Page 93 of Be Mine, Sweetheart (Something Borrowed 3)

He caught her on the front porch and when he took her hand and pulled her around gently, he caught the shimmer of tears. “Kelly, come on, don’t cry. I just wanted to show you something!”

“And you had to show me right this second?”

Chris held the plane tickets out to her. “Here.”

Kelly took them reluctantly, and he knew the exact moment she realized what they were.

“Ireland.”

“Yeah, to be followed by Scotland, England, France, Italy, and Spain. I have several weeks planned for us.”

“But…what does that have to do with me being pregnant?”

“Not a thing. That’s what I’m trying to say. I’m not mad. We were both consenting adults. I could have worn a condom if I was really worried that this could happen, but I didn’t.” Chris laid his hand over her stomach and looked her in the eyes. “I should be asking if you want this?”

Kelly covered his hands with hers. “I do.”

“Well, I hope this isn’t presumptuous, but maybe we can change this trip to a honeymoon.”

Kelly shook her head. “Chris, you don’t have to marry me just because I’m pregnant. This isn’t the 1950s.”

“I know, but you see, I got this yesterday. I just saw it and thought it looked just like you.”

Chris pulled the velvet jewelry box out of his pocket and Kelly covered her mouth with her hands.

He popped the ring box open, showing off the two-carat diamond with two tourmaline stones on either side.

“I was going to save this for September, and ask you inside a castle or maybe the top of the Eiffel Tower, but honestly, why wait? I know what I want.”

Chris brushed his lips over hers and whispered, “Be mine, sweetheart. I’m begging you.”

Kelly threw her arms around him. “I love you.”

“I know, but that’s not the answer I’m looking for.”

“Yes, yes!” She kissed him, and he tasted the salt of her tears on her lips.

When they finally came up for air, he slipped the ring on her finger and twined his fingers with hers.

“Just one thing. Do you think you can plan a wedding in two months?”

Kelly gave him one of her sassiest looks. “Excuse me? Don’t you know who you’re talking to?”

Chris laughed and pulled her into his arms on the couch. As they snuggled in, Chris drifted off to sleep, Kelly’s warm breath fanning the side of his neck.

Chris climbed up stone stairs surrounded by green rolling hills. He knew he needed to get to the top, even if he wasn’t sure why yet.

When he finally made it, he stared out over a deep stone cliff and the white capped waves of the ocean rolling up onto the beach.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Chris wasn’t even surprised by Ray’s presence, but he was a little shocked to find his friend wearing a kilt and holding a bag pipe under his arm.

“What are you doing?”

“Hey, it’s not my fault your twisted mind insists on dressing me up.”

“I am so sorry,” Chris said.