Page 104 of Jessica's Hero

My nose prickles. “Kane?—”

“I will do anything to make you happy, Jess. Anything. Not just now, but for the rest of our lives. I want to spend my life protecting you. Standing by your side through thick and thin. Growing old together. I want all of it, sweetheart. So… will you marry me?”

Just as I’m opening my mouth to answer, Kane adds, “Shit. I’m sorry. I should be kneeling, shouldn’t I? Let me?—”

But before he can get up, I grab his arm, stilling him. “No. You don’t need to kneel.”

His face falls. “No?”

“No, no, that’s not what I meant.” I fling my arms around him. “Not no to your proposal. No to kneeling. You don’t need to. This? It’s perfect.”

“Is your answer yes, then?”

This time I’m the one blushing. “Yes. Of course.” Leaning back, I frame his face with my hands. “I guess I should have said that first. Yes. I’ll marry you.”

“Jess.”Moisture gleams in Kane’s eyes. “You will?”

“Yes. A million times yes. All the things you said, I want them too. Being your wife. Your partner. Spending my life with you.” Sniffing back tears, I add, “I want you to be my first and last love, too.”

“Jess.” Kane pulls out the ring. The light from the fire pit reflects off the stones, throwing sparkles around the igloo. “Do you want this one? Or we can go into the city, look at the jewelry stores there, if you’d prefer something new.”

I hold my hand out to him. “This ring is perfect. But are you sure your mom doesn’t mind?”

Kane slides the ring on my finger, and I feel something click deep inside me.

“She wants you to have it,” he replies. “She said it carries the love she has for my dad. And now it’ll carry our love.”

“Kane.” The tears burst free. “I love it. This is so much more special than something new.”

“Don’t cry.” It’s quick. Laced with panic.

“I’m happy,” I tell him. “These are happy tears.”

With a soft caress, Kane wipes the dampness from my cheeks. “I still don’t like seeing you cry.”

“I know. But this time, it’s okay.”

Time seems to slow as we stare into each other’s eyes.

I thought I knew happiness. But it’s nothing compared to this.

“I love you,” I finally say, breaking the silence. “And I can’t wait to become your wife.”

“Jess.”Kane kisses me hard. “I never knew I could feel like this.”

“Like how?”

“Like my entire life has been leading to this. To finding you. Loving you. Devoting my life to you.”

Oh.

Emotion wells up so quickly I’m breathless from it.

My mind whirls with all the things I want to say. But all that comes out is, “Thank you.”

Confusion clouds Kane’s expression. “Thank you?”

“For showing me Idodeserve love. That I deserve you.”