His words bring a smile to my face when I respond, “Me neither.”

We go slow, the same way we always do. He’s never rushed with me, always taking his time, but knowing that he wants to be mine—to be my husband—creates an underlying intensity. A piece of the puzzle that we’ve finally found. A wholeness that we can bring each other. And when we have each other undressed, he quietly slips inside of me and holds himself there. Still. His breathing is heavy, and I can feel the swarm of his emotions take over him. I see it in eyes as he keeps them locked on mine.

I pull him down to me, needing the weight of him to cover me as I press my hands into his back to keep him close. Tonight is different. Bared in a way we’ve never been with each other. The love I feel for this man is more than my body can handle, and when I release a whimper, he begins to move inside of me.

His head is nestled in the curve of my neck, and I run my hands up his back and into his hair, holding his head in my hands, and when he draws his head back, I see his cheeks are damp with tears. I don’t say anything; I know exactly how he feels because his tears reflect the ones that run down the sides of my face.

Rolling to the side, we lie face to face. He takes my leg and drapes it over his hip as he grabs me from behind, guiding me with him. I keep my hands on his face and hold him close, both of us quietly releasing our love and happiness through tears. The room fills with nothing but soft breaths of pleasure as we make love, giving ourselves entirely with the certainty that we are perfect for each other. Feeling secure, knowing that through it all our love has never stalled. It only grows.

* * *

Waking up in the morning, the room is cold, and I snuggle in tighter to Ryan who is just starting to stir. I watch as he slowly begins to open his eyes, and before he can fully wake, he has a cheesy grin on his face when he rolls me on top of him.

“Morning,” he says in his sexy rasp before I lower my lips to his, giving him a gentle kiss.

When I shiver in his arms, he rolls me back onto the bed, and wraps his arms around me.

“Mmm, you’re still naked,” he teases with a grin, and I tuck my head down into his chest. “Why are you so shy with me still?”

“Ryan,” I softly nag.

“I’m not complaining. I like that you’re still shy and reserved around me.”

Peeking up at him, he kisses my forehead, and adds, “But I’m not gonna lie, I love feeling your skin all over me.”

“Stop,” I say, feeling the blush heat my cheeks as he quietly laughs.

He runs his hands through my hair as he looks at me, saying, “Tell me last night wasn’t a dream.”

“Which part?”

“The part where you said you’d marry me.”

Smiling, I tell him, “I hope it wasn’t a dream.”

“Do you have any idea how happy you make me?” he asks, not letting me answer when he kisses the smile on my face.

He keeps his lips on me as he starts running his kisses across my cheek and down my neck. Holding on to him, I close my eyes as he sends tingles down my arms. “I don’t wanna wait,” I whisper.

“For what,” he mumbles against my skin.

“To marry you.”

He pulls back to look at me, and agrees, “I don’t either.”

“Well, I was thinking . . . umm . . .”

“Just say it,” he tells me as he brushes my hair back.

“What about Indian Beach?”

“To get married?” he asks.

I nod my head, saying, “I love it there.” It’s where we went this very day last year when he told me that he wanted to be with me. It’s where he taught me how to surf. It’s a place the two of us go together every time we come to Cannon Beach. And I know it’s his favorite beach too.

“Sounds perfect.”

“But . . .” I start hesitantly. “What if we just did it this weekend?”

“In two days?”

“Or three,” I say coyly, wondering if he’s thinking I’m crazy for suggesting doing it so soon.

“Babe, don’t you want a big wedding and have everyone there?” he asks, concerned.

Letting out a soft breath, I tell him, “I never wanted a big wedding. You know me; I don’t want all that. I just want us.”

He gives me a kiss and then questions, “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. Just us,” I assure him before adding with a smile, “And a pretty dress.”

“What about everything else?”

“There is nothing else. I just want you, but no cheesy tux. Promise me no tux.”

He laughs at me and asks, “Why’s that?”

“Because it isn’t you.”

“Okay, no cheesy tux,” he agrees with a sexy smirk, and the smile on my face can’t even reflect the happiness that I feel right now.

After he makes sure he is satisfied from thoroughly kissing me, he says, “We should go downstairs. Everyone is leaving this morning, so we should make an appearance.”

