Chapter Twenty-Six
Seven Months Later
C onnor and Sierra had been living together in the house they’d found on Chance Avenue for several weeks. It was perfect for them, an older house near the hospital and an elementary school, with a big backyard. Connor thought they’d been getting along great living together but he wanted more.
So one Saturday when they were both free he conspired with Val for Sierra to go out to the ranch to see Val, Liam, and baby Vivian. Val had no trouble convincing her since Vivian was one of Sierra’s favorite people.
He got everything ready—the table, the nice dishes, the flowers, the candles, the low music, the wine, and her favorite meal from the Galveston Steakhouse for dinner. Pricey but worth it, he decided when, hearing her car drive up, he plated the meals. They looked and smelled delicious.
He heard the garage door opening, and then the back door as she called out, “I’m ho—home. What is that wonderful smell? Did you cook?”
Connor laughed, divesting her of her jacket, purse, and keys before kissing her hello. “No, luckily for you. But the Galveston Steakhouse did.” He led her into the dining room.
“Oh, Connor. It’s beautiful. What’s the occasion?”
“I wanted to do something nice for you.”
“That’s so sweet. Did you break something? Or forget something? If you did I forgot too.”
“Neither one.” He pulled out her chair, adjusted the music, and went to the kitchen to bring out the plates. He poured wine for each of them and sat. Now that the time was drawing near he was getting nervous as hell. What if she—No. He stopped himself. Don’t jinx it.
They talked and ate slowly, listening to the music. When they finished he carried their dishes to the kitchen and, leaving them in the sink, brought back dessert. Her favorite—chocolate mousse. “I’m stuffed,” she said, “but I can’t resist chocolate mousse.”
She ate a bit and decided to save the rest of it. Connor was so nervous he couldn’t eat his and had already saved it in the refrigerator. “What’s going on?” she asked when she returned from the kitchen. “You’re acting weird.”
Okay, he needed to get this over with before he completely lost it. She’d walked into the living room and stood looking at him. “Connor?”
Connor got down on one knee and pulled the ring out of his pocket. It was a round-cut diamond, surrounded by smaller diamonds in a beautiful setting, on a platinum band. He held it out to her and couldn’t get a word out of his mouth.
She stared down at him. “Wh—Are you asking me to marry you?”
He could only nod.
“You’re not going to ask me?”
“Can’t.” It came out strangled because it was.
“Oh, Connor.” She laughed and got down on her knees too. “You can do it. I have faith.”
She wouldn’t have laughed if she meant to turn him down. He drew in a breath. “Sierra, I love you. I want to spend my life with you. Will you marry me?”
“Yes. I would love to marry you. I love you too.” She held out her hand and he slipped the ring on it. She threw her arms around his neck.
“Thank God,” he said, and kissed her. He rose and picked her up, then headed for their bedroom.
“What are we doing?”
“Sealing the deal. I want to see you wearing my ring. And nothing else.”
“I think that can be arranged,” she said, and kissed him.
The End