“Gran told you that?”
“I ran into her on my way out this morning. She was just getting in,” he says with wide eyes. “What would you say to breakfast in bed?”
“I’d say a resounding yes.”
He leans in for a kiss, but I block him with one hand over my mouth. “Morning breath. I’ll be right back.”
Hurrying across the room in my bare feet, I close the door and quickly brush and rinse with mouthwash whilst running a comb through my hair, even though it’s useless because it’s stiff with hairspray and completely knotted up from all the sex. Whatever. He’s seen me look much worse.
When I walk out, he’s got our breakfast set out in their cartons. Mine is on a tray, and next to the pancakes, is the small black velvet box I should have opened the first time. Honestly, it’s been killing me, wondering what the ring looked like. If it is a ring, that is. Maybe I misread that. Maybe it’s a key to Dwight’s place.
My heart pounds, stirring all sorts of huge, fabulous emotions in my chest as I walk across the room to him. I point to the box, and he nods.
“Since the cheesecake didn’t work. I figured maybe Viennese pancakes would do the trick. But is it too quick?” he asks, looking concerned. “Should I put it back and try again in a few months?”
“No!” I shout, then I cover my mouth with both hands and laugh at myself. “I mean, now is just fine.”
He picks up the box and stands, then gets down on one knee in front of me. He tilts his head and smiles at me, his face filled with love and hope and just a hint of fear. My muscles tingle with excitement, and I’m ready to say yes, but I wait, knowing he needs to do this his way. He takes my left hand in his and grips it gently.
“I thought I had it all before I met you, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. You’re everything I didn’t know I needed. I love you with my whole heart, and not just because you’re beautiful inside and out. I love you for your generous spirit and your kindness and the way your heart breaks when you hear about anyone anywhere on the planet having a rough go. I love how fun you are and how serious you can be. I love it when you get that determined look on your face, and I know you’re going to manage to do whatever it is you’re setting your mind to. I love the way you laugh and the way you smile and the way you speak. And…well, I could go on all day, but our breakfast’ll get cold.”
“We can’t have that,” I say, grinning through my tears. I take a deep breath, then kneel down so we’re both on our knees. “I thought it only right that I meet you halfway,” I whisper.
“That’s because of your giant sense of justice,” he says, and we both laugh.
“It’s a big draw, isn’t it? Men can never seem to resist my sense of justice.”
Chuckling, he gives me another kiss, then tucks a lock of my wild hair behind my ear. “Well, they’re going to have to because I intend to keep you to myself forever.”
“Promise?”
“I do.”
“Then so do I,” I say, reaching for his face and holding it in both hands. “Yes, I will marry you.”
I lean forward, letting our lips touch, then I stop. “That is what you were about to ask me, yes?”
“Yes, I was.” He gives me a long kiss.
I pull back a little and say, “You were trying to think of my entire name, but you couldn’t remember it all, could you?”
“Maybe,” he says. “But I promise I’ll memorize all twelve middle names before the wedding.”
“It’s only eight.”
“Let’s make it nine.”
“You mean add Banks to the end?” I ask.
“If you want,” he says with a shrug. “Totally your call. It’s your name.”
Grinning at him, I say, “I think I’d like that, but first, can I see the ring?”
“Oh that,” he says, pretending he forgot about it. “Sure.”
He lets go of me and opens the box. I let out a real gasp because that is one absolutely incredible, knicker-melting rock. Tears fill my eyes and when I look back up at Will, I can see his eyes are glistening too. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” I whisper as he slides the ring on my finger and tosses the box over his shoulder.
