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His finger landed on my lips, stealing my question. “Remember what I said about indulging me?”
I nodded slowly and kept my mouth shut.
Levi’s eyes roamed over my face before he took a shaky breath. I opened my mouth to tell him he didn’t have to do whatever he was planning, but then he did something so shocking that I lost the ability to speak.
He got down on one knee and opened the box.
My heart stuttered and it felt like time slowed. The ethereal glow of the lights glittered both on the stunning ring and in the sea of his eyes.
“Amy Willard, will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
In that second, it all felt real. This wasn’t a sham marriage—it was one between two people who wanted to be married. If I had been on the sidelines, I would be cheering us on.
But this was happening tome.
“W-why are you doing this?”
“You deserve a real proposal. No matter why we’re marrying.”
My throat closed up. He didn’t have to do this—coming all the way over here and asking me to marry him. He could have given me the ring on the day of the marriage and moved on.
Lines were blurring, and for a moment, I imagined this was a real proposal.
I could only nod, then he stood and slid the engagement ring onto my finger.
It was a perfect fit.
Looking up at him, his smile was soft. This felt romantic in a way nothing else had. That was the only explanation for what I did next.
I kissed him.
No one had ever applauded me for my good decisions, yet here I was on my tiptoes with my lips pressed against his. He didn’t move; he was completely stiff against me.
I pulled away with a sinking feeling in my gut.
“S-sorry,” I muttered. “I thought ... You said to indulge you.”
What had I been thinking? That this was real? That we could kiss and it’d be fine? That he wantedthatsort of indulgence?
“I did say that.” His voice was low, and he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “And we need practice.”
“W-what?”
“For the wedding day. We want it to look natural.”
I had to clear my throat. “Yeah. We wouldn’t want anything to go wrong.”
His hand brushed the skin on my cheek. “Call me a perfectionist.”
I could only nod and pull away.
At least he wasn’t being rude about it.
Levi’s hand moved to my chin and made me look at him again. “The problem is ... I don’t think that was enough practice.”
I only had time to blink once in shock before his lips returned. At first, it was a light brush of a kiss, but then he pressed in harder. I sucked in a sharp breath when I finally returned the gesture.
He was just as incredible as he had been all of those years ago. Never staying still, his mouth worked against mine in a way I wanted in other places.