Page 113 of Tragic (Lark Cove 3)

“It almost killed me losing my daughter,” I admitted. “It broke my heart that Mom made excuses for Isaiah and took his side. It crushed me that he’d do something like that to me. And I didn’t love her, but losing Shannon was awful. But somehow, I lived through it. If anything ever happened to you or the boys, I wouldn’t . . . I wouldn’t survive it.”

“They’re going to be okay, Kaine. They’ll be incredible.”

I held her tighter. “Not just them. You. I wouldn’t survive without you.”

She looked up at me, tears welling in her eyes. “I’m not going anywhere. And neither can you.”

“I’m here for good. Promise.”

“Don’t promise,” she whispered. “Prove it.”

Prove it.

I’d spend the rest of my life proving it. Starting today. “I love you.”

Surprise flashed across her face. “You—you do?”

“I want to marry you.”

Her mouth fell open.

“I want to share this life with you, Piper. Raise these boys. Live on this mountain together.” And that would be a hell of a lot easier if we were married. As soon as she agreed, we’d go pick out a ring. We had some work to do and some trust to build, but we’d get there in time.

“Seriously?” Her eyebrows creased. “You want to get married?”

“Is that a yes?”

A slow grin spread across her lips just before she laughed. “No.”

“No?” I jerked back.

“No. I’m not going to marry you.” She cupped my cheek, standing on her toes to brush a kiss across my mouth. Then she patted my stomach and walked to the kitchen. “I’m starving. Want to share some popcorn?”

“Popcorn? I just asked you to marry me.”

“And I said no.” She opened the refrigerator, getting out a carrot stick. She crunched one bite, then smiled. “I love you too, by the way.”

“Gee, thanks,” I muttered.

Piper took her carrot stick with her as she rounded the counter and walked toward the guest room. “Will you help me move all your clothes into my closet?”

“Yes. See how easy that is to say?”

She giggled, smiling at me again before disappearing down the hall. “Are you coming or not?”

“Coming,” I grumbled.

We weren’t done with this conversation. She wanted me to prove it?

I’d prove it.

I’d keep asking her to marry me until I got the answer I wanted.

“We’re heading out!” Kaine’s voice rang down the hallway.

“Wait!” I yelled, hiking up the band of my maternity jeans as I came out of the bathroom.

When you had to go every three minutes, pants like this were a must. My plan was to keep enjoying the abundance of spandex and Lycra for as long as possible post-pregnancy too.