Page 119 of Madden

“We’re almost there, baby, and I promise to make up for it all.”

Judging by the sound of her gasp when we pull up a little while later, I think I lived up to my word.

She barely waits for me to put the car in park, unhooking her seat belt before reaching for the door handle and jumping outside.

“Why didn’t you tell me this is where we’re staying?” She stares wide-eyed at the tree house I rented for the weekend.

The little oasis is built around two trees located back in the woods. It snowed a little last night, which set us back this morning, but made for a beautiful view with the snow-covered trees surrounding us.

“C’mon.” I smile, linking our fingers and nodding toward the wooden bridge leading to the house.

“We’re supposed to walk across this to get inside?”

I burst out laughing. “Unless you want me to carry you over my shoulder, that’s the plan.”

She smacks me on the arm and takes off in front of me. I’ll come back later to grab our bags.

There’s a light on inside. I hand a key left hidden for us outside over to Brielle, who unlocks and opens the door, revealing the white rose petals scattered across the floor with candles lit throughout.

She steps inside, her eyes struck in awe as she stares around the room. It takes a moment for her to register what’s going on. She spins around to look at me and slaps her hand over her mouth when she finds me on my knee waiting for her.

“Madden,” she cries, tears filling her eyes.

“Yeah, baby.” I nod.

She drops her hands, letting the tears flow down her cheeks. The sight of her crying has me choked up, and suddenly, the speech I’ve been reciting in my mind the entire drive here flies out the window.

All I want to tell her is I love her and ask her this one question.

Two simple words.

“I love you, Brielle.” My voice breaks.

She folds her hands against my cheeks, her body trembling when she crashes her lips on mine. My face is wet from the tears streaming down hers.

“Marry me.”

She gasps, her eyes screwing shut. She straddles my bended leg, wrapping her arms around my neck, crushing my hand holding the ring between us.

“Is that a yes, baby? Will you marry me?”

“It’s a hell yes.” She grins, nodding her head in amazement.

She leans back enough for me to show her the ring again, another round of tears streaming down her cheeks.

“It’s perfect.” She brushes her finger over the diamond.

“I’ve never seen anything more beautiful in my life,” I agree, never taking my eyes off her.

I slip my hands around her thighs, carrying her through the house to the bedroom overlooking the woods.

This is what sold me on the place, the bed facing two French doors leading onto a balcony nearly thirty feet high in the forest around us. When the night falls over us, the lights hung along the exterior will gleam in the darkness.

I set her on the edge of the bed, lifting her chin.

“I should call my parents,” she whispers. “We both know how quickly word can travel. I want them to hear it from me.”

“They already know.”