Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
When Nate came downstairs, I put my laptop and phone away. He switched on the monitor on his way to the kitchen. “Up for a martini?”
“Absolutely,” I said. “Want help in there?”
“Since when do I need help making cocktails?” he called. Next, I heard ice clinking into the metal shaker.
The family room and kitchen were open to each other, part of a new addition off the back of the old house. I loved Nate’s house. From the moment I saw it, I knew it was the right one for him. Beautiful old street, great neighborhood, kids riding bikes up and down the block, plenty of room in the house for him and Paisley, and even room to grow if he decided he wanted a bigger family.
I really hoped he did.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, shaking up the vodka and the ice.
“Yes.” I took off my heels and wiggled my toes. “I skipped lunch today.”
“Good, because I have a little treat for you before dinner.” A moment later, he brought me a drink and a little plate with two fortune cookies on it. He set both on the table.
I rolled my eyes. “Are you going to tease me about taking these things seriously again?”
“Not at all. I think you should take it very seriously.”
“No, you don’t. You just want to laugh at me.” I looked at them—one was half dipped in dark chocolate, the other was half-dipped in white. “Are these from The Peterboro?”
“Nope. I got them made especially for you. Did you know it’s our anniversary today?”
A funny little shiver moved through me. I looked at him, but his expression gave nothing away. “It is?”
He nodded and sat down beside me. “Exactly three months since the night at the winery.”
“Awww.” I gave him a quick kiss. He still wore his dress pants and shirt, although he’d cuffed up his sleeves before Paisley’s bath. He’d also ditched his tie and loosened his collar. Sexy as hell, even half undone. “And I’m supposed to eat them before dinner?”
“Yes. Or at least open them.” He handed me the dark chocolate dipped. “Here. This one first. I’ll go get your drink.”
With my belly fluttering, I cracked it open. Setting the pieces back on the plate, I pulled out the little paper. It said, Only you.
“Awwww.” I smiled at him as he set my drink on the table and sat next to me. “So sweet.” I set the little piece of paper down and picked up the next cookie, although I knew what it was going to say, because it was the second half of something I asked him to tell me all the time. I cracked it open over the plate, and pulled out the paper.
Then I gasped. Because it didn’t say what I thought it was going to say. It said, Will you marry me?
And Nate was getting on one knee at my feet.
My jaw hung open. My heart clamored in my chest.
He pulled a ring box from his pocket and opened it up. “Always you,” he said. His voice cracked. His eyes were shining. But he smiled at me and everything, everything fell into place.
I shrieked and threw my arms around his neck before bursting into tears, clinging to him like he’d just rescued me from drowning.
He laughed. “Is that a yes?”
But all I could do was sob.
“Want to at least try the ring on?”
The ring! I hadn’t even looked at it.
Sniffling, I let go of him and he held it out for me again. “I asked your sisters’ opinions, but if it’s not what you want—”
But I was already blubbering again. I see a lot of rings in my business, but this one took my breath away—a two-carat elongated cushion-cut solitaire with a narrow pave band in white gold. “It’s p-perfect,” I managed. “Ab-abso-lutely p-perfect.”
“I’d like to take more credit, but your sisters said you’ve described your dream ring to them so many times they had it memorized.” He took it from the box and slid it onto my finger.
I laughed through my tears. “It’s true.” It took me a few more minutes, but eventually I calmed down enough to speak. “Oh my God, Nate. It’s real. It was a dream, but you made it real.”
“It’s real.”