“You did kind of fall into my lap,” I joked, and he laughed, then ran a hand over his mouth.
“I didn’t nail the landing, but I still won the race.”He held his glass to mine, and we clinked them together.“Now drink up.I’ll be right back.”
“Are you trying to get me drunk so you can get lucky tonight?”
He snapped his fingers, a mischievous smirk curving the right side of his mouth.“You already figured out my plan.”
“Well, it’s a dumb plan because you don’t need alcohol to get lucky.”I shot him a sexy wink, and he grabbed his chest, pretending to fall backward.A laugh slipped from my lips, and I shook my head.
He straightened, and his eyes softened, all his humor momentarily fading, leaving only that warm, golden gaze focused on me.
“God, I love you,” he said, that grin I fell for so many times pulling wide.
“I know.”Fluttering my eyelashes, I took a sip of my wine, staring at him over the rim.“Now, what about that surprise?”
I didn’t want to get my hopes up.I really didn’t.But tonight was over the top in a way that hinted at ring boxes and heartfelt proposals.Wyatt was good with words when he needed to be.He’d had plenty of practice from all the toasts he’d given over the last couple of years at our friends’ engagement parties and weddings.
“After we eat,” he said.“I can’t let the hunger gremlin come out.”The hunger gremlin was what he called it when I lacked nutrients, and my mood showed it.Nine times out of ten, he could end the start of a fight just by presenting me with a burrito or a plate of mozzarella sticks.
With a laugh, he headed toward the small room in the back of the barn that housed the kitchen and prep area.He returned with a plate of mozzarella sticks.He knew me so well.
“Fresh out of the oil from Don’s,” he announced, pride tinging his words.
“My favorite.”
“I know.”He placed the plate between us, and I didn’t hesitate to put one on my plate and another right in my mouth.I bit and pulled, revealing an epic cheese pull.
Wyatt’s eyes widened, and he jumped from the seat he had just taken.“Keep going!I see a new record.”He rooted me on as the cheese extended beyond my reach.A laugh burst through the teeth attempting to hold the cheese in place.
Wyatt took the fried stick in his hand, giggles rumbling my throat, as he stepped back, stretching the cheese until it finally broke.Our arms flung in the air, and laughs exploded from both of us.He dropped the mozzarella stick on his plate and picked me up, spinning me around like I had just won the most prestigious award.
And to us, I did.That was the best cheese pull either of us had ever had!
He placed me down.Our eyes met, the golden brown darkening.He’d looked at me so many times, in so many ways, but this… this was different.
The humorous glint was gone; no lazy smile, or flirtatious spark.Passion fueled the darkness of his irises.My knees weakened at the intensity, and my breath caught.
Was this the moment?It was perfect.
Ask me.Please.
The word yes was on my tongue, eager to escape.I loved this man so much, and I was ready to take the next step in our relationship and solidify our love on the grandest stage.
I waited, but the words never came.He leaned in, kissed my forehead, and took his seat again.We ate the mozzarella sticks like normal humans and continued through the rest of the courses.Once dessert was done, the material of my dress was no longer forgiving; I leaned back and exhaled.“I’m stuffed.”
“Hopefully not too stuffed.There’s one more surprise.”
“If it’s food, give it to me tomorrow.Or next week.Maybe never.”
He laughed, and it filled the barn with joy that wrapped around me.
“Okay!”He clapped his hands together and shot up from his chair.“Close your eyes.”
“Are you serious?”
“I’m dead serious.Now, no peeking, Grasso.”
I pressed my lips together, heart thundering against my chest.This was it.It had to be.I fidgeted with the stem of my glass, trying to keep my emotions at bay, but hope rose inside me.
