Unprecedented

Ruby's heart was heavy. She couldn't take away future possibilities from Ash if he did change his mind later. Then he would resent her and she wouldn't be able to bear that.

"I can't," she said miserably. "If you do change your mind someday and hate me for it, I wouldn't be able to handle it. Don't we have a good thing going now? Why change it?"

Ash blew out a frustrated breath. "Because I'm sick of the wall you keep up expecting me to leave. I'm really not going anywhere and there is no better way to prove it to you. I've known that there is nowhere I would rather be than by your side since before I even knew you had feelings for me.

"My resolve has only strengthened over time seeing how good things are with you. I can honestly say that living without you wouldn't be living at all. I've said it before and I'll say it again—you and Flora are my family. I don't need anything more than that. Why won't you believe me?"