Page 94 of Forbidden Dreams
I smacked his chest lightly with my free hand. "I don't snore."
He chuckled.
It was a sweet speech, but I wasn't sure why he was giving it now. I wanted to see the bathrooms, and we had a dance to host. Eve would be arriving with Maddox and Sofia, and I was worried about what she'd think of my changes. Would she decide that I wasn't the right person for the job?
But he sank to one knee, and I covered my heart with my free hand. "Aspen, will you marry me? Will you stand by my side through the good times and the bad?" His voice was thick with emotion, and my heartbeat had slowed.
"Yes," I whispered, so shocked I couldn't process what was happening. He'd asked me to marry him, to be his wife.
He closed his eyes for a second, as if he was relieved by my answer. Then he stood, slipping a ring onto my hand. I glimpsed a square diamond before his hand cupped the back of my head and tipped my chin up so that he could kiss me.
My arms snaked around his neck, my chest pressed against his.
When he pulled back, I lifted my left hand so that I could see the diamond sparkle in the light. "It's gorgeous."
But his gaze was on me. "You're the one who's gorgeous."
"Is this real?" It felt a little like a fairy tale with the dress and the room.
A slow smile spread over his face. "I hope it's real. Otherwise, I'm going to have to wake up and do this all over again as many times as it takes for you to say yes."
I kissed him softly.
Music started playing. The sounds of strings filled the space.
I tipped my head to the side. "I thought I ordered a band."
He smiled, pulling me against him for a dance. "This is just for us."
"You ordered live music for our engagement?" I asked, surprised that he'd put so much thought into this moment.
He nodded sheepishly. "I wanted it to be special."
"I don't need a ballroom or a string quartet, but I love it. And I love you."
He lowered his forehead to mine as we swayed to the music. "I love you too."
I hadn't realized the love of my life was standing in front of me the whole time. It took being forced to work together for us to get to know each other and fall in love.
"This is perfect. Thank you."
"The best part is that this is just the beginning."
Whether he was talking about the evening, the dance, or our lives, he was right. I'd never felt more content, safe, and protected than when I was with him. And he was going to be my husband. I couldn't wait.
Cooper drove down the long driveway lined with evergreen trees with branches draped in twinkling white lights. The mountains loomed large behind the historic inn, even in the waning light.
Belle chose to have an evening wedding. She wanted candles flickering in the library and an outdoor reception with views of the mountains.
"This place is beautiful."
He pulled up to the stairs, and a valet opened my door. I got out and waited for Cooper to come around the vehicle and offer me his arm.
He leaned in close. "We'll be getting married soon."
"I can't wait," I said with a smile.
We ascended the stairs, and my heart rate picked up.
