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“Grace, I love you. And I’d love nothing more than for us to be husband and wife. Our lives are already intertwined, but this would make me the happiest man on earth.”

He cleared his throat, and I figured he was going to add something more, but he didn’t. He simply swallowed hard, and I realized that my gorgeous, amazing man who always had the right words for everything was now too emotional to speak. So I decided to speak up instead.

“Yes. God, yes, I’d love to marry you.”

My heart gave a double beat. I was on pins and needles, but for all the good reasons. I never imagined saying yes to anyone ever again. But with Zachary, it felt right. It felt perfect, like I was doing exactly what I was supposed to do.

“I want to be your wife. I want us to be together, as you said so beautifully last year, and be each other’s companion on thisjourney. You’re the best man I’ve ever met, Zachary. I thought all the wrong things about you in the beginning. I was certain I’d seen right through you. But in my defense, you thought the worst of me too.”

He laughed. “Not the worst, just didn’t have the greatest impression. But discovering who you truly are, Grace, has been the privilege of my life because you’re incredible,” he said as he put the ring on my finger.

It was a huge diamond, princess cut. It had to be at least five or six carats, and I knew it would steal the show no matter where I went.

Suddenly, I realized this was perfect because I wanted that. I wanted everyone to know I’d soon be Mrs. LeBlanc.

“I love you,” Zachary said and slowly rose to his feet.

I was still transfixed by the ring. It had tiny round diamonds in the band as well. They were so finely crafted that I could feel them by running my finger on the band.

“This is the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. God, I love you so much!”

“I’m glad you like it,” Zachary said. The emotion in his voice mirrored mine.

He cupped my waist and pulled me close. Then he kissed me slow and hot, and I couldn’t get enough.

I wrapped my right arm around his neck but kept my other hand in the air, afraid that I could damage my ring, as I kissed him right back. I could stay like this with him forever. I didn’t want this moment to end. It was magic, us out here on the bayou in this place that first brought us together as, well, enemies. And now we planned to become husband and wife.

The sound of thunder startled us apart. I lowered the arm I’d been holding up in the air, and Zachary grinned at me.

“What?” I said defensively, bringing my left hand close to my chest. “I didn’t want to risk losing the ring in my hair orsomething like that.” I was being ridiculous, of course, because it fit perfectly. It couldn’t just fall off.

The unmistakable sound of raindrops on the roof filled the air.

“Oh no. We should make a run for it to the main house.” I looked at Starlight. “Sorry, baby boy. You’re going to get your hair done another time, okay?” I put my forehead on his muzzle so he knew that I loved him. It was just perfect that he’d gotten to witness this magical moment.

Zachary closed the box of Starlight’s new combing set, and then we both stepped out. As we reached the door of the stable and he pushed it open, I grinned. It was already a downpour.

“Gaston was right. This will be a storm.”

Zachary smiled at me. “We’ve got plenty of experience with that too.”

I tilted my head and wiggled my eyebrows. “Are you insinuating what I think you are?”

“Hell yes. Storm gets too bad, I have no problem locking us up in one of the cabins now that they all have AC and actual nice beds.”

I grinned. “Neither do I.”

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