Tears had started streaming down my face the moment Matthew began speaking. I couldn’t believe the beautiful words that were pouring out of his mouth. It wasn’t that I didn’t think he could ever say something like that, it was that the words he was saying were meant for me. “Yes,” I nodded.

Matthew swooped in and gave me a long, passionate kiss, then he ran to the edge of the deck and yelled, “She said yes!” He came back to me.

“What was that for?” I laughed.

Matthew didn’t answer. He went to the side of the deck, opened a storage compartment, and placed a box in front of me. When he opened a box that read Cartier, the ring sparkled brilliantly against the candlelight. That thing looked so big. Oh my God! I knew he would get me one someday, but I never expected today. It was an overwhelming surprise. I gasped lightly with my hands covering my mouth. “It’s beautiful, Matthew.” He slipped it on my finger, and it fit perfectly. “How did you know my size?”

“Jenna, of course. It’s a princess cut. Three karats. I wanted you to have this before Max and Jenna’s wedding. My parents already know that I’m proposing tonight, and so do Max and Jenna. The only important people that don’t know are your parents and your sister, Rachel.”

“Jenna knew?” I laughed. “They will know when we visit them. They already love you. I’ve told them so much about you, and they can’t wait to meet you.”

“How could anyone not?” Matthew winked.

“Arrogant,” I laughed lightly, enjoying the humor between us.

“Stubborn.”

“Jerk.”

“Crazy.”

“Ass.”

Matthew puffed his bottom lip out into a frown. “Not liking where this is headed.”

I curled my lips into a huge smile. He was cracking me up. “Adorable. Absolutely amazing. Hot. Sexy. Gorgeous. Edible. Juicy.”

Matthew’s eyes grew with lust and want while his body was still pressed to mine. “Don’t forget...drool worthy and deliciously f**kable.”

Holy f**k. “Yes!” I said out loud.

“Shit! I almost forgot.”

“What are you doing?” I asked. He went back to the edge of the deck. “Carlos, she said yes!”

“Carlos? You said we were alone.” I watched him run back to the storage compartment. He pulled out a gadget and spoke into it.

“Now, Carlos.”

The second Matthew came back to me, the sky lit up with fireworks. They weren’t massive like the kind you would see at Disneyland, but they were grand enough. Assorted colors splashed against the dark sky. No matter how many times I had seen them, it always seemed to take me away from reality and into their beauty.

“This is how you make me feel, Becca. You bring color and excitement into my life.” We turned face to face when the show was over.

“I can’t believe you did this for me,” I sobbed, and tried to wipe my tears. “No man has ever made me cry so many happy tears. How?”

“My parents have connections, which are my connections, too. I had to ask Carlos to come with me. Who was going to push the buttons?”

I snorted. Oh God! I thought some snot flew out. “Oh, Matthew. You’re too much.”

Matthew rewarded me with a loving, warm smile. He slipped down to his knees again with his arms wrapped around my waist and unexpectedly kissed my stomach. “My little one, you make me feel this way, too. Please be strong for Mommy and Daddy. Don’t let anything happen to you or your mommy, okay?” Matthew caressed my stomach, as if he was touching the baby. “I promise to do whatever I can to make sure you are healthy and make sure nothing bad happens to you, but I need your help. I can’t do this alone. You need to fight and grow big and strong. We don’t even have a name for you, and I haven’t even held you in my arms, but know that I love you with all of my heart, and my love will grow as you grow. You have a family waiting for you. You even have a cousin that will be born around the same time, so please don’t let anything bad happen.”

I inhaled a deep breath. I felt the depth of Matthew’s love and his worries for our unborn child for the first time. It meant the world to me to know how much he already loved our baby. He’d never expressed how he felt, so a part of me had doubts. Whatever the reasons before, it was clear now. I felt it at that very moment. Matthew was just as scared as I was. He wanted our child as much as I did.

There was a big possibility that there would be dangers ahead, but Mathew and I would get through this. We’d be each other’s strength. We’d hold on to hope. We’d ride out the storm. As long as we had each other, come what may. Matthew and I would make it. We had to.

Chapter 28

Jenna

We walked inside Grand Del Mar after our luggage was secured with the bellman. The first thing I saw was a wooden table in the center of the lobby with a huge bouquet of colorful flowers. Past the lobby was where the sun shone through the glass doors. I could also see the black grand piano and the elegant yet modern furniture. The decor all around was exquisite and very much to my taste. I knew I would love it there.

“This place is amazing,” Mom exclaimed.

“We should check in,” I said, clicking my heels across the marble floor to the receptionist, who was smiling at me.

After we checked in, a nice gentleman walked us to our villas. Max had told me that he had reserved all of them; not just for us, but for our guests as well. Though we didn’t need to rent all of them, he didn’t want strangers near us.