Page 68 of The Unbuttoned Ranger

She shifted on the cushion and Sharp’s jacket fell off the back of the couch onto her lap. She picked it up to replace it when something fell out of the pocket. A velvet ring case.

Curious, she opened the lid and her mouth dropped at the beautiful diamond inside.

“You weren’t supposed to find that,” Sharp said quietly from the doorway.

“I-I’m sorry. I wasn’t snooping. It fell out of your pocket.” She tried shoving it back into the pocket.

He came over, set the steaming cup down and took the box from her. He knelt in front of her.“Yesterday, I planned to ask you to be my wife. I know it’s soon but why wait when I realize I love you and Carsen. I want us to be a family.”

She stared at the ring. Her mind raced.

Time seemed to crawl at a turtle’s pace.

All day she’d tried to imagine not having the people she now knew in her life. Ursula. The twins. Piper. Bradley. And most of all Sharp. He’d taught her how to trust again…and to love. Deeply.

But she needed to know…

“If you’re asking me because you think Carsen and I will leave, I promise we won’t.”

“I’m asking because I love you. I want to spend every day making you and Carsen happy. I promise I will treat you with respect, kindness, and gentleness. I will be a father to Carsen.”

“I love you, Sharp. I love you for how you make me feel. You make me see a brighter future. I want us to be a family too. Yes, I will be your wife.”

He slipped the ring on her finger.

Her new chapter began.

The life she’d always wanted had come true.

Not the end but only the beginning.