Reese waved a hand. “Just some financial stuff. But you’re busy. I’ll wait until we have some good news to celebrate. Where’re you taking her tonight?”
“It’s not where I’m taking her that’s the special part,” Noah murmured, glancing down at the folder containing all the information regarding the charity he’d set up in her name. “It’s what I’m offering her if she wants it.”
His cousin glanced at the folder with curiosity but didn’t push the question. “Well, I’m gonna say it’ll go exactly as planned. Don’t stress too much. This is Jane we’re talking about. She’s crazy about you. Don’t forget that.”
Noah nodded. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
Reese chuckled as he headed from the room, leaving Noah to his thoughts again and hoping he could channel the courage he’d had when he was a teenager.
The second Janeopened her apartment door, Noah allowed his gaze to sweep over her appreciatively. She wore a pair of jeansand a casual blouse. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and she had the barest hint of makeup on her face.
Good. News hadn’t gotten out about his plans. The last thing he’d wanted was for her to know that he planned to propose. She flashed him a smile over her shoulder as she pulled the door shut and locked it. “You look nice.”
He glanced down at his own attire. He’d foregone his usual jeans and wore a pair of khakis instead. He’d thought it was casual enough, seeing as she’d seen him in suits more often lately. Noah didn’t give her a chance for anything else before he pulled her into his arms and pressed a kiss to her lips.
She let out a giggle, returning his kiss when it grew deeper. Breathless, she pulled back and studied him. “Everything okay?”
“Everything is perfect,” he insisted.
Jane grinned. “Good. Because I have to tell you something.”
He paused, hating that his head immediately went to places that weren’t healthy. She wouldn’t break up with him, would she? No. There was no sign of that. Reese was right. He needed to stop fretting. Today was like any other day.
She laughed, framing his face with her hands. “It’s not a bad thing. My mom wants us to come for Sunday dinner this weekend. She’s making it official. Every third Sunday is going to be family dinner instead of letting it jump around.”
Noah exhaled, which drew another laugh from Jane’s throat. He tightened his hold around her waist. “I’d like nothing more than to be part of your family.”
Jane eyed him even as a smile pulled at her lips. “I feel the same way.”
Their confessions hung in the air, and in that moment, Noah wanted to throw his well-laid plans to the wind and just ask her to be his right here. He couldn’t fight the smirk that appeared on his face when he withdrew from her and knelt to one knee.
She gasped, and he glanced up as he started tying his shoe.
Jane blinked several times when she finally realized what he was doing. Then she looked away, and an obvious blush filled her cheeks.
Her reaction was everything to him, and she didn’t even know it. Noah’s confidence surged, and he cocked his head at her. “Something wrong?”
Jane shook her head with a laugh. “It’s nothing.”
He tightened the laces once more and rose to his feet. “Let’s get going, then, shall we?”
She nodded, slipping her hand into his.
In town, they made their way down the main street, and he guided her into the Sip-n-Shop. The deli-style diner was one of her favorites. They hadn’t come here all that often, but when she had a lunch break, Jane often ordered something to go. She sat across from him, her eyes alight with excitement.
“I heard the good news. The Billings location is moving to a larger building. Do you really think we’ll get any interest on the housing side of things?”
Noah nodded, taking a sip of his water. “I do. I want to get as many veterans out of traditional shelters and off the street as possible. Did you see the proposal for the other services offered?”
Jane nodded. “I’m so excited to see how the therapeutic services are going to go over. Those people need this kind of help so much. They deserve everything we can do.”
He nodded. Noah could listen to Jane talk all day about the people of this town and those who had served their country. It was the main reason for the charity he’d started in her name. They continued to talk about the other opportunities he wanted to offer at the center until their food arrived.
Conversation drifted to various other subjects as they ate. She flirted a little and he loved that so much. He felt so special when she was with him. Their road had been bumpy as adults, but he knew that he was where he was meant to be at this moment in time. Even more than that, he believed that Jane was meant to be with him as well. There was joy and confidence in that knowledge.
He smiled to himself as he took his last bite of dinner. “I was going to see if you wanted dessert, but I think I have a better idea.”
She smiled and nodded as he paid so they could leave.
