Page 104 of Hopeless Romantic

The sky turned magically coral as Beckett spoke into her secret service earpiece, an essential accessory for every maid of honor slash wedding planner. “Cue music.”

The gentle strings of the harp began to play, and the procession lined up.

“No, I mean now. I don’t want to wait another minute.” Annie took her dad’s hand and stepped into the aisle.

Caught off guard, the crowd was a little slow on the uptake, but Emmitt didn’t blink, just smiled and said, “That’s my girl.”

“When you and Levi get married, I’ll throw you the best wedding ever,” Annie said and, without another word, walked as fast as she could down the aisle to the man of her dreams. The audience finally caught on, standing as the bride glided by, well ahead of her wedding party. And when she reached the arbor she kissed the man of her dreams.

“I don’t mind her planning the wedding, as long as I get to plan the wedding night.” Two strong arms wrapped around Beckett’s waist and she tilted her head back to find Levi standing right behind her, staring down at her with so much love in his eyes, Beckett’s heart slowly rolled over in complete surrender.

This, right here, was the man ofherdreams. Beckett had been so busy running from love, she’d crashed right into it.

Into Levi.

“I hope it involves a tour of your cabin.”

“Oh, it will be the grand tour, followed by an around the world tour.” He leaned down and kissed her. “And I’m serious. Marry me, Beck.”

“We’re at Annie and Emmitt’s wedding,” she said.

“If you want to get technical, it’s our wedding. Right down to the lemon cake with limoncello buttercream frosting.” He walked around to face her. “We planned it before I got to propose.”

“Propose?” She laughed, a bit hysterical. “We drive each other crazy. I’d drive you crazy. I do drive you crazy.”

“In the best possible way.”

“My family.”

“Would be our family,” he assured her.

“But we went about all of this backward. It would never work.” But even as she said it, she wanted it to work. So incredibly badly.

“We went about this our way.” Levi dropped to one knee and a flock of flutters took flight in her chest. “Marry me, Beck.”

She pulled her hands away. “You’re just caught up in the moment. It’s an overdose of bliss talking.”

He took her hands back. “It’s my heart talking. And you’re worth more than any moment—you’re worth forever.”

“Forever is a long time. Plenty of opportunities to screw up,” she admitted, her knees wobbling. “I mean, there’ll be times my family will need me, at a moment’s notice. And I won’t be able to keep myself from running to the rescue.”

“Then I’ll go with you. Be right by your side,” he said. “Have I mentioned I look damn sexy in tights and a cape?”

She laughed but inside she was melting. There was her man, kneeling before her, offering to take her exactly how she was. And if that wasn’t proof that romance existed, then what came next did.

Levi pulled out a box, which contained the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen. “Marry me, Beck.”

She waited for panic to set in, for the little voice to whisper that it would never work, but instead felt a warm rush of love and certainty wash over her. She wanted him. Not just for today, or next week. She wanted her happily ever after. With him.

She dropped down to her knees and cupped his face. “Only if you’ll marry me back.”