Page 113 of With This Ring

“I just wanted to talk to you for a minute.” He pointed toward the door leading to the party rooms. “Follow me.”

Curiosity threaded through Dakota as they skated hand in hand to the first party room. She followed Hudson inside. “Tell me what’s going on, Hud,” she insisted.

He rubbed his hand over his neck. “I wanted to tell you something.”

“Okay...” She waited, then made a frustrated noise when he didn’t speak. “Hud, please stop stalling.” When he remained quiet, worry gripped her. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Nothing’s wrong. In fact, everything is right.” He huffed out a breath. “When I first came back to Flowering Grove, my plan was to convince my sister not to get married and then get out of town asfast as I could. But once here, I started to realize how much I missed this place. I missed my friends, I missed the community, but most of all, I missed you. And when we reconnected, I figured out that I didn’t only miss this place—I also needed a home, and I needed you.”

She smiled. “I need you too.”

“Koti, I’ve already told you you’re the love of my life. My sister once said that you and I never married other people after we broke up because we belonged together. I thought she was crazy at first, but she was right.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bright-blue jewelry box.

Dakota gasped, pressing her hand to her chest.

Hudson knelt on one knee, which he impressively managed on roller skates. Then he held up the box. “Dakota Marie Jamison, I don’t want to spend another day without you. In fact, I want you by my side forever.” He opened the box, and a large round-cut diamond, resting in a diamond-encrusted platinum setting, twinkled up at her.

She sniffed as her eyes filled with tears.

“Koti, will you marry me?”

“Yes, yes, yes!”

He blew out a breath. “Thank goodness.” He took the ring out of the box and slipped it onto her finger, and it was the perfect fit. “Dakota, with this ring, I pledge my heart to you, and I promise I’ll love you and cherish you for the rest of my life.”

“Oh, Hudson, I love you.”

Then he pulled her into his arms, and when his lips began caressing hers, her stomach fell into a wild swirl.

He pulled away and touched her cheek. “I have another question to ask you. I was looking into real estate yesterday, and I saw thatHelms Farm is up for sale.” He took her hands in his. “We used to go apple picking there in the fall. Mr. and Mrs. Helms are ready to retire, and I heard their family isn’t interested in keeping the place. I remember you said you wanted to buy the Franklin farm last year and turn it into a wedding venue. We missed our chance with that one, but I think this one might work too.” A sheepish expression flickered across his face. “Did you still want to do that?”

“Oh yes! That would be the perfect project for us. The farm has an amazing barn that would make a terrific space for weddings.”

“What if we bid on it? If they accept our offer, Gavin’s company could probably restore the barn. And we could turn the farmhouse into your boutique.” He gave her hands a gentle squeeze. “Then you could hire people to run the venue and the store while you manage the alterations and—”

She threw herself into his arms and kissed him, cutting off his words and making the blood sizzle in her veins.

When she finally released him, he grinned. “I guess that’s a yes?”

“Yes, I’d love to buy that property with you—but most of all, I want to be your wife.”

He touched her cheek. “Now kiss me again, my beautiful fiancée.”

Hudson wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close, and his lips continued caressing hers. Somehow through the fog of his kiss, Dakota heard a sound behind her.

“Yay!” Layla sang. “I told you so, Hudson. I knew you two would get married someday.”

Hudson released Dakota, and they looked toward the doorway where Layla, Shane, Skye, Gunner, Kayleigh, and Brice all stood, clapping and cheering.

“Let’s plan a wedding,” Kayleigh called.

Skye held up a finger. “I can get you a deal on a wedding gown.”

Dakota cupped her hand to Hudson’s cheek. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“Then let’s start right now,” he said.

And when he kissed her again, Dakota closed her eyes. Happiness flittered through her, and her heart felt light. She couldn’t wait to see what the future held for her and Hudson.