More Than Rivals (24 page)

As he stared at her, he took her other hand, but his smile slowly disappeared. He blinked a few times and said, “Um.”

“Yeah?” she said softly.

“I … uh … practiced this, and … just a second.”
 

He closed his eyes for a moment and breathed deeply, while Lily’s smile grew. It was a rare day that Jack was at a loss for words.
 

Her smile must’ve calmed him, because though his expression remained intense, his voice was warm. “When I was growing up, I’d hear in church that a sacrament was an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. Lily, you have truly graced my life. I offer you this ring as a sign to you and the world of that.”

“Jack,” she whispered, as he flipped open the box, which indeed held many carats on a slim platinum ring.
 

As she stared at the contents of the box, Jack continued, “You once said you and Luke were a package deal. It would be the honor of my life if we could lead our lives all together.” He then smiled. “I love you more than anything. Will you marry me?”

The joy that radiated from her heart overwhelmed her so much that she took a step back. With her eyes set on the man she loved, she answered him with a smile. “Yes, yes, and yes.”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

All the faults in this book are entirely my own. Any instances of correct grammar, consistent characters, accurate Spanish, true politics, nice formatting, pretty pictures, and/or thorough storyline can all be attributed to these lovely women: Alexis Morales, Anne Forlines, Annie Notthoff, Azucena Sandoval, Daisy Prescott, Elisha Rose, Funmbi Elemo, Irene Chartofilis, Jada D'Lee, Kellie Riehl, Laura Edmonston, Sara Barth, and S.L. Scott.
 

Thank you!

A million thanks aren’t enough for my dear husband and darling girls.
 

I love you to infinity and beyond.

Mary Whitney

Even before she graduated from law school, Mary knew she wasn’t cut out to be a real lawyer. Drawn to politics, she’s spent her career as an organizer, lobbyist, and nonprofit executive. Nothing piques her interest more than a good political scandal or romance, and when she stumbled upon writing, she put the two together. A born Midwesterner, naturalized Texan, and transient resident of Washington, D.C., Mary now lives in Northern California with her two daughters and real lawyer husband.

To learn more about this author and her writing,
 

please visit
www.WordyMary.com