“Evangeline Starling”—Roane’s deep voice seemed to fill the whole place—“people will always say this is too soon. That we would be mad to do this. But from the moment you saved my dog, I have been yours. Days that were filled with only work and friendship have become days filled only with hours that I count until I can see you again.”

Oh my God. Tears filled my eyes.

“I know, the way the trees know they’re rooted to the ground, that I’m rooted to you. That no matter your answer here this evening, I am yours until I’m nothing but dust in the wind. Maybe even then.” His eyes burned with all the love I couldn’t believe was for me, and he snapped open the box to reveal a stunning teardrop diamond engagement ring. The white gold band glittered with tiny inset diamonds, and the teardrop itself was significant.

It was beautiful.

And he wanted me to have it.

My vision blurred as I looked up from the ring to stare into Roane’s face. A face I loved more than any other.

Marrying him would mean leaving my life in Chicago behind for good, but hadn’t I already decided I was going to do that as soon as Roane admitted he loved me? But marriage? Marriage was permanent.

“I’m yours, Evie,” he said softly. “Forget time, forget everyone else and what they think. What do you want? Because I want you to be mine, as I am yours. Will you marry me?”

It wasn’t that I didn’t want forever with Roane. I did. I’d known that from that first day we made love, maybe even before then. Yet I had to know for certain whether I could leave Greer, Phil, and Mom behind.

They are important to me, but they have their own lives. It’s time for me to start mine.

With that last thought ringing in my head, I laughed in disbelief and joy and he blinked as if he didn’t quite know what to make of my reaction. Afraid he’d take it the wrong way, I launched myself into his arms, peppering his face with kisses. “I’ve been yours from day one,” I promised him, leaning back to meet his gaze, his beard tickling my palms as I held him. “Roane, I’m yours. I always will be.”

He heaved out a shaky exhalation, his smile slow and relieved. “That’s a yes then?”

I gave him a huge grin, so huge my cheeks hurt. Everything inside me felt too much, like I might just burst apart from all the feelings that were too big for one person to contain. “That’s the biggest yes of my life.”

Roane kissed me, hard, no finesse, kissing my cheeks and chin and nose and making me laugh as hollers and shouts of celebration sounded all around us.