ellis, who had moved to sit near the windows and was playing with Mr. Rufus and another doll. “I want her to know him. If he even decides to come back.”
“He will,” Evan said. “He’s upset, but Cole always comes back.”
I nodded, my throat tight. “I’ll stay for a few days, but with my ankle…”
“We can get it checked out. While I know Cole is a doctor, the dumb ass should have gotten you crutches,” Evan muttered.
“Are we doing this?” Anson asked.
I looked at each of my guys before I looked at Ellis. She deserved to know Cole, and he deserved to know her. Maybe it would make him relax and stop kidnapping people.
I nodded. “Yeah. We’re doing this.”
Klaus grunted, and Anson pulled his phone out.
“I don’t like this. I worry,” Klaus said.
I silenced him with a kiss. “I’ll be OK. I’ve survived them before.”
“Yes, but you didn’t have me then.”
“Mm, I have you now, though, so I don’t have any doubts that I’ll be OK.”
“Clever little thing,” Klaus said, kissing me again.
I smiled against his lips, which only seemed to make him want to kiss me more.
“Promise me you’ll still be mine,” Klaus said softly.
“I will always be yours,” I answered back.
“Then marry me, hummingbird.”
I pulled away from him and stared into his face. “What?”
He placed me on the couch and went to his knees in front of me. Anson and Evan sat forward, and Ellis came running. Evan scooped her into his arms. I looked behind Klaus to see Ryder was sitting forward, his elbows on his knees, watching.
“Rosalie, you have been everything I didn’t know I needed.
My night was dark before you came, but you became my north star, guiding me to a better life.
I want to give you the world in this life and for eternity.
I’m not good at pretty words like Anson and Evan are, but I know that I love you, and I would die for that love.
You, Ellis, Anson, Evan, and even Ryder, have become my family.
I want to make it a forever sort of thing.
So… Hummingbird, will you marry me?” He opened a velvet box.
A beautiful diamond band lay on the cushion.
I loved that they were stacking my main ring. It was beautiful.
“Yes,” I said, my voice shaking. “Yes. I’ll marry you.”
He slid the band onto my finger next to Anson and Evan’s rings before dragging me into his arms and crushing his lips against mine.
I kissed him back, my cheeks damp with tears.
“There we go.” Anson clapped. “Hell yeah.”
“Daddy is marrying Mommy, too?” Ellis squealed. “I get more dresses?”
“You can have as many dresses as you’d like,” Klaus said, hauling her in for a hug with us. She squirmed and giggled as we held her close.
Evan’s warm arms wrapped around us next, before Anson joined in. Finally, Ryder added to the pile.
“Congrats, baby,” Evan murmured. “Our family is growing. I love it.”
“Mm, me too,” I said, feeling so loved.
Anson’s phone buzzed, and we separated so he could answer it.
“Did you ask John?” Evan asked.
Klaus chuckled. “Yes. He sighed and told me he wished he’d have kicked my ass when we were younger, but he did give his blessing.”
Evan nodded, smiling. “He’s a good dude.”
“He is.” Klaus kissed my forehead as I stared down at my pretty rings. “You like it, hummingbird?”
“Love.” I kissed him. “So much.” I kissed Evan next. He didn’t hesitate to deepen it.
“Ew,” Ellis called out, giggling.
“Get over here, sweat pea,” Ryder said, chuckling at her antics.
“Enzo, hey,” Anson said, clearing his throat. “Yeah. Yeah, we talked.”
I breathed out.
Evan rubbed my back.
“For Ellis, baby. For… us.”
I nodded. For us.