“Aren’t we going to be late?”
“We’ve got a little time.”
Sky placed her hand in his and followed behind. As they entered Remington’s private study, her mouth dropped into a perfectly shaped . . . O. “Remington? What have you done?” Breathlessly, Sky turned around in a circle.
“I had it decorated based on what Charlie and I could glean from you. Do you like it? I figured this could be your office.”
Sky smirked and placed a hand on her hip. “Then why do you have a desk in here too?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Sometimes, I just don’t want to be away from you. If it were up to me you would never leave this house, but you and your rules.”
“My mother has been engaged six times. I’ve learned a thing or two from that. Her motto to me was always, ‘don’t be a wife until you are a wife.’ This is your home, and that’s fine.”
Remington chuckled. “Funny, I don’t remember you saying that to the architect.”
Sky looked sheepish. “I just wanted to make sure you and Charlie were comfortable.”
“Right. Of course.”
Sky turned her back to him as she continued to admire not only how Remington furnished and decorated the room, but also the lovely white roses placed all around. “No one has ever done anything this sweet for me.” It was a big gesture for a man who said he had never wanted to get married again or have any more children. For a moment, Sky’s heart was heavy because she wanted those things with Remington.
She sighed, wistfully.
Sky didn’t know what the future held, but she was willing to take the journey wherever it leads. “We should probably get moving, or we are really going to be late.”
When Sky turned to face Remington, he was on bended knee holding a little black velvet box.
Her breath caught, and her hands went to her throat. “Oh, my god! What are you doing?”
“I thought you were special the moment we met. I knew it after experiencing the tender loving care you showed Charlie and me during one of the most difficult times in our lives. I’ve been lucky to have an opportunity to get to really know you, and the time we have spent together has only confirmed that you are more incredible than I already thought. It drives me insane that I don’t get to wake up to you every morning and fall asleep with you every night. I plan to change that because . . .” Remington paused. “I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. I hope you feel the same. If so, then Sky Kirby Johnston will you marry me?”
Tears filled her eyes.
Remington opened the black box and inside was an emerald cut, flawless, seven-carat yellow diamond. He took it out and held it up to Sky, ready to place it on her finger.
His hands shook slightly. “Sky?”
“Yes?”
“Is that yes you’ll marry me, or yes that you hear me?”
“Both! Yes! Yes, yes, YES!”
He placed the ring on her finger.
Sky threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
The door burst open, and not only did Charlie, Sophia, and Yolanda enter the room but so did Sky’s mother and husband number four, Sam, Nia and her new boyfriend, her father, Franklin, and Remington’s dad, Michael Kneeland.
Sophia brought celebratory champagne into the room and sparkling apple juice for the girls so that they could join in on the toast.
Sky’s mother was the first to pull Sky into a tight embrace. She couldn’t contain her excitement as she pulled her away. “I knew there was something special about Remington. Congratulations, honey!”
Charlie stood at Omara’s elbow waiting her turn to congratulate Sky and her dad. She held another bouquet of yellow roses, and when it was her turn, she handed them to Sky. “Here. These are for you. They are not from dad. They are from me.” Her eyes were glassy.
“Thank you. They are beautiful.” Sky’s throat was thick. “Are you okay with this?”
The room quieted as everyone watched.
“Are you kidding me? I’m better than okay. I’m ecstatic! I even helped Daddy plan the proposal.” Her voice turned a little somber. “With my real mom thousands of miles away, I would love to have you here full-time.” Charlie wrapped her arms around Sky’s waist, and Sky returned the hug with equal fervor.
The happy tears Sky had been battling back, slid down her cheek. “I know I’m not your mom, and I’d never try to replace her, but I hope you know I’ve fallen in love with you just as much as I have your father. You could even say, if it weren’t for you, we might have never found one another.” Sky’s smile grew so big it spread across her entire face.
Remington didn’t want to spend one second thinking about Bella and Kane. He was happy that she had moved away and was shamefully doing a bit part on an un-popular soap-opera. The Great Bella Lord-Langston had fallen so far from grace, it wasn’t even funny. However, he had heard through Charlie that she was engaged to some millionaire hedge-fund manager. Remington had had him checked out only to find that unbeknownst to Bella, the man was millions of dollars in debt. Served her right. She had better be glad that Charlie pleaded on her behalf. That’s the only thing that kept her ass out of prison that and signing over full-custody.
