“Only if I have you by my side.” All at once, he dropped to his knees in front of her.

Sam gasped and raised a hand to her chest to keep her galloping heart from leaping through fevered skin.

“Samantha, I love you so much. Since you’ve been back in my life, I feel like anything is possible.” He glanced at the grand old house behind them. “Even things I never dreamed of. Our life together will be crazy and chaotic and wonderful. Will you marry me and take the trip of a lifetime with me?”

“Yes,” she said. “Yes!” As he gathered her in his arms, she had no thoughts about the past, about the marriage that had failed or anything other than what was right in front of her—the love of her life.

He reached for the inside pocket of the coat she wore and withdrew a dazzling square-cut diamond ring that took her breath away.

“I can’t wear that to work,” she said as he slid it on her trembling finger.

Smiling, he said, “I wouldn’t expect you to. But you will wear the other one after you say ‘I do,’ you got me? I want the whole world to know you’re taken.”

Framing his face with her hands, she touched her lips to his. “I’ve been trying to tell you I’m ready to move in with you.”

“I know,” he said, returning to the seat next to her and leaning in for a lingering kiss.

“You had this whole thing planned.”

“And you tried to ruin it.”

She grinned. “Of course I did. I wouldn’t want you to think I’m easy.”

Hooting with laughter, he said, “No worries there, babe.”

“So, we’re really gonna spoil everything by making it official?”

“We really are.” He helped her up and drew her into another long, passionate kiss. “I love you, Samantha.”

“I love you, too. So, so much.”

A big smile lit up his handsome face. “Just think of it this way: at least you can’t say I never promised you a rose garden.”

Sam laughed, her heart full of joy and anticipation and excitement. “You have a way with words, Senator. You really do.”

Acknowledgements

Thank you to my husband Dan and our terrific kids, Emily and Jake, for supporting my writing career every day. To my readers, thank you for being the best part of this crazy ride. To my editor, Jessica Schulte, and the amazing, dynamic team behind Carina Press, thank you for your support and encouragement. It’s a pleasure to work with each and every one of you. And finally, to my darling puppy, Brandy, thank you for helping me to build my presence on Facebook. Your mischievous antics have provided entertainment for people neither of us will ever meet but who now call both of us “friend.”

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