He walked to the edge and jumped off the table, landing in front of me.

“It is here that I fell in love with you,” Ryan whispered, taking my hands in his.

He dropped down on one knee.

“And as fate would have it, it is here that I humbly kneel before you and ask you to be my wife.

“Taryn Lynn Mitchell, will you marry me?” His glistening eyes, so blue, so full of emotion, gazed up at me… waiting patiently for my reply.

Only one word rang through my heart.

“Yes!” I nodded emphatically. My salted tears dripped across my lips. I said yes over and over again.

Ryan’s smile was glorious. It took my breath away. He reached into the front pocket of his jeans and pulled out a ring. There was no box, no preshow.

He took my left hand into his and kissed my hand softly.

“Forever,” he whispered, looking up at me, as he slid the ring onto my finger.

Chapter 37 – Sparkle and Fade

“Do you really like it?” Ryan asked when he caught me gazing at my engagement ring. I held my hand out to admire my exquisite diamond ring one more time. Even though my head swirled with thoughts, everything paled in comparison to the elation I felt from the amazing man that was holding me, his eyes begging for my response.

“If you don’t, I could always get you something else. I mean, I won’t be offended if you don’t like it. You could pick one that you’d rather…”

I quickly lifted my head off of his bare chest and locked my lips on his, shutting him up before he could entertain more doubt.

“It’s perfect,” I reassured him. “Absolutely perfect!”

He sighed. “Good! I’m glad.” He smiled gently. “I wasn’t sure. I looked at a lot of rings before I picked that one. I could have gone bigger with the center stone, but I presumed you’d feel anything over three carats would be too much.”

“You’re right!” I laughed lightly.

“There’s an inscription in it too,” Ryan informed tenderly.

“There is?” I said, completely surprised. He had placed this ring on my finger so quickly that I didn’t even have time to look at it.

He slipped his arm out from underneath our warm comforter and wiggled the ring off my finger. “See?”

I held it closer to my eyes, twisting the band so I could read it. Etched inside was one word.

“Forever,” I whispered.

“That’s right… forever,” he said softly. “I’m only marrying one girl in my lifetime. Just like my father did… just like your father did. Our parents spent their lives together and worked through their problems. We will too.”

I placed the ring back onto my finger.

“I am so relieved to hear you say that,” I sighed out, drifting my fingers across his cheek. “But I’m even more relieved that you’re just here with me. I thought I had lost you for good.”

“Taryn, I know things have been totally fucked up between us lately.” He paused and combed his hair back with his fingers. “But…”

“But we need to be more open and honest with each other,” I quickly finished his sentence, whispering my words on his skin.

“Yes. Exactly,” he agreed. “A lot more open.”

I thought about the reasons my heart ached just a few short hours ago. “You know a spectacular diamond ring on my finger doesn’t resolve our trust issues though.”

“I know. And I am truly sorry. I should have told you about Lauren. We should have talked about it.” He trailed his fingers down my back, straightening out a lock of my hair.

“Why don’t you tell me now?” I softly murmured.

He fidgeted slightly underneath me. “There’s not much to say, really. I met her when she screen tested for Thousand Miles with me. Production got pushed off a year and, well, we were both out in L.A., both single at the time.

“When I left to film Reparation she started seeing Lucas behind my back. A friend of mine called me in Chicago to tell me he saw them making out at the Chateau Marmont.” Ryan frowned. Admitting that out loud seemed difficult for him.

“I thought we were exclusive. I guess I’m just old-fashioned that way - I only date one woman at a time. Needless to say, that was the end of that.”

“Were you in love with her?” I asked, curious to know how deep his feelings were for her.

His eyes were thoughtful when he shrugged slightly.

“Honest and open,” I reminded him.

He sighed. “Not really. I mean I cared a lot about her. We were friends. It was new and fun for a while.”