Page 167 of Beautiful Trauma

I laughed. “Call me crazy, but I like slightly less unhinged Mila.”

With a knowing look, Quinn said, “I think after the events of today, you have your answer about popping the question.”

“You’re absolutely right. I don’t even care that I don’t have the ring with me.”

I knew in the moment with absolute certainty I was going to ask Mila to marry me the moment I saw her.

Even though I knew Mila was all right, it was agony waiting to get to her. I thought I was going to go crazy. I knew I wasannoying the hell out of my brothers with all the tapping of my legs and shifting in the seat.

When we pulled up in front of the gallery, I didn’t even wait for the SUV to come to a full stop. I hopped out and started sprinting into the building. At the sight of several customers milling around, I skidded to a stop. Glancing left and right, I searched for Mila, but I didn’t see her.

“MILA!” I shouted.

“Sir, this is a gallery,” a woman chided me.

Although I wanted to tell her to fuck off, I politely said, “I’m sorry.”

It was then that Mila started running towards me. When she got to me, she jumped into my arms. I exhaled a long, ragged breath. Pulling back, I kissed her cheeks and her nose and her forehead. “I thought I’d lost you. I’d thought I’d never see you again.”

Mila bobbed her head. “I know. And I’m so sorry. I hated to have to sneak away, but I knew you wouldn’t let me go. Not to mention, you couldn’t risk coming back here and being killed.”

“Even though I’m happy to see you’re okay, you’re still in trouble.”

She grinned. “Is that right?”

To show her I was serious, I smacked her ass, causing her to shriek.

The woman who had been appalled by my shouting clutched her pearls. “You two need to leave.”

Mila narrowed her eyes. “For your information, I own this fucking gallery. If you don’t like a woman getting spanked, then you can get the hell out!”

The woman was too flustered by Mila’s response to reply. Instead, she and the woman hurried to the door. I shook my head at her with a grin. “I see you haven’t lost your sass.”

“Nope. You’re stuck with it.”

After easing Mila to her feet, I said, “Speaking of being stuck with you, there’s something I want to ask.”

Her brows furrowed in confusion until I sank onto one knee. Then her hands flew to her mouth. “Oh my God.”

Taking one of her hands in mine, I said, “Mila Korlova, there will never be another woman for me. You stole my heart that night at Bandia, and it’s forever yours. Marry me and make me the happiest man in the world.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Yes. My answer will always be yes.”

As she threw her arms around my neck, she brought her lips to mine. At first, the kiss was tender and heartfelt. And then it turned over to desperate and needy.

At the sound of someone whistling, we broke apart. Glancing over my shoulder, Dare grinned at me. “I thought I better put out the fire between you two before you set off the sprinklers and ruined all this fancy art.”

My brothers chuckled as embarrassment heated my cheeks.

A throat cleared to my right. When I whirled around, Dima stood with his head cocked at me. “Did you have something you wanted to say?” I asked.

“Kellan,” Mila chided.

Dima took a step towards us. “Are Irish traditions so modern that no one asks the woman’s family for her hand anymore?”

“The last time I checked her family didn’t approve of me, so it seemed pointless.”

“Perhaps circumstances have changed.”