Page 104 of Breaking Matt

Instead of kissing me on the mouth, he brushed his lips against my forehead.

"We need to leave now," he said and I stepped away from him to fish a pair of high heels out of my closet. He was lucky I had put some makeup on already.

"Let's go."

He held his hand for mine. It was second nature to put my hand into his, and his fingers laced through mine.

On our way to the restaurant, we talked about his day. Since his meeting with Nick he had started to do some security for him. It was apparently all legit and above the table.

Over the past few months I had learned enough about Nick to change my opinion on him. If he hadn't helped Matthew, they wouldn't have found me. I owed him my life.

I had learned later that Nick had been the one to take Courtney to the hospital when he had discovered she had been taken without his knowledge. He had punished the people responsible dearly for it. The three people who had been involved with Frank and Leo had also been jailed. He had also ensured she'd been watched to ensure her safety. It made me see a different side to the man I had first feared.

He and Matthew had even developed a friendship.

Courtney still didn't remember the kidnapping. The doctor said there was a chance she might never remember. Nature would take its course.

I gave Matthew a sideways glance when I saw him take the road to the college.

"I thought we were going to dinner?" I said.

"I just need to check on something," he said, sounding distracted.

A few minutes later he pulled up in front of the campus. It was the same place where he had been shot. He got out of the car and I slid from the passenger side just as he came around to help me out.

"What are we doing here?" I asked, looking around. There was no one else around.

I turned to face Matthew. Dressed in his suit, he looked so sexy—and the way he was looking at me made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

"You remember what happened here?"

I nodded. How could I forget? It was one of the most traumatic moments of my life.

"This was where you got shot."

"Yes, and it was here that I realized how much I truly loved you," he said. His words were pulling at my emotional side.

"Really?" He had never told me that before.

"When I took the bullet for you, there was no doubt in my mind and no hesitation." He took my hand into his. "That's why I wanted to bring you here."

I still wasn't sure where he was headed with all of this.

"Remember I once told you I needed more than I thought you could give me?"

It took only moments to remember that. I nodded.

"I think your exact words were, 'You forever.' And something about a ring and making it official," I said with a widening smile. "And my answer was yes."

Had he thought I had forgotten? That wasn't the type of moment to forget. He got down on one knee and produced a box. I knew what was coming.

"Here's the ring," he said, opening up the velvet box. The ring sparkled. It wasn't your typical solitary diamond—instead it was a sapphire stone, surrounded by many small diamonds. Beautiful.

"I want to slide this ring on your finger and know that you'll be my wife, and that you will share the rest of my life with me, making me the happiest man alive," he said. I felt overwhelming emotion that thickened my throat. I clasped my hands together as I felt the sting of tears and my eyes began to water.

"Yes," I managed to whisper. "My answer is still yes."

He stood up and slid the ring on my finger. "And now we're official." I clasped his cheeks and brought his mouth to mine.

I was breathless when he pulled away and looked down at me possessively.

"Forever?" he murmured.

I nodded. "Forever."