Page 37 of Protecting Anna
“You’re right. We should send him a thank you note.”
Ryan snorted at that, before pulling her back into his arms. Settling against the headboard, they lay snuggled together. Something about this moment felt different. As if this were finally the moment their lives together could truly begin. His sentimental feelings were echoed by Anna’s words.
“All I feel is relief. Well, relief and excitement for our future. Together. Being with you has been the biggest blessing in my life, and I know that whatever else happens, making it through the last few months has made us stronger. You have made me stronger. I love you, Ryan, so much.”
Anna twisted in his arms and cradled his face gently in her hands as she pressed a sweet kiss to his lips. When they separated, Ryan was seized with the desire to say something that he knew would forever change their lives.
“Marry me, Anna.”
Anna looked equal parts shocked and excited by those three words. Ryan realized he was probably doing it all wrong, and that she deserved a far more romantic proposal than this, but he couldn’t help himself. He climbed out of bed and went down on one knee on the floor beside her.
“I don’t have a ring; I haven’t planned any of this. But as you just said, we are stronger together. This is our beginning, Anna, the beginning of forever. I want nothing more than to have you by my side for every moment of it.”
Anna threw back the duvet and leapt off the bed into his arms. She peppered his cheeks and neck with kisses, as he laughed and held her close.
“Can you give me the words, babe? I think I know what your answer will be, but a guy needs to hear the words at a moment like this.”
“YES! Oh my god, yes, Ryan. Of course I will marry you. I love you so much. This is perfect. You are perfect. We are perfect.” Anna punctuated her statements with more kisses, as they tumbled to the floor.
Samson came running in at the commotion and barked as he danced around them. Laughing, Ryan reached up to scratch the dog behind the ears, before turning back to the beautiful woman in his arms.
“I used to think perfect was overrated. That love and commitment were not for me. You have changed all that, sweetheart. You’re right, we are perfect. Now get back in that bed and let me show you just how perfect our love is… And then, we are going shopping for a ring.”
* * *
Standing in the jewelry store, hand in hand with Ryan as they looked at engagement rings, Anna took a moment to reflect on how her life had changed. Was it really only a few months ago that she was living a life of fear with Tim, feeling hopeless about her life, and too scared to make a change?
Her aunt’s passing was still a source of sadness in Anna’s heart. She wished she had come home in time to see Aunt Theresa again. Yet Anna knew that if there were such a thing as guardian angels, Aunt Theresa was hers.
Anna was suddenly drawn to a beautiful ring in the corner of one case. It had a pear-shaped diamond, with small sapphires on either side. Sapphires were Aunt Theresa’s favorite stone, and Anna could remember her wearing a pear-shaped sapphire ring almost every day. This felt like one more sign from her aunt that everything would be okay.
Looking at Ryan, she felt the love of her aunt shining down on her as she drank in the sight of the man who had brought so much to peace and happiness to her life. She knew her aunt would approve, of the man and the ring.
When Ryan slid the diamond and sapphire ring onto her finger, it was an exact fit. Just as the two of them were the right fit for each other.
“It’s perfect.”
Epilogue
“Promise me you’ll make another one of these when Ryan and I get married? Please?” Anna’s voice was filled with awe as she watched Reagan adjust the beautiful wedding cake made of three tiers of heart-shaped brownies. Each tier held a different flavor, and was decorated with edible flowers giving it a rustic and delicious appearance.
Before she answered, Reagan took a step back, placed her hands on her curvaceous hips and examined the display with a critical eye. When she seemed satisfied with her work, Reagan dusted her hands together and turned to Anna with a smile.
“Of course I will. As much as I hate to admit it, because I know I bitched about how much work was involved, this was a lot of fun to create.”
The two women had become fast friends over the last few months as they helped Callie plan her special day. As maid of honor and bridesmaid, they had formed a strong bond. Reagan’s brownies now filled Anna and Ryan’s freezer as often as they did Callie and Jake’s.
Anna rubbed her hands together in delight. “Excellent. I’m going to go and find that hunky fiancé of mine and tell him you said yes!” She walked away with a little wave to Reagan, on a mission to find the man who had made her dreams come true.
When Anna caught up to Ryan, he was chatting with Noah. With a quick apology to his brother, she took Ryan’s hand and pulled him out into the hallway, desperate for a private moment.
She found a quiet alcove with a padded bench and tugged Ryan over to sit down. He pulled her into his lap before leaning down and kissing her deeply. “Hey, sweetheart, are you getting some good ideas for our wedding?”
“Our wedding.” She sighed, happy to be in his arms again. “I can’t believe I’m planning our wedding. I honestly never thought this day would happen.”
“Well it’s happening, Anna. As soon as you will let me, I am going to make you my wife.” Ryan’s eyes held a possessive heat as he looked at her lovingly.
She shivered at his words, consumed with desire. Would she ever stop wanting him? Probably not.
