Ignite (Cloverleigh Farms #6)(101)

Millie sometimes jokingly asked when she should start planning our wedding, but I told her we weren’t in any rush. As much as we loved each other, it wasn’t just about us, and we wanted to make sure the girls were ready for us to take that step.

But as far as I was concerned, Dex would always be the only man for me.

When all the packages had been unwrapped and paper, ribbons, and bows littered the floor, Hallie and Luna sat amongst it all and exchanged a distressed look. “But Daddy,” said Hallie, “there’s something missing.”

“There is?” Dex calmly sipped his coffee.

“Yes. The thing we got for Winnie,” Luna whispered, as if I wasn’t sitting right there.

I smiled at them. “But you got me plenty! The book I wanted, the new sweater, the toy for Piglet, the gift card for the salon. You spoiled me!”

“But there’s something else,” she insisted.

“Hmm.” Dex frowned. “You know, you’re right. There is one more thing.”

Hallie popped to her feet. “Where is it?”

“I think it’s in her stocking.”

“My stocking?” I looked at the banister, where yesterday three stockings had hung, personalized with Daddy, Hallie, and Luna. Today there was a fourth one hanging alongside them, and it said Winnie across the top. “Oh my goodness!”

Luna jumped up too. “Go look in it!”

I glanced at Dex—he said nothing, but his eyes sparkled with mischief. Setting my cup on the table, I went over to the stocking and stuck my hand inside.

My fingers curled around a small box.

Gasping, I looked back at the three of them. Hallie and Luna were jumping up and down.

“Is anything in there?” Hallie asked.

“Yes.” My heart raced as I pulled it out—it was gift-wrapped in shiny silver paper with a red velvet ribbon tied into a bow.

“What did you get?” Dex asked casually.

“I don’t know yet.”

“Who’s it from?”

I looked at it again. “There’s no tag. It’s a mystery.”

“Well, bring it over here. Let’s see if we can solve it.”

The entire room felt like it was tilting and spinning as I walked back over to where Dex sat on the couch and the two girls clutched each other in nervous excitement by the tree. When I reached him, I held it out. “Any ideas?”

He glanced at the box as he set his coffee cup on the table next to mine. “Hmm. I might know something about this.”

“He does!” Luna cried.

“Shhh,” Hallie admonished.

“Maybe you should open it,” Dex suggested.

With my pulse pounding hard, I untied the ribbon and unwrapped a small white gift box.

“Keep going!” shouted Luna.

I lifted the top off—inside was a black velvet hexagonal box. My breath caught and I looked at Dex.

“Keep going,” he said.

With trembling fingers, I removed the lid, and gasped at the diamond ring that winked at me in the tree lights. I blinked at it in disbelief, and when I looked up again, Dex had gone down on one knee at my feet.

“Oh my God,” I whispered.

He took the velvet box from my hands and plucked the ring from the cushion. Taking my left hand, he said, “Winnie, the last year has been one of the happiest of my life. You’ve brightened every single day with your smile and your spirit and your heart. All three of us agree you belong in our family.”

“Is it time for us now, Daddy?”

Dex glanced at Luna with a rueful smile. “I wasn’t quite done, but okay.” He looked up at me again. “The girls helped me pick out the ring, and they wanted to be part of this. I couldn’t say no.”

“Of course not.” My eyes filled as Luna and Hallie came and stood behind their father.

“Winnie, my favorite thing about you is your hugs,” said Hallie, as if she’d practiced her lines. “You always make me feel good if I have a bad day. Even if kids at school aren’t nice or I’m frustrated about something, I always know that when I see you, you’ll give me a hug and make me feel better.”

I sniffed. “Thank you, Hals. I love your hugs too.”

“My favorite thing about you is how you always have fun Band-Aids at your house,” said Luna. “And good snacks. I also like when you play salon and Barbies with me.”

I smiled at her through tears. “I’ll always have fun Band-Aids for you. And I love our playtime too.”

Dex spoke up next. “My favorite thing about you is the way you see the good in everyone, the way you treat people with generosity and kindness, and the way you love with your whole heart.” He slipped the ring on my finger. “I know I’m just a big hairy ogre who doesn’t deserve a princess, but it would make me the happiest ogre alive if you’d ride off into the sunset with me.”

“With us!” Luna added.

“We told him to say that part,” Hallie whispered.

I half-laughed, half-sobbed. “It’s good.”

“What do you say, Winnie MacAllister? Will you marry me?”

“Yes,” I squeaked, because I could barely find my voice. “Yes!”

I only looked at the ring for a moment before leaning down to kiss him. He stood up, wrapping me in his embrace, and I looped my arms around his neck.