Slow Play (The Rules #3)(100)



“Tristan,” I say shakily. I’m trembling and I swear my heart is in my throat. What is he doing?

Oh my God, I think I know what he’s doing.

“I never thought this would happen to me. I didn’t believe in relationships. I didn’t think I would ever find a woman I wanted to date exclusively, let alone spend the rest of my life with.”

I press my lips together so I don’t do something humiliating. Like start crying.

“I know we’ve been together for only a short amount of time, but I was told a long time ago that when you know, you know. And Alexandria, I know.” He pulls out a small black box from the front pocket of his jeans, pops it open and holds it out toward me. “I love you. Will you be my wife?”

The tears flow freely, raining down my cheeks, making me sniff unattractively. I’m sure I look a mess but how else could I react? This is totally unexpected. “Yes,” I whisper. “Yes, I’ll be your wife Tristan.”

He waves the box at me. “Do you like the ring?”

It’s simple, a round diamond with a plain band. The diamond is—large. But this is Tristan after all, so I expect nothing less. “It’s beautiful.”

He rises to his feet, pulls the ring out of the box and takes my left hand, slipping the ring on my finger. “Perfect,” he says, his gaze lifting to meet mine.

“You’re crazy.” I wave my fingers, the ring sparkling in the light.

“Why?”

“We’ve only been going out for a few months. What are our friends going to say?”

“The majority of them know about my plans so they’ll say congratulations,” he says smugly.

“You.” I sock him gently in the shoulder when he tosses the empty box onto a nearby chair. “Seriously. Aren’t we moving a little too fast?”

“When it comes to you, angel, nothing is too fast. I’m not going to act like that * Mr. Big who wasted too much time when he should’ve just been with Carrie.”

Oh, he’s talking about SATC again. He knows just how to get to my heart. Except…

“You’re not a Big fan?”

“Hell, no.” He looks sheepish. “I prefer Aidan.”

“Eww!” I sock him on the shoulder again, harder this time, and he grabs hold of me, hauling me in close. “Aidan is yuck. Too boring. I prefer a guy with an edge.”

“You don’t say?” Tristan says, making me laugh. “Big is an *.”

I pluck at the front of his shirt, his intoxicating scent surrounding me. “I’m kind of partial to *s.”

“Thank Christ,” he mutters. “Hey. Look at me.”

I do as he asks, my once again tear-filled gaze meeting his. This moment is—huge. I can’t believe he wants to marry me. I can’t believe how much my life has changed in such a short amount of time—all because of this man. “I love you. You love me. We belong together. It’s as simple as that.”

I’m full on grinning now as I blink away my tears. “Can that be our wedding vows?”

He leans in, his mouth close to mine. “Whatever you want, Ali, I’ll work my damn hardest to give it to you,” Tristan murmurs just before he kisses me.

I know without a doubt that he will.

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