Page 105 of Sins of Innocence

This man.

If I don't fall for him before we get back to New York, it will only be because I'm lying to myself that it hasn't happened yet.

"Don't be telling anyone your wishes, or they won't come true," Dagda warns the girls.

With a look between me and Kieran, Sadie tosses her coin into the well and there's a small plop when it hits the water. Neeve closes her eyes when she makes her wish and Joy does too, going one further by squishing her face up in severe concentration.

As a mom, I can't help hoping that whatever their wishes are, they come true.

Tucked away like a secret garden, the small grotto is almost empty of park goers. A two-tiered waterfall built into the hillside splashes water merrily into the water below.

"It's Snow White," Neeve breathes, her gaze fixed on the white marble statue of the Disney princess at the top of the waterfall.

The Seven Dwarfs are there too, some on a stone bridge, others perched on a log across the water.

I sigh happily. "Very magical."

Snow White has always been my favorite Disney Princess. Not because she's supposed to be so beautiful, but because she didn't let her circumstances get her down and when she met the dwarfs, she made friends instead of running.

That always seemed plucky and courageous to me.

The scent of moss, ferns and flowers make it almost possible to believe we're in her forest right now.

Kieran's hand falls away from the small of my back and I notice the loss immediately.

There's the sound of shuffling behind me.

"Wha—" Joy starts to ask, but Sadie shushes her. "Shhh. Just watch."

Watch what? Has the Snow White character actor come into the grotto? But why would Sadie hush her sister for that?

I turn to see and stop dead in my tracks.

Kieran is down on one knee, a powder blue ring box in the center of his outstretched hand.

My brain goes completely, utterly blank.

"You're strong and capable," he says, his dark gaze trapping mine so I couldn't look away if I wanted to. "But I don't want you going it alone anymore."

This is his plan? A proposal at Disneyland?

But it doesn't feel like a plan to hoodwink my family. That look on his face. His words. It all feels real.

Too real.

Mom makes a sound to my left.

"Please say yes," Neeve pleads from my right, like she's making another wish.

"Kieran…" My voice is weak. Too thin for a fake proposal.

Only it's not fake, is it?

We might not have the past relationship we're pretending we do, but we are getting married.

"I want to be the man you rely on. The one who you know will keep you and our family safe."

"That's a lot of words," I husk out.