"You've never mentioned wanting a family. You've never even spoken of long-term commitment."
''That doesn't mean I don't want either of those things." He ran a hand through his hair, studying her from across the small expanse of table. "Until I met you ..." His words trailed off. How could he explain his feelings to her when he barely understood them himself? How could he put into words feelings and emotions so strong they frightened him? Could that gut-wrenching kind of love even be described?
"I guess we're both going to need a little time," she said quickly.
All of five seconds, he thought as he pulled a tiny, velvet-covered box from the pocket of his parka. ''It looks like we're both full of surprises today."
Satisfaction wafted over him as she stared dumbfounded at the box. "Like there's a rain check inside," he said with a hint of gentle sarcasm. ''That would be really classy of me."
She reached for the box, holding it to her breast for a second before opening the lid. Her breath hitched as she took in the sight of the brilliant marquise-cut diamond set into a simple gold band. It gleamed beneath the muted lighting, a tiny star that burned brightly for both of them.
"I've been carrying this around with me for a month, agonizing over whether or not you wanted to keep me around."
"A whole month?"
"I've got a lot of bad habits, Addison. I've got some serious problems to work through." Randall reached for her hand and pulled her across the table until their faces were close. "But I realized that what we have, the love we share, is everything to me. To pursue our love. To have a family together. To be happy. It's our birthright."
"Birthright." She liked the sound of it, the way it felt on her tongue.
"I've permanently retired from the NTSB." He'd faced his demons, only to find they no longer existed. "Jack offered me a job right here in Denver as his partner. As long as I stay off the booze."
"You can do it."
"I went to my first AA meeting last night."
Her eyes filled. Simultaneously, a smile played at the corners of her mouth. "I'm proud of you."
A sense of rightness, of happiness settled over him. "I love you, Addison. I've never said those words to anyone but you."
He looked down at the stained tablecloth, gathering his courage, his resolve, wondering why in the hell he'd waited until now to ask her. "Will you marry me?"
Through a haze of tears, she watched as he took the box from her and removed the ring. For the first time in her adult life, she felt true happiness. Stunning, she thought, and smiled when she saw the tears in his eyes.
"I'd love to, Talbot," she said, and he slipped the ring onto her finger.