Three months later
โRhys!โย Lucianaโs face creased into a huge smile. โComo estas?โ She looked Bridget over with a twinkle in her eye, and when she spoke next, her words held a teasing note. โEs tu novia?โ
I laughed and tangled my fingers with Bridgetโs. โSi, es mi novia.โ
โI knew it!โ Luciana said with delight. โFinally.ย Come, come. I have food for you.โ
She ushered us to the same table weโd sat at during our last trip to Costa Rica. I couldn’t believe that had only been a year ago. So much had changed since then.
Hell, so much had changed in the past three months alone. Bridget and I could finally enjoyย beingย together, even as preparations for her coronation ramped up and I slowly acclimated to the spotlight. I didnโt enjoy the attention, but I was more comfortable with it, and that was the best I could hope for.
โThis was a good idea.โ Bridget sighed with happiness when Luciana brought out a feast of meat and rice. โI needed a vacation.โ
I smirked. โI always have good ideas.โ
Bridget hadnโt wanted to go on a trip until after her coronation, but I could tell she was buckling under the
stress. She needed a getaway to reset. Plus, my mouth could be pretty damn persuasive, especially when I used it for purposes other than talking.
It was our first vacation as an official couple, and Iโd chosen Costa Rica not only for sentimental purposes but because no one in town knew or cared Bridget was a princess. Even after all the recent press coverage, they treated her as they would anyone elseโwarm and friendly, sometimes inquisitive, but never prying.
โFive days in paradise,โ I drawled. โSwimming, sunbathing, fuckingโโ
โRhys.โ
โWhat, you donโt like the itinerary?โ
โLower your voice,โ she hissed, her face the color of the tomatoes on her plate. โPeople will hear.โ
โNo oneโs listening.โ
We were the only ones on the trip. No Booth, no entourage. It took a helluva lot of convincing, but the palace finally agreed to my plan. I was still qualified to guard Bridget, even if I was no longer officially employed in that capacity.
Since I quit working for Christian, Iโd taken on a few freelance security consulting gigs. I didnโt need the money
โHarper Security had paidย veryย well, and I wasnโt a big spenderโbut Iโd go out of my mind with boredom if I didnโt have something to occupy my days.
โYou donโt know that.โ Bridget tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She wore a tank top and shorts, and her skin already glowed from the sun. No makeup or fancy clothes, and she was still the most beautiful sight Iโd ever seen. โPeople could definitely be listening.โ
โTrust me. I know.โ The closest people to us sat three tables over, their eyes glued to the soccer game on TV. โEven if they are, ainโt nothing wrong with fuckโโ
โRhys.โ
I chuckled but stopped trying to get a rise out of her lest her face explode from embarrassment. It never failed to amaze me how prim Bridget was in public compared to how wild she was in bed. It made our sex even hotter, knowing I got to see a side of her no one else did.
After lunch, we walked around town for a bit before I convinced her to return to the villa.
I couldnโt wait much longer.
โI have a surprise for you,โ I said as we drove up the hill. I couldnโt resist dropping a hint, and talking kept my focus off the knot of nerves in my stomach.
I wasnโt used to being nervous.
Bridget perked up. โI love surprises. What is it?โ
I kept one hand on the steering wheel and twined the fingers of my other hand with hers. โIt wouldnโt be a surprise if I told you.โ
โI like surprises Iโm prepared for,โ she said. โJust a hint?โ
I shook my head with a grin. Iโd been doing a lot more of that latelyโgrinning.
Something had changed over the past few months. The dark, heavy cloud thatโd hung over me all my life had dissipated. It still came back now and then, but sunny days were the default now, not thunderstorms.
It wasโฆstrange. The darkness had been a protective shield, and without it, I felt stripped bare. Defenseless, which was not something I ever wanted to feel. But in moments like this, when it was just me and Bridget, I didnโt need defenses. Sheโd broken through all of them, anyway.
โHere we are.โ I parked in front of the villa. โSurprise.โ
Bridget looked around slowly. โOkayโฆโ She shot a confused glance in my direction. โI hate to tell you this, but weโve been here before, remember? Luggage drop-off this morning? Bucket list number four?โ
โTrust me, thatโs not something Iโll ever forget.โ My mouth quirked up at the warm rose creeping over her
cheeks. โBut thatโs not the surprise. This is.โ I held up a set of keys. โI bought the house.โ
Her mouth fell open. โWhat?โ
โMy buddy was thinking of selling anyway. He and his family are moving further down south. So, I bought it.โ I shrugged.
We could stay in the nicest hotels in the world, but I wanted a place that belonged to us.
โRhys, you canโtโฆโ Bridgetโs eyes darted to the villa. โReally?โ
โYep.โ My grin widened when she squealed in a decidedly unprincess-like manner and jumped out of the car.
โWeโre coming here every year!โ she yelled over her shoulder. โAnd we need more hammocks!โ
I followed her inside, a laugh rumbling from my chest as she visited every room like they were long-lost friends.
I loved seeing her like this, wild and carefree, her guard down and her face lit with a smile. Aย realย one.
โI love this place.โ She slid open the glass door to the terrace and sighed when she saw the pool. โPerfection.โ
โWhy do you think I bought it?โ
A teasing sparkle brightened her eyes. โRhys, are you a secret romantic?โ
โI donโt know.โ I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small velvet box, the knot of nerves in my stomach doubling. Bridget sucked in an audible breath, but otherwise everything hushedโthe wind, the birds, the roar of the Pacific in the distance. It was like the entire world held its breath, waiting to see what happened next. โYou tell me.โ
I opened the box, revealing the glittering diamond ring that had burned a hole in the back of my dresser drawer for two months. Iโd wanted to wait until the perfect moment. Now it was here, and I felt like an eighteen-year-old walking into Navy training for the first time again,
determined but scared as hell about how the next chapter of my life would unfold.
A proposal was inevitable. I knew it, Bridget knew it, the world knew it. But just because something was inevitable didnโt mean it wasnโt important, and this was the most important moment of my life.
โIโm not the best at flowery language, so Iโll keep it simple.โ Fuck, was my voice shaking? I hoped not. โI never believed in love. Never wanted it. I didnโt see the practical value and, to be honest, I was doing just fine without it. But then I met you. Your smile, your strength, your intelligence and compassion. Even your stubbornness and hardheadedness. You filled a part of my soul I always thought would be empty, and you healed scars I never knew existed. And I realizedโฆitโs not that I didnโt believe in love before. Itโs that I was saving it all for you.โ
A half sob bled through the hand pressed to Bridgetโs mouth.
I took a deep breath. โBridget, will you marry me?โ
The question hadnโt fully left my mouth before Bridget threw her arms around me and kissed me. โYes.ย Yes, yes, a thousand timesย yes!โ
Yes.ย One word, three letters, and it filled me up so completely I was sure Iโd never hunger again.
I slipped the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly.
โThereโs no taking it back,โ I said gru๏ฌy, hoping she couldnโt hear the hitch in my voice. โYouโre really stuck with me now.โ
Bridget let out another half sob, half laugh. โI wouldnโt have it any other way, Mr. Larsen.โ She curled her fingers around mine. โYou and me.โ
A deep, pleasurable ache spread in my chest, warming me more than the late afternoon sun ever could.
I didnโt know what Iโd done to deserve her, but she was here, she was mine, and I was never letting her go.
โYou and me.โ I cupped her face and brushed my lips over hers. โAlways.โ
