Page 40 of Daring to Love You (Priestly Family #3)

It was their last day in New York, and the perfect evening. The setting of the sun, the city noises, and the click-clacking of the horse’s hooves hitting the concrete had lulled her into a peaceful state. Dorian couldn’t ask for a more perfect ending to a fabulous trip.

She squeezed Lynix’s arm. “This has been the best weekend I’ve ever had, and I’ve had more firsts with you—which is the best part.”

He smiled down at her and kissed her forehead. “I’m planning on us having a ton of firsts, and I’m glad you enjoyed the weekend. Since this is our last night here, is there anything else you want to do that we haven’t done?”

They’d done several tours and hit all the major attractions, and they’d even walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. And something Dorian thought she’d never do—buy a hot dog from one of the street vendors. It had been so good, even though she did pray over it a few times between bites.

“Nothing I can think of,” she finally said. “What about you? Anything else you want to do?”

“Nah, I think I’m good, except now that you mentioned it, there is one more thing. Jack,” Lynix called out to the coachman.

“Yes, sir, Mr. Mathews?”

“Can you stop at that flower stand on the next corner?”

“Of course.”

When they got close, Lynix waved over one of the older women who was selling the flowers. He requested three dozen red, yellow, and white roses, and he wanted them in a crystal vase.

When the woman hurried away to fill the order, Dorian said, “Why are you buying flowers? We won’t be able to take them on the plane with us.”

“I’m buying them because my woman loves flowers, and she hasn’t received enough of them over the last thirty-plus years. So, I’m making up for lost time.”

Dorian smiled and shook her head. He was always doing sweet gestures like that, and it warmed her heart.

“And once you’re done enjoying them, before we fly out tomorrow, we’ll leave them at the front desk of the hotel for other guests to enjoy.”

“Dang, you are the most thoughtful man I’ve ever met.”

“Yeah, and don’t you forget it,” he cracked, and they both laughed.

Once they were on their way with flowers in hand, Dorian reflected over the last few months. Her mother had finally embraced the idea of her dating Lynix and was now talking marriage and weddings. There was no pleasing the woman, but at least Dorian no longer had to endure her matchmaking schemes.

Lynix and his father had been spending a lot of time together, even golfing once a week.

It was clear that Lynix was enjoying getting to know his father better.

He had also started back going to therapy.

After his run-ins with Marisela, and the way he reacted to her presence, he felt he still had issues to work through.

Dorian was so proud of him. She knew admitting he needed help hadn’t been easy, but he was determined to continue to work on himself.

It also helped knowing Maricela no longer lived in the US. Her father had put her on a plane hours after she’d signed Lynix’s contract. From what Dorian heard, Mr. Baldwin planned on keeping her in check by threatening to stop funding her business ventures if she went back on the agreement.

Dorian didn’t think about her much because her social life was on a whole new level.

She was having a good time hanging out with Bridget and attending society events with her.

Rubbing shoulders with some one-percenters wasn’t as stuffy as Dorian thought it might be.

And last weekend, they had attended a fancy, celebrity tea party that had been a blast.

She had to admit that going along with Lynix’s hairbrained idea to fake date came with way more excitement and perks than she could have ever imagined. But most of all, she ended up with an amazing man who she absolutely adored.

“I was thinking,” Lynix said, capturing Dorian’s attention. “How about we experience one more first?”

Dorian grinned up at him. “Sure, what did you have in mind?”

He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a small, velvet blue box, and Dorian’s breath caught in her throat.

“I know we’ve only been dating a short while, but it didn’t take long for me to know that you’re the one for me.

The joy I feel every day, knowing that I get to see your beautiful face and spend my days with you, is indescribable.

You mean the world to me Dorian, and I love you more than I thought I could ever love another human being.

“So, to create another first, what do you think about us getting married?” he asked as he lifted the lid and revealed the most beautiful diamond ring Dorian had ever seen.

“I love you, sweetheart. I want to wake up with you every day and fall asleep with you every night. I want to be the one you call when your raggedy car won’t start.

” She laughed and punched him playfully.

“I also want to have at least three kids, a dog, and a parakeet.”

“A parakeet?” Dorian said, laughing again.

He shrugged, “Sure, why not? Basically, I want you to be my wife so we can have a lifetime of more firsts. I love you, sweetie. Will you marry me?”

“Yes! I will definitely marry you, and I can’t wait to have those three kids, a dog, and even a parakeet.”

He laughed and she grinned as he slid the stunning ring onto her finger, and then she kissed him.

“I love you, baby, and I’m looking forward to being your wife.”

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