Will I ever get enough of this man?
His arms enveloped her, squeezing her tighter. “How about we go for round two?”
She swatted him away. “We’ll have time for that later. I can’t wait to surprise him. TJ!” she yelled, barely able to contain her glee.
“I’m coming,” her brother called down.
“I was hoping you’d be the one saying that,” Bently grumbled in her ear as she spun around, wiggling her ass against him, knowing it would drive him wild.
“You play dirty.” He chuckled.
“You haven’t seen anything yet, Sheriff,” she teased.
Bently groaned as her brother descended their stairs, probably for the last time. I can’t wait to move in with Bently, and have both the men I love under the same roof.
“Why is that look on your face?” TJ asked suspiciously.
Belle shrugged, motioning to the stack of boxes in the living room. “Just happy to be taking this step. Grab your boxes—we’ll load them into the truck.”
She spun around, zipping up her coat and opening the door before the secret burst from her lips.
A couple of minutes later, TJ and Bently walked out, boxes in hand. She turned the camera on her phone on and pointed it at TJ, excited to catch his reaction. “Go ahead and put them in the blue truck.”
TJ peeked around the cardboard square, his eyes widening and darting to Bently, confused. “New ride?”
“Do you like it?” Bently asked, playing along.
“Yeah, it’s dope.”
“Good, because it’s yours.” Bently smiled, holding out a set of keys.
TJ set the boxes in the truck bed before glancing between Belle and Bently. “You messing with me?”
“No way. We thought you could use your own vehicle to get to classes.” Bently smirked, pressing the keys into TJ’s palm.
TJ’s mouth opened and closed like a fish, seemingly bewildered. He shook his head. “You did this?” He searched Bently’s face.
“We did this. You’ve earned it. You kinda saved our lives. I’d say we owe you one.” Bently chuckled, always trying to lighten the mood.
TJ glanced at Belle, affection and gratitude shining from his eyes. It hit her right in the solar plexus. Happiness radiated from the boy who had worked so hard to elevate himself from the gutter they’d been born into. The boy she’d raised as a child herself.
“Thank you.” TJ hugged Bently around the waist and the man she loved embraced her brother, slapping him on the back.
TJ came over to Belle next, swatting the camera away. “Enough of that. You get over here.” He squeezed her tight, his strong arms holding her as she’d done for him so many times. He’d been her reason for living, her driving force to choose the hard road. She wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Don’t cry, big sister.”
She laughed. “You know I’m just so happy for you. You are going to start the rest of your life today. And now, you’ve got your own wheels and are in college classes. Soon you’ll bring a girl home to meet me. I’m just so proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished, TJ. I love you so much.” She hiccupped.
“Love you too, mama.” He held her as she fell apart again from the endearment. Warm happiness and elation brimmed from her every pore like she was soaking in a river of golden sunshine. This was the kind of joy she’d only read about in books, the kind she’d believed only existed in fairy tales.
Bently wrapped his hand around her waist. “Hey now, give the boy some air. I’m starting to get jealous.”
TJ and Belle laughed. She looked up into the face of the man she loved, the man who had faced his past and taken the hard road to be vulnerable with her. The man who had breathed life into her for the first time.
“Now it’s your turn for a gift.” Bently’s smile wavered as if he was nervous.
Her brows knit together. “My turn?”
“You didn’t think I’d leave you out, did you?” Bently pulled a leather box from his pocket.
The breath shuddered in her lungs. No way. Is he? Oh my god!
Bently got down on his knee, not seeming to mind the cold snow on the frozen ground. “Belle, I know it’s really soon. But I decided that when it comes to you, I’m done waiting. I’m never holding back again.”
She glanced to TJ. A wide smile lit his face.
“I have already given you my heart, but I’m hoping that you’ll do me the greatest honor of letting me share my life with you. We don’t have to do it now. I’ll wait until you’re ready, whenever that is. I want you to be mine in every sense of the word. My lover, my best friend, and my wife.”
Fresh tears spilled over her cheeks. She didn’t bother to wipe them away this time. There was so much she wanted to say to him, but everything jumbled up and stuck in her throat.
“Show her the ring,” TJ said.
Belle’s eyes darted to her brother who now held his phone up, capturing their moment.
“Oh, right.” Bently opened the box.
A dark red ruby glinted in the morning sunlight, the square-cut stone set in a delicate silver band. It was simple and elegant. It was perfect.
“I got you a ruby because it’s the queen of all stones. Uh—” Bently cleared his throat nervously. “The ancients believed its value surpassed that of all other stones in virtue, even the diamond. There are a lot of other meanings, like protection, and it symbolizes the sun. I chose it because to me, you are the sun. You’re everything good in this world. You’re valuable and precious, and powerful. And I want to have the privilege of standing by your side forever.”
Belle’s heart pounded in her chest. Disbelief and butterflies swirled in her belly.
Fear and uncertainty flashed in those cerulean-blue eyes.
Say something!
She nodded vigorously and pulled him to standing. “Yes, Bently. I-I want that too. Yes!”
Bently let out an audible sigh as he pulled her tight against him, kissing her. “You
