Joy filled her whole being. She wiped at the tears spilling silently down her face, and hiccuped another little sob, unable to summon words.

The crowd that gathered around them let out a collective sigh as he grabbed her hand and held up the open ring box.

“Marry me, baby.” He slid the ring from its velvet cushion. “Marry me, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making you happy.”

“Yes,” Lilly choked out, her throat tight and her heart overflowing. “Of course I will. Yes!”

He slipped the ring onto her trembling finger, and the crowd cheered. He wrapped his arms around her and then his lips were on hers, pouring a lifetime’s worth of love and passion into his kiss.

Beside them, Hayden’s camera flashed, and Jace walked up grinning, the baby over one shoulder and Nate’s duffel bag over the other. “Hey. Get a room, you two.”

Lilly pulled away, laughing through her tears of joy. Nate rested his forehead against hers, and the heat in his gaze ignited a need within her that she knew wouldn’t ever go away. A need that had been waiting a lifetime to be met.

“Need a ride, Princess?” he asked, his voice low and bad-boy sultry.

“Oh, yeah,” she whispered. “Take me home, Soldier Boy.”