Chapter 47
FORTY-SEVEN
Rosalie’s eyes couldn’t get any wider.
“A cave?” she breathes, gripping my hand so hard there’s going to be permanent damage.
“It’s technically a resort. But yes, in a cave. Agile bought it as a safe haven for the team’s families.”
“Wow.” She rips her hand out of mine and takes off at a jog. “I must be in heaven.”
Not yet. But I’m hoping to put her there soon.
I catch her about the time she reaches the lobby. Technically not a resort lobby any longer, but a gigantic room with comfortable couches, a bar, and lots of places to hang out.
Everyone’s head clocks around, a cheer going up, echoing off of the stalac-whatevers.
The jagged roof of the cave which is bathed in elaborate luxury lighting. The whole place is five-star.
I’m sure Rosalie will love teaching me some clever way to remember whether stalactites go up or down. And a bunch of other things, which I’ll soak up like a biscuit because anything my girl loves, I’ll love too.
When she glances over her shoulder, there’s a sweet, pink blush on her cheeks, and my heart somersaults.
She’s still wearing the borrowed tactical clothing, and she couldn’t be more beautiful if she was wrapped in sequins.
“Come on, what’s the hold up?” she asks with a grin.
Girl knows she melted my brain on the plane, but now… now I’m just enjoying the show.
The Rosalie, Thief of Hearts show.
She’s incredible. And she’s mine.
God, and she could be carrying my child.
I jog up, catching her hand, pulling her under my arm, where she belongs.
“Yo, I hope you’ve got food around here?” I say, patting my stomach with my free hand. “I don’t remember the last time we ate.”
“Typical,” mutters Beast as he drops into one of the chairs.
We lock on for a second, a knowing look passing between us. Things got real.
“Good to see you,” I say with emotion thickening my voice.
“You too, fucker.” He tips his chin, pulling Camile into his lap. “Food’s over there, grab it and rally round.”
Of course there’s food. Where there’s a bunch of SEALs and Marines, there’s going to be food. Just as I hoped, there’s a huge fucking buffet spread out on one of the low coffee tables.
What I don’t expect is for Allison to appear, holding something behind her back.
“What are you up to?” I ask, suspicious of the grin she’s got on her face.
“Oh… just this.” She holds out a cupcake with a candle in the middle. “Happy Birthday!”
Oh. Damn.
“What?” Rosalie shouts. “You didn’t tell me it’s your birthday?”
“We’ve been a little busy?”
She leans up, kissing my jaw. “I’m sorry, I would have gotten you something between the hospital and smashing a would-be-assassin with a coffee pot, if I had known.”
I groan. “Young lady, don’t even remind me. Besides, I’ve got another idea about the best birthday present in the world.”
Truck whistles, “Um, hello. Will you two quit with the whispers and blow out the damned candle so the rest of us can have some cupcakes? I worked up a serious sweet tooth rescuing Beast.”
“You didn’t rescue me,” Beast throws a cherry tomato, bouncing it off Truck’s chest.
“Okay,” I take the cupcake from Allison’s hand. There’s a weird pinching sensation inside my chest. “You guys are making me feel all prickly.”
The girls laugh, leaning closer, egging me on to make a wish.
“Okay, okay,” I blow out the candle. “My wish is for you, Rosalie, to be my wife.”
This cave has never heard the likes of the shrieks that Allison, Camile, Mia, Marianna, and Rosalie make. But I don’t care about any of the others.
Someone takes the cupcake from my hand as I drop down to one knee, pulling the ring out of my pocket.
“I love you. I would be honored if you’d say, yes.”
Her hands are covering her mouth, her eyes are bright with tears. And she’s nodding.
The entire place is electrically silent as I slip the diamond onto her finger.
Thank god. It fits!
“It’s incredible.”
“Just like you wanted, lab-grown.”
She meets my gaze then.
“You remembered. It’s so perfect. Just like our love, forged from heat and pressure in the most unconventional way. And yes,” her voice softens, “I’ll be Mrs. Cruze.”
Wrapping my arms around her, I press my cheek against her stomach, letting myself laugh. And cry. All at once.
I’m a disaster, and happier than I ever thought possible when someone smashes a cupcake in my face.