Page 124 of Eleven of a Kind

I slipped the four-carat diamond on her finger, stood her up, and swung her around.

“You have made me the happiest man alive, babe.” I kissed her.

Our entire family walked down the beach, clapping, shouting, and whistling as they came to congratulate us. Riley ran over and hugged Piper.

“You knew about this, didn’t you?” Piper asked her.

“Of course I did. I love you, Piper, and I wouldn’t want anyone else for a stepmother. I know my mom would have loved you too.”

“Aw, thank you, Riley. I love you so much.” She hugged her tight.

“Can we eat now? I’m starving,” Riley said.

“I thought Cody was coming over,” Piper spoke.

“Nah, that was just a lie so my dad could propose privately.” She smiled as she sat down across from us.

“We’re going to leave the three of you alone to celebrate,” Jenni said. “Your big party is tomorrow, and we’re going to celebrate the night away.” She hugged Piper.

“I’m spending the night at Lily’s.” Riley looked at me.

“Good idea, kiddo.” I winked with a smile.

“Just don’t go be making any babies tonight. Between me, Uncle Carter, and leaving your bachelor life behind, you’ve had enough life changes for a while.”

Piper and I stared at her and couldn’t help but laugh.

CHAPTER42

Piper

I sat on the beach and watched my sexy fiancé and future stepdaughter in the water with their surfboards. Gabriel was so proud that Riley wanted to learn how to surf, and he loved every minute of teaching her. Even Ella joined them a few times, and she was really good for a kid her age.

I held out my hand and stared at my beautiful ring. If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be engaged to a handsome doctor and living in a big house on the beach, I would have told them they were insane and to seek help immediately. Dr. Gabriel Kind didn’t believe in love when he met me, just as much as I didn’t. But together, we saw something magical in each other that neither of us thought we needed.

“What are you doing?” Gabriel smiled as he set his board down.

“Staring at my beautiful ring and giving thanks to the universe that your daughter chose my shop to steal from.” I grinned as I handed him a towel.

He laughed as he dried himself off and sat down next to me in the sand, hooking his arm around me.

“Yeah, I thank God for that every day too.” He kissed the side of my head.

“Jenni showed me a sketch of a wedding dress she designed for me earlier.”

“And?”

“Like a fool, I started crying because it was so on point and beautiful. I’m just warning you now, Dr. Kind, that I might be a blubbering fool when we’re standing up at the altar.”

“That’s okay.” His grip around me tightened. “I’ll still love you anyway, blubbering fool and all.”

“You jerk!” I pushed him on his back and straddled him as I grabbed his arms and held them above his head. “Are you saying that you won’t be a blubbering fool with me?”

“I might be. We’ll have to wait and see.” A smile crossed his sexy face. “But for the record, you won’t be a blubbering fool. You’ll be my sexy as fuck, gorgeous bride who will become my wife forever and always, til death do us part.”

“Ewe, will you two knock it off.” Riley walked past us, carrying her surfboard under her arm. “Go get a room or something. Gee, you’re so embarrassing.”

“She won’t be seeing it as an embarrassment one day when her body is on top of the love of her life.” I smiled.