Unbreakable (City Lights, #2)(119)

“It would have to be. Your mother still hates me.”

I laughed only because there was no malice in his words. “She does not. She’s just disappointed she didn’t get to be the mother of the bride in a big, showy wedding. To be honest, I think she was a little bit in love with Drew herself.”

“How is he?”

“You sure you want to talk about him. Here?”

Cory grinned. “Is there a reason not to?”

“Not one.” I stood on tiptoe on my bare feet to kiss him softly. “Mmm, there are few things sexier than a man secure in his masculinity.”

“There are few things sexier than you, period.” Cory kissed me again, his tongue sliding over mine gently, before pulling away. “You taste like pineapple.”

“You have to stop talking like that or I’m going to cause a scene right here.” I let out a breath and fanned myself with my hat. “I hope Talei’s offer is good for this afternoon.”

“This afternoon and all night.”

God, he’s too sexy for words.

“Anyway,” I said pointedly. “Drew is dating a woman. Kimberly. He met her online, and that tells me everything I need to know. I’m happy for him.”

“That’s good to hear.”

He watched Callie play in the surf. I watched him watch her, saw his easy smile slip, saw the dark clouds of worry pass over his eyes. I slipped my hand into his. “She’s doing great. She really is.”

He smiled faintly. “I know. She loves her school. That helps. You help. You make her life better, every day.” He held my fingers to his lips. “You make my life better every day.” His right hand joined his left in holding mine, and I felt something small and round pressed into my palm. “Every day, Alex…I don’t want it to end.”

I realized I had stopped breathing, and gasped as Cory released my hand. Lying in my palm was a silver ring rimmed thickly in gold. On the silver was etched a series of perfectly rendered Celtic knots, alternating with Celtic shields. The craftsmanship was stunning and I laid my hand over my heart, astounded by its beauty.

“An an ri ring,” I breathed. I turned it around and around, admiring the intricate detail. I gasped again. “That’s the O’Byrne shield. My family’s…I just…I can’t believe it.”

We had stopped walking and Cory shifted nervously. “I know it’s not diamonds but…well, I thought…Do you like it?”

I glanced up at him, my heart ready to burst. “Like it? I’m blinded by how beautiful this is. Where are on earth did you find it?”

Cory rubbed the back of his neck. “I…well, I made it.”

My jaw dropped. “What…? No. You made this? How…? I mean, since when do you make jewelry?”

“I had help. I drew up the design and my buddy Rob sort of walked me through it.”

“Oh, Cory…”

I sank back on my heels, staring at him with wide eyes, watching him search for the next words.

Here it comes, I thought, blinking back tears. The most amazing, perfect moment of my life is coming…

Cory’s caught my gaze with his, his eyes so rich and full of love, I had never seen anything more beautiful, not even the ring he now took out of my hand and held up to the glorious Fijian sunlight.

“There’s an engraving.”

I looked and found the word. One word. Dobhriste. I nodded, fighting to hold back the tears.

“That’s how I feel when I’m with you. And that’s what we are.”

“I feel it too,” I whispered.

Cory kissed my hand and slipped the ring on my finger. “Marry me, Alexandra. Will you?”

“Oh yes, Cory. Yes.” I laced my hands around his neck, feeling the ring on my left finger, where it belonged, and kissed him. I wished I could capture that moment and hold it forever, as I didn’t think there would be another so perfect in my life.

Cory gently broke our kiss. “That was more nerve-wracking than I thought.”

“As if it were even possible I’d say no,” I breathed, admiring my ring. My heart was still racing and my mind was filled with a future with Cory. With Cory and Callie and…

“I want to have a baby,” I said. “Not now. Not this year, or maybe even the next, but someday. I do.”

Cory’s face lit up with joy. “You do? Really? But why? What changed your mind?”

“I don’t know if I changed it. I think maybe it was always there and I never looked at it. But I think I would love to have a little boy. I think a little boy who had you for a father would grow up to be the most amazing man.”

I could see the compliment touched him deeply, but before he could speak a thought occurred to me.

“Cory, you want more kids. You’ve always wanted more kids. But you asked me to marry you thinking I never would.”

He held my face in his hands. “I love you, here and now. Not some future version of you.” He kissed me gently, then harder, laughing. I could feel his joy radiating off him like a sun. “But I’m really damn happy to hear you want to have a baby. I see how you are with Callie and it just…takes my breath away.”

Callie came bounding up to us. “Did you ask her? Did you ask her?”