“You lied?” I asked, slowly. “When?”
“Remember when you came to the concert, and we were kissing, and I asked you to come home with me.”
I nodded. Yes, I definitely remembered that. That kissing might have been featured in full color in some of my more vivid dreams.
“See, I just have a hard time reading you, Eve. And I was worried that I was making you feel like I was pushing you too hard, towards a commitment you didn’t want to make. I didn’t want to scare you off. So, I lied.”
My whole body went still. “What was the lie, Jack?”
“The lie was when I said it would be no big deal, Eve. That was a total lie. It would have been everything to be with you. I’ve woken up once with you in my arms, and that feeling, I want that feeling for the rest of my life.”
My whole body tightened with tingling anticipation. I could barely pull the breath into my lungs to whisper, “What are you saying, Jack?”
“What I’m trying to say, and I’m doing a really bad job of saying it is, first, I apologize for lying to you. And second, Eve, I love you. You’ve totally and completely captured my heart, and I don’t want to live without you. Will you marry me?”
My eyes flew wide with shock, as he lowered himself onto one knee in front of me and pulled a small jeweler’s box from his pocket. He held it out to me, his face a picture of nervousness, unsureness, and…love. He was looking straight into my eyes, his eyes glowing with adoration. I knew that look. I’d seen it before. And now I knew I could trust it.
Jack loved me? Jack loved me! How could that be? All the times I’d thought he was being obnoxious and pushy; he was really just trying to get my attention?
“Jack? Is this true? How can this be true?” My heart was beating so fast I could hardly breathe.
“Eve, do you remember when we first met?”
I nodded. Of course I remembered that.
“Do you remember what I was doing?” he asked.
“You had your head in your hands.”
“Eve, I was praying. I was so conflicted about going to the memorial. I didn’t want to go but felt I should go. And so I asked God for help. And he sent an angel. You.”
I gasped but didn’t interrupt.
“When you tapped my shoulder, I was dazzled. I’d never seen anyone so beautiful. And you were so kind, to reach out to help me, even though I was a stranger. I was just dumbstruck. And then at the memorial when you pretended to be my girlfriend, I wanted that to be true with all of my heart. When I offered that you could stay in my room, I wasn’t trying to score or anything, I just didn’t want to say goodbye to you. You’d swept me off my feet, honey. And you keep doing it.
“And Eve, when I screwed up and you wouldn’t talk to me or answer my texts, I felt like I had been knifed in the gut. It hurt so bad, thinking that you hated me. And then,”—his face grew a little sheepish—“ I gave Kimi the spa certificate so she could go figure out what was going on.”
“You sent Kimi to be a spy?” I pretended outrage, but I was floating on a cloud of happiness, unable to feel genuinely angry.
“Yes, I did. Sorry!”
“No need to apologize. I wondered why she picked me, but I’m glad she did. We had a great time and I really like her.”
“Well, that’s good! It’ll make life so much easier if you get along with the band, since they’re pretty much my family. But Eve,”—he grew serious—“you still haven’t answered.”
He held the jewelry box in one hand and popped the lid open with the other. I sucked wind, dazzled by the ring in the box. It was a simple, large, oval-cut, ice blue stone. The band was platinum, set with a row of tiny, sparkling diamonds. Tears flooded my eyes and blurred my vision.
“Honey, do you like it? Is it OK?” he asked, sounding concerned.
I gasped, “It’s gorgeous, Jack! I love it!”
“Can I put it on you? Is your answer yes?”
“Yes! A thousand times yes!” He slid the ring on my finger, and it was a perfect fit. I flung my arms around him and kissed him. He stood, pulling me up with him, pressing me against him, continuing the kiss.
As he broke off the kiss and pulled back to gaze into my eyes, I became aware of cheering. Glancing around I saw the entire café was watching us and clapping. The French are suckers for a happy ending.
“Jack,” I breathed.
