Page 87 of Ruthless Riches
Nate’s eyes widened. “Are you pregnant?”
“No. I just meant… what if we planned to have a baby within the next couple of years?” I said in a slow, tentative tone. “I know most people these days wait until they’re in their thirties, and I know we’re ridiculously busy, like I was saying before, but I feel like I’m ready to do it anyway. Is that totally crazy?”
“I don’t think so,” Nate replied, shaking his head. “A lot of people wait until they’re older because they haven’t met the right person yet, or they don’t have enough money to afford a kid. We’re in a different position. We have each other. We have a great home. We have a ton of support.”
My lips curved into a faint smile. “Does that mean you’re open to it?”
“I’m more than open to it. I can’t wait to put a baby in you,” he said, slipping his arms around my waist. A glint appeared in his eyes. “Babies, actually.”
My smile grew even wider. “How many?”
He glanced toward the house. “Well, there’s a lot of bedrooms in there,” he said, cocking a brow. “But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves yet. I still have to ask my question.”
“Sorry, I totally forgot you wanted to ask me something,” I said. “What—”
Before I could finish my sentence, Nate dropped to one knee. At the same time, he pulled a small black box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a beautiful gold ring with a large diamond in the center. “Will you marry me, Alexis May Livingston?”
My eyes widened. “Wait, what?” I said, stumbling a few feet backwards on the sand out of pure shock. “I thought the house was the surprise!”
Nate grinned. “I lied. There were two surprises.”
My hand flew to my mouth as I stared down at the ring. It was perfect. Exactly what I would’ve chosen for myself. “I love you so much,” I murmured.
“Should I take that as a yes?” Nate asked, crooking a brow.
“Yes!”
He slipped the ring onto my finger and rose to his feet. “I love you,” he said, wrapping his arms around my waist again. His voice was gruff with emotion.
“I love you, too,” I replied, voice muffled by his powerful chest.
A moment later, Nate loosened his grip on me and pulled back a little, eyes twinkling as he stared down at me. “Pretty good timing, wasn’t it?” he said.
“You mean the fact that I started talking about wanting a baby, and you just happened to have an engagement ring on you?” I replied in a teasing tone.
“Exactly.” He leaned down and kissed the tip of my nose. “I couldn’t have picked a better day to propose.”
He wrapped his arms around me again, and I closed my eyes and sighed with bliss, losing myself in his embrace. He’d given me everything I wanted. Everything I needed, too. He was my protector and savior, and I had no idea what I’d do without him by my side. I couldn’t wait to call him my husband, and I couldn’t wait to see him with our future children.
A smile curved up my lips as something occurred to me.
If someone had told me two years ago that I’d eventually become engaged to the man who stalked me, captured me, and kept me in a dungeon, I would’ve laughed in their face. All I wanted to do back then was escape Nate’s grasp and get the hell away from him forever.
But now?
Now, a lifetime with him still wouldn’t be enough.
THE END