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Alex sighed and took the ring back off, putting it back in the box. ‘I hate that I messed this up.’

‘You didn’t mess anything up,’ Leigh assured her, standing up and putting her arms around Alex’s waist and kissing her tenderly on the neck.

The kiss cheered Alex up quite a bit, but she was still stuck on something. ‘But it’s not a proposal without a proper ring.’

‘So, if there’s a ring on someone’s finger, onlythenis it a proposal?’ Leigh asked.

Alex nodded, angry with herself.

Leigh slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out a small box. She cracked it open to reveal a ring. ‘If this fits you, are we officially engaged, then?’

Alex looked at the ring, another diamond, stunned into silence.

‘I wasn’t sure about the right time, either. But you proposing seems like a strong sign,’ Leigh said.

‘Youwere going to propose? But you don’t believe in marriage either!’

‘Can I steal your line? Because I believe in you,’ Leigh said, moving her hands up to hold Alex’s face gently.

Alex wrapped her arms around Leigh. ‘It was a good line.’

‘It was a great line,’ Leigh said. ‘It also happens to be how I feel.’

‘I was selling,’

‘You never had to sell me on you.’

‘I did once.’

‘But only once.’ Leigh slid the ring onto Alex’s finger. It was a perfect fit.

‘Shall we get married then?’ Alex asked.

‘Yes, please.’

‘Even though I’m a cynic with no proper role models for love?’ Alex checked.

‘You trying to talk me out of it?’ Leigh asked.

‘I’m disclaiming, that’s all. I don’t want to sell you a lemon.’

Leigh smiled and kissed her. Then she leant back and said thoughtfully, ‘If you’re a lemon, so am I. So. Let’s make lemonade.’

Leigh kissed Alex again, sweetly and lovingly. Alex quickly forgot her ring mistake. It was already in the past.