Page 71 of Captivated By You

That had nothing to do with the diamonds. Everything to do with him.

“I’m glad you think that, sweetheart, but there’s one more thing I think you need.”

At the strange declaration, he dropped to his knee in front of me.

My hands flew to my mouth and I gasped. “Liam—”

He ignored me and reached up, taking one of my hands in his—my left hand—and pulled it toward him, kissing it before smiling at me.

“I love you, Claudia. Love you to the depths of my marrow and the bottom of my soul. There is not a single thing about you, the beautiful woman you are, that escapes my notice on any single given moment. Marry me. Will you?”

He was doing this. He was really doing this. I blinked rapidly, flashes from the crowd around us momentarily blinding me and I almost missed it as he reached into his tuxedo and pulled out a small black box.

“Marry me,” he repeated as tears built in my eyes and spilled down my cheeks. He popped open the box and blood drained from my face so quickly I was afraid I’d fall over. The ring was massive.

It also matched, exactly, the center stone on the necklace he’d given me earlier.

“Liam—”

I was too stunned to say anything but his name.

“What do you say, sweetheart. Be mine?”

He glanced around the room and I followed. Everyone was staring at us. Red little lights blinked on video cameras. Microphones were pointed in our direction. Camera flashes continued to light up the room.

I looked back down at him and found my voice. “Don’t you know?” My voice trembled as I spoke. “I’ve been yours since the first island trip. And it has nothing to do with my signing a name to a contract, but because I gave myself to you and since that day, you’ve always treasured it.”

“Damn straight. Are you going to answer me?” he asked, eyes flitting to cameras recording once more. “Because I feel like an asshole down here, waiting for you with reporters recording.”

I laughed and then nodded. “You idiot,” I whispered, lovingly teasing him. “Of course I’ll marry you. Yes. Absolutely yes.”

He stood and swept me into his arms. Our mouths fused together and cheers of joy echoed all over the room.

I didn’t care what one single person thought in that room besides the man kissing the life out of me.

The entire world watched our moves almost every day.

But we only saw each other. And he’d be the only person I ever saw, every day, for the rest of my life.

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