“Can we not tell them?” I suggest, and when he tilts his head in question, I add, “I don’t want all the fuss. Can we just tell your mom when everyone leaves?”

“Of course, babe,” he says and then gets out of bed.

After we take our showers and get dressed, we head downstairs to visit before everyone heads home, except Tori, who is going to stay so that she can go shopping with Donna.

“Hey, Mom. Can Candace and I talk to you for a minute?” Ryan asks as she is finishing up a pot of tea for herself and me.

“Sure,” she says with a curious eye as Ryan takes my hand and starts walking back to the study.

“What’s going on?” Donna asks as the three of us stand there.

My stomach is filled with butterflies, wondering how she’s going to react to this sudden news. I think Ryan and I are still in a bit of shock with the spontaneity of it all, but it’s what we both want.

Ryan doesn’t waste any time when he comes right out and says, “I asked Candace to marry me last night.”

“What?!” she squeals and looks to me, and then down at my hand, and Ryan catches her eyes.

“No ring, Mom,” he says.

She shakes her head, questioning, “So . . .?” and I laugh as I assure her, “I said yes.”

“Oh my God!” Donna wraps her arms around both of us, and I can’t stop laughing at her reaction. Happy, joyful, and everything else you would wish for from a parent.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” she nearly scolds Ryan when she pulls back. “And why didn’t you get her a ring?”

“I don’t need a ring,” I butt in and tell her.

“Because,” Ryan interrupts, “I never thought of asking her until last night. It just happened, and before I knew it, I asked and she said yes.”

“This is just wonderful news, you two,” she beams with an ear to ear smile.

“But we need your help,” he says.

“Yes, anything.”

“We want to get married here. Either Saturday or Sunday.”

“This Saturday or Sunday?” she questions.

“Yeah,” he says while I nod my head.

“What’s this Saturday or Sunday?” Tori asks as she walks in.

Donna doesn’t say anything and looks to me, but Ryan goes ahead and tells her as he steps behind me and wraps his arms around my shoulders. “Candace and I are getting married.”

“What?!” She gives the same squealed reaction as Donna. “In two days?!”

“Or three,” I mumble quietly, starting to feel a little embarrassed with the reactions.

“How are you supposed to plan a wedding in two days?”

“Tori, stop,” Ryan tells her, and when she looks at me, she back pedals as I’m sure she can see the embarrassment written all over my face. “I’m sorry, Candace.”

“No, it’s fine,” I tell her and then look over at Donna. “We don’t want a big wedding or anything. We were just thinking we could go to Indian Beach in a couple days and simply get married. That’s all.”

Her warm smile soothes the anxiety that Tori was starting to give me and softly says, “I think that’s perfect, dear.”

“We just need someone to do the ceremony, so could you call the church you attend and see if one of the pastors is available? We’ll work around his schedule,” Ryan says to her.

“Of course. I’ll call right now, but you two will need to go to the courthouse to get a license today,” she tells us.

“What about flowers, or a cake, or—” Tori starts.

“Nothing,” Ryan tells her.

“Really?” she asks, looking at me, and I tell her, “Really. I just want a dress. That’s all I need.” But then it hits me . . . it isn’t all I need. Turning in Ryan’s arms, I look up at him, and before I can speak, he reads the panic in me, asking, “What’s wrong?”

“We have to call Jase. I can’t get married without him. I just . . .”

“We’ll call him, babe. No worries.”

Jase is my family, the closest person I have in my life next to Ryan. I couldn’t imagine doing this without him by my side.

“Well, then,” Donna says. “I’ll get on the phone and start making calls. Why don’t the two of you go ahead and drive to the courthouse and call Jase on the way. As soon as I get things figured out on my end, I call and let you know, okay?”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Donna walks over to me and takes my hands in hers, saying, “You have no idea how happy you’ve just made me.”

“Really?”

“We’ll talk later, dear,” she assures and then adds, “I’ll get a list of dress shops together so when you get back, you can decide where to go first.”

“I was hoping that you could take me,” I say, and when her eyes rim with tears and she nods her head, she tells me, “I’d love nothing more,” before hugging me.

* * *

After Ryan and I left to head to the courthouse, I called Jase to tell him what was going on. He was shocked, which I expected, but hopped on the computer and was able to switch the flights for him and Mark, and they will be here tomorrow evening.