Page 136 of Lethal Threat

I watch as her pretty blue eyes take in the big plate of waffles. The stack is high. Fresh strawberries spill over them. Syrup drips down the sides and pools around the base.

I wait, holding my breath with my heart running circles in my chest.

Her gaze suddenly goes wide and her hand flies to her mouth. She whispers between her fingers. “Oh my god, Cole! Is that—a ring?”

I laugh at her adorable expression, even though there’s a gigantic knot in my belly. “It is.”

“Wow. Wow.” Her eyes go super wide. “Okay. I’m uh… shaken.”

I pull her trembling hand away and lean in for a kiss. When I pull back, her eyes are misty and I can see her pulse throbbing along her neck.

“Me too, babe. My heart is galloping.” I have to clear my throat before the next part. The important part. “Sierra Lynn Owens, will you be my wife?”

With a squeal, she wraps her arms around my neck. I grab the tray to keep it from toppling over.

“You just made me the happiest woman in the world.” Her breath catches.

“Don’t hurt your ribs.”

She growls at me and hangs on tighter. “Cole! I don’t give a damn about my ribs.”

I hold her with the ferocity I feel inside my heart. My arms shake. My eyes are full of emotion as I blink into her silky hair and laugh. “I think maybe you said ‘yes,’ before you got annoyed with me.”

She leans back and meets my gaze dead on. “That’s a definite yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. But I have one question.”

So Sierra. Always asking questions. “Fire away, babe.”

“Do you want me to take your name?”

I lean in and kiss her for the millionth time since we got home, just because I can. Her lips are glistening and swollen when I stop. “Of course I want you to take my name, but that’s up to you, sweetheart. Whatever makes you happy.”

“Sierra Strong… I like it. I admit that I’ve fantasized about taking your name.”

This makes me insanely happy. Not that I wasn’t already insanely happy. But her taking my name feels…

Fucking good.

I can’t hide the pleasure in my voice. “I’d love that. I’m proud to call you Sierra Strong.”

“Then it’s set.”

“I also have to tell you I’ve fantasized about a lot of things with you.” There’s enough excitement right now. I’ll be telling her all about those other things later. Family. Our future. Dreams. Hopes. And of course a lot of naughty things.

She must catch the heat in my gaze. Her cheeks begin to turn pink. There’s my girl. Love that blush.

I pluck her engagement ring from the strawberry Ipushed it into. With a teasing flick of my tongue, I lick the juice off it. “Mmm, tastes like you.”

She blushes furiously. “Wicked man.”

“Yes, I am when it comes to you. Now give me your hand, my dear.”

She holds out her delicate hand. After I kiss her fingers, I gently slide the diamond and sapphire ring on her third finger. “I chose this one because the blue reminds me of your eyes. And the diamond is symbolic for me too. It’s forged from pressure. Just like our relationship, made stronger by the forces we’ve endured.”

Biting at her lip, Sierra watches me solemnly. “It fits perfectly.”

We both look at the ring. It catches the light. I love the sight. My ring. On my woman’s finger.

Her voice is soft and sweet as honey when she looks up at me. “True love endures all. For all of time.”