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"Or anything else," she adds "Oh, that gala at the hospital for the new children’s as fun"

"I think that was the first tiht," she says, laughing "I was too shy to talk to hiuess it all worked out in the end, now that you’ve s have worked out in the end Oh, look, you even included the photo frorin

"Of course, you looked aht"

"This is beautiful," she says after pushing her ee," I reply, feeling the butterflies start to take flight in e, then looks up atrooo in there, then"

She hops off her stool and follows asps I step inside the heart that I’ve arranged with more flameless candles and turn to her Her eyes roa at the fifteen-dozen red roses--one dozen for every year I’ve known her--in small bouquets on the floor and on every available surface

I extendinside the heart with me, her jaw still dropped in surprise

"Joy, you are the most incredible woman I’ve ever known You’re funny, smart, and successful and you’ve been my best friend since I was a boy You’ve been there withour careers, the death of your mother Hell, every important moment of my life includes you, Joy You know htest part ofyou by ony I wouldn’t wish onyou to not just be s To have a fah all of life’s ups and downs, and to love with me for the rest of our lives"

There’s a red velvet pillow in front of me I kneel on one knee and pull a s I’ve had waiting just for her

"Will you be my wife, Joy Thompson? Will you marry me?"

Tears roll down her cheeks unchecked, but she doesn’t say anything She chews her lip then, suddenly, she kneels beforemy face in her hands

"Joy? I need an answer, baby"

~Joy~

He’s staring at me with so much hope and love, it takes my breath away Isn’t this how every woman wants to be looked at when she’s asked to marry? With adoration?

"Joy?"

"Of course," I whisper, then clear my throat and lean in to kiss him soundly "Of course, I’ll marry you, Jace Crawford"

"You scared ainstnestled in the box and slips it on aze froer to Jace’s face "Thank you, so much"

"No, thank you" He pulls me to my feet, then lifts me in his arms and carries me upstairs "You knohat the best part of flameless candles is?"

"What’s that?"

"No fire hazard" He winks at me as Carl races ahead of us up the steps "With all of the animals in this house, I didn’t dare use real candles"

"You’re such a set used to all these rides I get fro you"

"That bath was a nice touch," I inform him as he sets ht have agreed to marry you fro in that water, and I would have scrambled to say yes"

"Good to know the way to your heart is through the tub," he says, his eyes full of humor

"Should we make some calls?" I ask "Noel will freak if she’s not the first to know"