“You’ve had a lot of girlfriends, Troy. What makes this different?”

He stopped walking and turned her toward him. “You do, Gracie. I’ve dated a lot, but I’ve never been this serious about a woman. I’ve always known I’d settle down when the right woman came into my life and a couple of times I asked myself, Is this her? Is this the right one? I never asked with you. I knew. I knew right away. But we had to learn about each other. You had to learn to trust me.”

“Yes, and the minute I did...”

“Brain atrophy,” he explained. “At least it’s not permanent.”

“And if you get it again?”

“Try a club,” he suggested. And then he pulled her against him and kissed her stupid, a kiss that seemed to last forever. His hands roamed up and down her back. and her arms went around his neck. Their bodies were flush together so that only an earthquake could distract them. “And then there’s this,” he whispered against her lips. “The way we fit together. The way you can’t breathe for a minute after you come. The way I can’t stop after once and almost can’t after twice. We were made for each other, that’s the truth. Sometimes I can taste you in my dreams.”

“And what if I want six kids?” she asked very softly.

“Bring ’em on.”

“You’re the only man I’ve ever been with. Except for the knight, the Navy SEAL and the vampire.”

“You’re not going to need those boys anymore, Gracie. I’m going to keep you busy.” He kissed her again. “I bought you a ring. It’s not flashy. Or big.”

“You bought me a ring?”

“You can’t have it unless you promise to marry me and get old with me.”

“I don’t know...let me think...”

“I can promise you hand-holding and picnics and laughter. I can give you children and loyalty and love. I will stick by you through hard times and beside you through good. And I will never again doubt you, I swear. I’ll trust you and you can always trust me. I’ll be a good husband and a strong father for our kids. Do it, Grace. Forgive me, trust me, marry me. I can’t make it without you.”

“Okay. But only because I love you so much in spite of your flaws.”

He sighed in relief and pulled a ring box out of his pocket. Without letting an inch separate them, he slipped it on her ring finger. It was a lovely solitaire, certainly not too little on her small hand. She thought it was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. But it could have been a cigar band and she would have been filled with love for him. “Be my life, be my love, be my wife.”

“Yes,” she said.