Page 259 of Papa's Bébé

“You’ve got a good guy here,” he whispered to her.

“I know,” she told him as Matthieu started to protest.

“Get your hands off my woman.” Matthieu drew her back into his arms.

Baron just grinned. “So what are we celebrating?”

Royal moved to Betsy and wrapped his arm around her while Baron picked Zippy up, putting her on his shoulders.

“There’s a lot to celebrate,” Matthieu said. “Me moving here and joining the Iron Shadows and Callahan Security is just a small part of it. The biggest thing we’ll have to celebrate tonight is Maya agreeing to be my wife.”

What?

He turned to her, drawing a ring box out of his jacket pocket. How had she not known that was there?

“Maya, I adore you. You are the most amazing, beautiful, sweetest woman I’ve ever met. You’ve also got enough sass to keep me on my toes and make life interesting.” Everyone chuckled at that. “You’re the only person that has ever made me feel like I want to have a home, because youaremy home. My everything. And you will do me a great honor by becoming my wife.” He slid a gorgeous ring onto her finger. It was a square-cut diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds.

“Notice he didn’t ask,” Baron whispered. “That takes balls.”

“That’s Matthieu,” Royal replied. “He’s all about the balls.”

“Shh,” Betsy said. “This is so lovely. I think I’m going to cry.”

Her and Maya, both. Tears dripped down her face as she glanced at the ring, then up at Matthieu.

“You’re annoyingly protective, far too possessive, and think you’re always right. You’re also the person that made me realize that I can trust someone. That I can rely on them and that they won’t hurt me. You’re the person that makes me feel safe. Thatmakes me feel loved. And I would love nothing more than to be your wife.”

He drew her into his arms and kissed her as everyone around them cheered and dogs howled their happiness into the night sky.