Page 61 of Stolen Holidays

Rings?

He steps back and opens the velvet box.

My eyes practically fall out of my head at what I’m seeing. “Eli?”

“Yeah?”

“Why are there five rings in that box?”

“Because it’s a Christmas tradition.”

“What tradition?”

“When you propose on Christmas, you’re supposed to do it with five golden rings, or it’s bad luck.” He smirks at me, and I shake my head in disbelief at him.

“Who says that?”

He plucks out a ring and smirks at me. “The song.”

“You’re crazy.”

“Crazy for you, baby. Now, can you please be quiet so I can put these on you?”

“Yes, sorry. You may proceed.” I wiggle my fingers.

“Smart-ass.”

I watch as he slides the bands down my fingers, each one different from the other. A delicate, thin gold band on my pinky. Two bands twisted into an infinity sign on my middle finger. A diamond-encrusted band on my index finger, and a thick gold band with a small diamond-shaped star on my thumb.

When he pulls out the engagement ring, I almost pass out. Two thin gold bands—each one decorated with what look like snowflurries encrusted in pave diamonds on the sides—hold an enormous emerald-cut diamond.

It’s gorgeous. And huge. And way too much.

“Ohmigod, Eli, it’s way too big.”

“You’re lucky I only went with five karats, Cal. I wanted to go bigger.”

“B-bigger?” I almost choke on my spit at the thought.

“Go big or go home.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Do you like them?” he asks. I catch the vulnerability in his question and the nervous shake in his voice.

“Are you kidding? I love them.” I hold up my hand to admire the glittering diamonds and gold. “So much.”

“You’re not mad about the five?”

“No.”

“I was sure you were going to give me a hard time about them.”

“I should, because this”—I hold my hand up in his face for him to see the beautiful damage he put on his bank account—“is too much, Eli.” He opens his mouth to rebuke, but I cover it with my finger and stop him. “But I don’t care. I love them. They’re gorgeous. And I love you. My sweet, overprotective, sexy fiancée. So much. I can’t wait to marry you.”

“Then marry me.”

“I am, you goof.”