He chuckled and gave her butt a squeeze.“Are you kidding me?Do you have any idea how sexy you are in those things?”
She made a face, but she loved knowing that he thought so – he told her often enough.
He ran his hand over her hair.“I wanted to propose to you here.I never forgot you telling me that the happiest days of your childhood were the days you spent right here.”He kissed the tip of her nose.“I’m hoping that today will count as one of your happiest days – it’s definitely mine – and I figured we should make a start on making new happy memories here.We have the rest of our lives to collect some.”
“This is the happiest day of my life, Jake – no question about it.I love you.”
“I love you, too, fiancée.”
“Oh wow!”
“Do you like that idea?”
She nodded happily.“I can’t say I’d ever thought about getting married before I met you, but now …” She looked at him from under her lashes.“I love the idea of being your fiancée, and I can’t wait to call you husband.”
The way he smiled as he leaned in made her heart melt as he said, “I was thinking we needed to take our time, but we don’t, do we?We can get married just as soon as …”
He stopped short, and Savannah tensed when they heard banging.It sounded like it was coming from …
Jake turned her to face the office, and all she could do was laugh when she saw Harvey banging on the window – and all the rest of them were there, too, smiling and waving.
~ ~ ~
Jake couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as he watched Savannah show her ring off and hug everyone.This was perfect.All the family had come – that was why he’d needed to close the overhead door, so she wouldn’t see them arriving and sneaking into the office to wait.
He’d wanted them to be here to celebrate, but the actual proposal needed to be private — just him and Savannah.Not because he thought she might say no, or even because it might feel like pressure to her.It was just that he’d wanted asking her to marry him to be their moment, just the two of them.
He grinned at Taryn when she and Dalton came to congratulate him.She was wearing a mock scowl, but it soon dissolved into a grin.
“You done good, kid,” she told him.
“That’s a decorated Marine you’re talking to, not some kid.”Dalton winked at Jake as he said it.
Jake chuckled.“You can call me what you like as long as it’s not all the names under the sun for not taking you up on your very generous offer.”
Taryn waved a hand at him.“Bring her in for dinner to celebrate whenever it suits the two of you.Proposing in the restaurant wouldn’t have been the right move – I just wanted to help.”
“And to be a part of it,” Dalton said with a smile.
She slapped his arm.“Okay, I did, but it wasn’t about me – I care about these guys.”
Dalton slid his arm around her shoulders.“I’m only playing with you.”
Taryn smiled at Jake.“And it worked.You invited us to be here for this.”She looked around the garage.“And this was perfect for you guys.We’re going to head out now, but thanks for letting us be here.”
“Thanks for wanting to come,” Jake told her.“It means a lot.You’ve been good to Savvie – she thinks the world of you.”
“It’s mutual,” said Taryn.“We’ll see you soon.”
Dalton shook his hand and slapped his back.“Yeah, you should see if you can’t round up your family and get them home – Dom already slipped away to check on the food.”
When he got to Savannah, she was hugging her friends goodbye – Tiffany had let Abbie and Elle in on the secret, and Jake loved that they’d come and brought Ivan and Donovan with them.
Ivan slapped his shoulder.“Congratulations again.I’ll no doubt see you in the gym soon.”
After they’d gone, his dad came to him and wrapped him in a hug.“Happy for you, son.”
“Thanks, Dad.I’m happy for me too.”
