Page 88 of Pick Yourself Up

Amber tried to scoop up more snow, but he snagged her hands and yanked them above her head.

Laughing, she reached up to kiss him.

The kiss should have melted the snow in the entire orchard. “Marry me, Amber.”

Her eyes widened, and she laughed. “Is that an order?”

He grinned. “If it has to be. I don’t want to ever live without you. I want us to live here for the rest of our lives. Taking care of the inn, growing our gardens, helping our friends. I want it all, Amber. I want you. Marry me.”

Her eyes misted as he spoke, and her smile widened with every word. “Still not a question, but the answer is yes. I’ll marry you. I want it all with you. The inn, the gardens, the life. I love you, Gray, and we’re going to have the best life.”

Heart full, he captured her lips again. When they were both panting for breath, he changed his balance so he could reach into his pocket for the little box. “We are. I think you need to start wearing this. I love you, Amber.”

Her eyes sparkled as she blinked away more tears. They were still smashed together on the ground, but he managed to open the ring box and show it to her.

The soft gasp and more sparkling tears showed him he’d chosen well. “I thought it matched you, but if you want to exchange it or tweak it, that’s fine. We can do it together.”

She shook her head, and when she spoke, her voice was shaky. “I don’t want to change a thing, Gray. The ring is perfect, just like you.”

He laughed. “I’ve been carrying it for days, trying to find the most romantic way to ask you.”

She grinned. “And you did. Even though you didn’t actually ask.”

He kissed her. “Didn’t want to let you think you had an option. I love you.”

“I love you so much, Gray.”

Then they were kissing again.

Until Boomer let out a happy bark, and he heard Hemsworth and Fox barking back.

He broke the kiss to see Knox, Thea, Ford, and Jolie heading their way. All dressed for the weather.

He slipped the ring on Amber’s finger, kissed her again, and they helped each other pick themselves up.

Amber immediately started making snowballs, and he did the same. She pointed at the half-made snowmen. “We can use these for cover. You think we can take them?”

He laughed. “Together, I believe we can do anything.”

He was the luckiest man in the world.