Rush

she pulled it out.
    Around her flashes went off. People with cell phones were recording the moment. There
     were loud cheers and yells of encouragement. But she shut everything out but the man
     in front of her. Nothing else mattered.
    She opened the box to see a gorgeous diamond ring nestled inside. It glittered in
     the light and blurred in her teary vision. Then she glanced down at the man on his
     knees in front of her. He was begging her with his eyes.
    Jesus, but he was crawling.
    “Oh Gabe.”
    She went to her knees in front of him so they were on the same level. She threw her
     arms around his shoulders still holding on to the box with the ring.
    “I love you,” she breathed. “I love you so much. I don’t want to be without you.”
    He grasped her shoulders and pulled her back, his eyes fierce with love and possessiveness.
     Then he reached into his coat and pulled out a thick document. Oh God, it was their
     contract.
    And then he slowly and methodically tore it in two, his gaze never leaving hers.
    “From now on our relationship has no rules,” he said hoarsely. “It will only be what
     you and I make it. What we want it to be. No constraints. Nothing but our love. The
     only signature I want from you is on a marriage certificate.”
    He took the box from her hand and pulled the ring free. Then he picked up her left
     hand and slid the glittering diamond onto her third finger.
    The crowd erupted around them, and then Gabe pulled her into his embrace, his mouth
     hard and fierce over hers. She clung just as fiercely to him, absorbing this moment,
     committing it to memory. It was one she’d never forget as long as she lived.
    When she and Gabe were old and gray, she’d remember this night and play it over and
     over. It would be a story to tell their children, their daughters.
    And then she realized she had no idea if he even wanted children.
    “I want babies,” she blurted out.
    Then she blushed wildly as she realized how far her voice had carried in the crowd.
     There was laughter around them and one called out loudly, “Give them to her, man!”
    Gabe smiled, his expression so tender that it melted her heart and warmed her so thoroughly
     that she didn’t even register the cold.
    “I want babies too,” he said huskily. “Daughters as beautiful as you are.”
    She smiled so wide she thought surely her lips would split.
    “I love you, Mia,” he said, his voice gruff and uncertain. He looked so vulnerable
     there on his knees in front of her. “I’m goingto love you forever. I hope that’s good enough for you. I’ve done so much wrong since
     you came into my life, but I swear to you that I’m going to spend the rest of my life
     making it up to you. No one will ever love you more than I do.”
    Tears leaked down her cheeks as she stared back at the man who’d humbled himself in
     front of her and half of New York City.
    “I love you too, Gabe. I’ve always loved you,” she returned softly. “I’ve waited most
     of my life for you.”
    He slowly stood and then lowered his hand to help her to her feet. Then he pulled
     her into his embrace and held on tightly as the music began around them.
    “I’ve waited just as long for you, Mia. Maybe I didn’t always know what I was missing,
     but it was you. Always you.”
    He turned them so they faced Jace and Ash. She’d forgotten all about them, and then
     realized that they were in on this too. She realized the
enormity
of them being in on it.
    Joy flooded her heart, and she launched herself at Jace, nearly toppling him over
     as she hugged him.
    “Thank you,” she whispered in his ear. “Thank you for understanding and for accepting,
     Jace. You can’t know how much this means to me.”
    He hugged her back, emotion thick in his own voice. “I love you, baby girl, and I
     just want you to be happy. Gabe has convinced me that he’s the man for the job. That’s
     all any big brother can ask for.”
    She turned and threw herself into Ash’s arms and kissed him on the cheek. “I love
     you too, you big lug. And thank you for helping me through these past weeks.”
    Ash grinned and kissed her cheek before releasing her back to Gabe. Then he ruffled
     her hair affectionately. “Anything for you, kiddo. We just want you to be happy. And
     well, I want to be the baby’s godfather.”
    Jace scowled. “Oh hell no. That’s my job. I’m the kid’s uncle.”
    Mia rolled her eyes and squeezed herself into Gabe’s side as Ash and