Lily gulped, blinked like an owl, her entire focus on Jake standing next to her, his large, warm hand on her shoulder.
The living room quieted.
Lily reached up, touching Jake’s hip. “Yes, I love you. And I’m happy just to live with you, Jake.”
“No,” he said, shaking his head, “this has to be official, darling.” He lifted his hand from her shoulder and dug into his pocket. Producing a small black velvet box, he opened it. “This is my promise to you that I’ll cherish and love you the rest of my life . . .” and he held the diamond engagement ring toward her to take.
His heart was beating heavily in his chest. Never had Jake wanted anything more than this brave woman. Lily’s eyes grew huge at the beauty of the engagement ring he held out to her, and then her gaze flew to his. “Well? What’s your decision?” he teased, his voice low with so much feeling.
She took the ring out of the box. “Slide it on my finger?”
Tears jammed into his eyes, and it took everything he had to force them back. His fingers were huge, and the ring platinum and delicate. Fumbling, he finally got the ring situated correctly so that, as Lily held out her long, slender hand, he eased it on her finger. It fit beautifully, and she blushed. But her eyes, those crystalline blue eyes of hers through which he could see to her soul, were shining with such love for him.
She stood up, giving everyone a nervous smile. “I didn’t expect this . . .”
There were cheers and clapping all around them as everyone celebrated the good news.
Lily slipped her hands across Jake’s broad shoulders, standing up on tiptoe, her mouth meeting his. All the boisterous sounds dissolved as she melted beneath his mouth, which moved so worshipfully across hers. Tears dribbled out of her shut eyes, down her cheeks, the salty warmth of them tasted between them. It was a forever kiss, so warm and welcoming, a new chapter in their lives—together.
Don’t miss the next exciting book in the
WIND RIVER VALLEY series:
WIND RIVER PROTECTOR
by
Lindsay McKenna
Coming to your favorite retailers and e-retailers
in August 2019!
Also available from Lindsay McKenna:
Her new military series,
Delos!
Nowhere to Hide
Forged in Fire
Broken Dreams
Secret Dream
Unbound Pursuit
Secrets
Snowflake’s Gift
Never Enough
Available from your favorite e-tailer.
For more information,
please go to:
www.LindsayMcKenna.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lindsay McKenna is the pseudonym of award-winning author Eileen Nauman. With more than 135 titles to her credit and approximately 23 million books sold in 33 countries worldwide, Lindsay is one of the most distinguished authors in the women’s fiction genre. She is the recipient of many awards, including six RT Book Reviews awards (including Best Military Romance Author) and an RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award. In 1999, foreseeing the emergence of eBooks, she became the first bestselling women’s fiction author to exclusively release a new title digitally. In recognition of her status as one of the originators of the military adventure/romance genre, Lindsay is affectionately known as “The Top Gun of Women’s Military Fiction.” Lindsay comes by her military knowledge and interest honestly—by continuing a family tradition of serving in the U.S. Navy. Her father, who served on a destroyer in the Pacific theater during World War II, instilled a strong sense of patriotism and duty in his daughter.
You can visit Lindsay McKenna at
www.LindsayMcKenna.com.