Page 140 of Scandal
I choke out a laugh. “A catch?”
He flips his guitar so the strap is facing forward and the instrument is draped across his back, then steps forward. “Yeah, you see. The song is entitled, ‘Together, Forever…’”
Oh, holy shit.
“And I just don’t feel right singing it to you without giving you this.”
He pulls a velvet satchel out of his pocket. It looks old and worn. Then he meets my eyes, so vibrant and full of promise, as he slowly drops to one knee.
“You are my everything, Mercury. Over the last six months, you’ve shown me we can do anything as long as we’re together. I will always be honored to stand by your side, regardless of title. But I would be honored to add one more to mine and become your husband. Will you be my wife?” Tears blur my vision as I bob my head up and down, and he rises up to his feet to pull me into his arms. “Yes,” I answer.
“Yeah?” He grins from ear to ear.
“Yes, I’ll be honored to be your wife.”
“And countess?”
“Is your mom going to want to give up her title?”
He scoffs. “If it were up to her, she would have had this ring on your finger seven months ago.”
“Speaking of…” I glance down at the satchel, which is still closed.
“Oh, you want to see this?” he teases. Then he holds it between us, opens it, and turns it over in his palm.
“It was my mother’s?—”
“Engagement ring,” I say, finishing his sentence because I’ve seen that ring a hundred times. Theodora always wore the beautiful princess-cut diamond ring on her left hand. I realize now it had been missing for a few weeks.
Now I know why.
“I can’t believe she let you have this.”
“Let me? She gave it to me with her blessing,” he says. “She loves you, Merc. She’ll be elated to see you wear it. Now let me put it on.”
I hold out my hand and watch as he slips the ring on my finger. It’s a perfect fit.
“How did you know?—”
He shrugs. “I have my ways.”
Evie. He asked Evie.
“Can I hear my song now that I’m your fiancée?”
He closes his eyes. “Say it again.”
I smile. “Fiancée.”
“Fuck, I did not realize how much of a turn-on that was going to be. Now, all I want to do is strip you naked.”
I double blink. “Sex first. Song second?”
“Deal.”
We lunge for each other and are pawing at each other’s clothes when my phone starts to ring.
“Ignore it,” he growls.
