It had been a month since Ryan was discharged from the hospital, and life had slowly returned to normal. Ryan was back at work, his energy restored, and Avery couldn’t be more relieved to see him thriving again.
One morning, as they finished breakfast together, Ryan looked across the table at her with a playful glint in his eye.
“So, I was thinking,” he began, setting his coffee mug down.
Avery raised an eyebrow. “That always sounds like trouble.”
He grinned. “How about a date night tonight? Just the two of us. You’ve been so incredible lately, and I want to spoil you a little.”
Avery smiled, warmth spreading through her chest. “That sounds perfect. What’s the plan?”
“Not telling,” Ryan teased, leaning over to kiss her cheek. “Just dress cute.”
“Cute?” she asked, feigning offense. “I’m always cute.”
“You’re adorable,” he corrected with a wink.
Later that afternoon, Avery stood in her walk-in closet, staring at the racks of dresses in front of her. Normally, she loved picking out outfits, but her growing baby bump made it a little more challenging these days.
“This shouldn’t be so hard,” she muttered, pulling out a navy wrap dress. She slipped it on and looked in the mirror, frowning as the fabric stretched awkwardly over her belly.
After a few more attempts, she finally found a flowing emerald-green dress that hugged her curves in all the right places without feeling constricting. She paired it with gold earrings, a delicate bracelet, and nude heels that gave her just enough height.
Satisfied with her look, she brushed out her hair into soft waves and applied a touch of makeup, her cheeks glowing naturally.
“Not bad, Kane,” she said to her reflection, smiling.
Just as Avery finished getting ready, the doorbell rang. She opened it to find Ryan standing there with a bouquet of blush pink roses and white lilies in his hand.
“Wow,” Ryan said, his eyes widening as he took in her appearance. “You look… breathtaking.”
Avery blushed, taking the flowers from him. “You’re not so bad yourself,” she said, admiring his charcoal-gray suit and crisp white shirt.
“These are for you,” he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “A little something for my beautiful girl.”
“They’re gorgeous, Ryan. Thank you,” Avery said, inhaling the sweet fragrance of the blooms.
As they drove to the restaurant, Ryan held Avery’s hand, his thumb gently rubbing circles on her skin.
“You’ve been working hard lately,” he said, glancing at her. “You deserve a night off.”
“You’ve been working hard too,” Avery replied. “It’s amazing how quickly you bounced back after the hospital.”
Ryan smiled. “I had the best nurse.”
Avery rolled her eyes, laughing. “You were a terrible patient.”
“And yet, you stuck with me,” Ryan said, his voice softer now. “That’s why tonight is about showing you how much you mean to me.”
The restaurant was cozy and intimate, with dim lighting and soft jazz playing in the background. The waiter led them to a private table near the window, where a candle flickered between them.
Over dinner, they laughed and talked about everything—from the nursery to Ryan’s work projects. Avery couldn’t remember the last time she felt so relaxed.
“You’re glowing,” Ryan said suddenly, his gaze tender.
“It’s probably the candlelight,” Avery joked, though her cheeks flushed.
“No,” Ryan said, shaking his head. “It’s you.”
As dessert arrived—a decadent chocolate lava cake—Ryan stood up and walked around the table.
“What are you doing?” Avery asked, her eyes narrowing playfully.
Ryan dropped to one knee beside her, pulling a small velvet box from his pocket. The restaurant seemed to quiet as Avery’s breath caught in her throat.
“Avery Kane Deveraux,” Ryan began, his voice steady but filled with emotion. “A month ago, I thought I might lose everything. Being in that hospital made me realize just how much you mean to me—how you’ve always been my rock, my partner, and my best friend.”
Avery’s eyes filled with tears as she covered her mouth with her hand.
“You stood by me when I was at my weakest, never letting me give up. You’ve shown me what true love looks like—unconditional, patient, and full of hope. And now, with our little one on the way, I can’t imagine spending another second without making this official.”
He opened the box to reveal a stunning diamond ring, its delicate band sparkling in the candlelight.
“Avery,” Ryan continued, his voice breaking slightly. “Will you marry me?”
Tears streamed down Avery’s cheeks as she nodded, unable to speak for a moment. Finally, she found her voice.
“Yes,” she whispered, then louder. “Yes, Ryan. A thousand times yes.”