The next two weeks were a whirlwind. The Journal agreed I could finish my work and take my last week as vacation. Joel flew in to help me pack. I met his father, who I ended up liking more than I thought I would. The next day, we drove Carmen, my old faithful car, on a long grueling drive across the state to my parents' house so they could meet Joel. I introduced him as my boyfriend because he hadn't proposed yet. My mom whispered to me the following morning that Joel asked my father for my hand in marriage. So old-fashioned and so perfect for my father. They loved him.

Joel slept in the guest room and never snuck into my bedroom, which drove me crazy, though I admired his respect for my parents. I left Carmen, behind at their house because Joel insisted I would be driving something reliable into town each day when I went to work. My father drove us to the airport. My mother wouldn't come because she said she would do nothing but cry the entire way there and back. Saying goodbye was hard but Colt was actually closer to them.

Joel and I were both tired and cranky by the time we touched down in Cleveland. Van picked us up and drove us home after giving me a big hug that I thought would never end. Joel finally grabbed Van's ear and twisted until he let me go. Van punched him on the arm. "I was waiting for you to do something and I wasn't letting go until you did."

They loved each other, and I was the luckiest woman on earth. We fell into bed that night after a quickie because Joel said he wasn't going one more second without sex. I could only laugh because I felt the same way.

I needed to be at The Sentinel early the next morning. I told Charlie during one of our many phone calls that I wanted to learn everything from the ground up. The massive printer needed oiling and that's where we started. She wasn't brand-new when Charlie bought her and she needed babying much like Carmen.

Joel let me drive his truck into town because he had things to take care of too. I'd sold all my furniture, but we'd shipped my other possessions. I picked them up after a full day at the paper before heading home. There was no question about where I would live. Van had no objections, so their home became mine.

It surprised me that Joel was there when I walked in. He was in the kitchen, and by the number of pots and pans that were out it looked like a huge meal was in the works.

"Are we having company?"

He turned and gave me a wicked grin. "No, my brother's gone for the night and I'm making you dinner. Come here." He pulled me into his arms and ran his nose along my neck. "You smell like motor grease and it's sexy as hell."

"You idiot. I need a shower."

He kissed me and it took everything I had to wiggle away. I ran upstairs, showered, and put on a sexy flowered dress I bought that had a built-in bra. This was it. I knew he would ask me to marry him tonight.

We ate dinner by candlelight and drank champagne. It was perfect. All but the proposal part. Joel didn't ask. I went to clear the dishes and he told me he'd be back in a minute.

He came back into the kitchen and I waited. I didn't get what I expected. He unzipped my dress and pushed it off my shoulders. He bent and ran his tongue across my nipples while wiggling the dress over my hips and letting it pool on the floor. I was no longer thinking about marriage. He took my hand and led me up the stairs. Lit candles filled the room with the smell of flowers.

Joel laid me back on the bed, removed my panties, and left me with my legs hanging over the side. He undressed quickly before going to his knees and spreading my thighs. He licked me, causing a moan to escape my throat and fill the quiet room. His tongue danced through my folds, lapping at the wetness. A bit of suction to my clit and I saw stars. He continued his sweet torture. Then, something strange pressed down on my belly. I brought my head up slightly and saw the small black velvet box resting on my lower abs.

He wouldn't.

Joel reached under the bed and brought out a huge bouquet of red roses. It wasn't the candles after all. He was on one knee, his chin resting against me. "Will you marry me?"

Frustration filled my voice. "You're doing this now?"

"You said even with me on my knees, flowers, and a ring you might say no. I'm hedging my bets. Is that a yes?"

"God yes." I watched the most wonderful smile light up his face.

"Give me your hand," he whispered.

He opened the ring box and placed a beautiful solitaire diamond on my finger. He relieved one rose of its petals and sprinkled them on my stomach. Then- he licked me again, adding his fingers to drive me crazy. In minutes my screams echoed off the walls.

I came back to earth and looked at my ring. It was so perfect. "Come up here," I said and put my ring hand down to him.

He crawled up the bed and pulled me into his arms. I moved a little sideways and took his hands, placing them to either side of his head. "Now I get to give my proposal," I whispered as I kissed down his abs.

"Make it good. I'm not sure if I'll say yes."

He didn't just say it, he shouted it several times.

We fell asleep in the middle of planning our wedding. I woke up first and snuck out of bed so I could make him a surprise breakfast.

I stopped in the dining room and saw Van folding my dress. I wanted to die of embarrassment.

"You know he's done this for me plenty of times, but really we need to set some ground rules in the house."

I covered my face in mortification. Van laughed and took my hand with the engagement ring. "I love you, sis." He grabbed me in his arms and swung me around the room.

"You are forever wrapping your arms around my future wife," Joel grumbled before taking me from his brother.

"Get used to it. I always wanted a sister to torment."

***

We were married three months later. Joel's father bought back the property Joel sold to buy me the paper and gave it to us as a wedding gift. Van pitched in money and the contractors broke ground for our new home two months following the wedding.

After that first night when I came to claim my man, Joel wore condoms until a pregnancy test came back negative and I went on birth control. We wanted to wait a year before we started our family. We didn't set a number for how many children we wanted. It was up in the air.

Charlie and I had the paper at bi-weekly six months later. I, more often than not, worked stories close to my heart.

And then there was rugby. The Slam didn't win the following year's championship. Joel decided to play one more season before switching to the full-time team manager. I was heavily pregnant by the time they made it to the championship match. Charlie and Stub drove me the ten-hour trip because I was too far along to fly. Nothing anyone said would keep me away. Our first baby, even after all the excitement of winning the game, didn't make an appearance for two additional weeks.

***

Many years later-

We renewed our vows on our thirtieth wedding anniversary. Our oldest daughter was pregnant with our first grandchild. The champagne was flowing and the party was in full swing when Van proposed the first toast.

His arm remained around the shoulders of the woman who had changed his life. "To my wonderful brother and sister-in-law. I'm too young to be a great uncle, but I'll forgive your daughter if you tell us one thing."

Knowing Van, this would be good.

His eyes twinkled. "I've asked for years, but you've never revealed the truth. Tell us how my brother proposed." Cheers went up from the crowd.

Heat rushed to my cheeks and Joel squeezed me tighter within his embrace whispering in my ear. "Don't worry, that's our secret."

Van's story next-

END OF PART FOUR