I bite my lip and flutter my eyelashes in jest. “I’m not your wife.”
“Ah, w-well,” he stammers.
Humming, I lean my back against the headrest. “Those were some good times.”
“That’s not where we’re going. And stop distracting me.” He holds out the mask, which I take and fasten over my eyes.
“How many fingers?”
“Can’t see a thing, Grim.”
I hear him blow out a breath, and then the car starts moving. We drive for what feels like forever with the radio on low. Halfway through, I reach over, searching for Gage’s hand. I lace our fingers together, instantly settling with the feel of his warm, rough palms in mine. He gives my hand a quick squeeze, keeping our hands locked together until it feels like we drive over gravel.
Gage’s door opens, and a few seconds later, mine does too. A kiss is left against my lips before my seatbelt is removed and I’m lifted out of the car. On unsteady feet, I’m guided across a rocky path, the sound of chains follows, then the groaning of a gate.
My brows pinch as I try to figure out where on Earth we are. Gage pulls me along once again, making me laugh.
“Where are we?”
“Almost there.” I can hear the smile in his voice, and it’s enough to set me at ease. Whatever it is, it must be good.
The air around me shifts, and I can feel the hardness of Gage’s chest as he stands behind my back now. His hands move to the blindfold, pausing before they slide up. I blink a few times, confused but intrigued as to why we’re standing in the middle of Thistle Theory.
We’re in the back section, close to the café, where there’s an open grassed area and a long covered path. It’s not in season for the wisteria that climbs over the verandah to be flowering, but the long green vines still look stunning as they’re joined by twinkle lights wound around the posts and branches.
A trail of white petals starts at our feet and curves around the corner, leading into the greenhouse where the classes and events are held.
I turn around, a smile starting to form as I stare up at Gage. “What is this?” I ask because it really looks like a proposal, but I don’t want to get my hopes up.
Is this actually happening? I feel like I must have slipped into another dimension if Gage is already at the stage ofproposing.I know we love each other, and I know he’s committed to me just as much as I am to him. I don’t need anything more than what he’s given me, but if he’s asking, it’s a hell yes from me.
“Your surprise.” He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “Follow me?”
“Anywhere.”
He smiles and links our fingers together, leading me down the floral path. When the greenhouse comes into sight, I can see the entire thing is full of candles. I flex my fingers, fighting off the tingles that have started. My heart is in my throat as Gage looks down at me and winks, then crosses the threshold.
More white petals cover the concrete, forming a circle in the centre of the space, and more candles are scattered around the border.
He pulls me into the middle, bringing us face to face.
“Isabelle.” My eyes are already starting to fill as I take a deep breath, waiting for what’s next. “I didn’t give much thought to my life beyond getting through the day. It was full of darkness and regret, and wishing I could have a chance to do things over. The first moment I saw you, it was like the clouds parted and let in the sunshine. I started hoping for the next day, wishing for a tomorrow where I might see you again. I wanted to hold onto moments and let them linger. Instead of taking life at face value, I started living it. Meeting you brought to life a feeling I thought lay dormant. Something I gave up on, something I didn’t even realise was missing.
Falling in love with you became the bravest thing I ever did, and at the same time, the easiest. Being loved by you has become the proudest thing I’ve ever achieved in life, and it’s the one thing I never want to lose, never want to spend a day without.”
With his eyes on me, Gage lowers down to one knee. I taste the tears as they fall onto my lips.
“Isabelle Kathryn Asher, will you marry me?”
Breath escapes me as I sit on his bent knee, throwing my arms around his neck.
“Yes.” My vision is blurry, but I still manage to catch the beaming smile Gage gives me before he wraps an arm around my back and presses his lips to mine.
He chuckles against my mouth as my cries grow deeper, overwhelmed by the love in my heart.
Gage pulls back, looking down at his hand, and my gaze follows his to the velvet box held between his fingers.
A yellow diamond sparkles in the centre, with smaller white diamonds bordering it like a halo. More diamonds sit along a white gold band, and it’s the most stunning thing I’ve ever seen.
