He jumped, swatting my hand away instinctively. “Behave.”
“Or what, you’ll punish me?”
He pinned me with a gaze that made my core go molten. “You know I will, Laidie. But first thing’s first.”
He guided me to the settee, draping his arm behind me as we sat, our thighs pressed together.
“Before I start with your gifts, I want to make sure you’re okay,” he said, rubbing his thumb along my shoulder.
I turned toward him, eyeing him inquisitively. “Of course, why wouldn’t I be?”
“Xavier’s baby being born on your birthday.”
I sighed, nodding and pausing to think before I responded. “No, I really am okay, I think. There was a brief moment where I felt a pang of jealousy, but I was mostly just relieved to hear that everything went well for them. I don’t begrudge them their happiness.” Oliver raised an eyebrow skeptically. I laughed. “I know you two have a long and complicated history, and don’t get me wrong—I don’t think he has handled things correctly these last several months. But I hope he finds happiness and peace. It seems like he could use some of both.”
Oliver kissed me on my temple. “You really are the best person I know.”
I squeezed his thigh, unable to come up with just the right words to convey how his words made me feel.
He continued, “And now for your gifts. There are three.”
I groaned. “Ollie, that’s too much.”
“Hush now. First: At today’s Council meeting, we finalized a date to vote on the marriage law and for you to present to the Council about the free meal program. I convinced them to set aside most of the session for you. The meetingwill be next week; will that be enough time for you to prepare?”
My heart swelled. “Yes, absolutely. I’ve been making some notes and speaking to some people already. Would it be all right if I bring in a few families to share about their experiences as part of my presentation?”
Oliver nodded. “Whatever you need, we will make it happen.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, love. Okay, next…” He leaned forward and grabbed the gift box, placing it in my lap. There was a mischievous glint in his eye that made me take pause.
“Do I want to know what’s in here?”
“Just open it,” he answered, waggling his eyebrows at me.
I slowly lifted the lid from the box and peeked inside. I slammed the lid shut again as I realized what it contained, heat flooding my face. “Oliver!”
He laughed, nudging my hands aside as he moved the lid away. Inside was a variety of sex toys, including a blindfold, satin-lined restraints, a sizable vibrator, and— “Oliver Remington, is that a butt plug?!”
He grinned wickedly.
I smacked his arm. “You are the worst!”
“Yes, I’m sure that’s what you’ll be saying later tonight when we put some of these to use.”
I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped as he took the box from me, standing to set it on a nearby chair. I shook my head and rolled my eyes. “I suppose we’ll see about?—”
My voice cut off as Oliver turned back around to face me, his face now serious, lowered himself to one knee, and pulled a velvet box out of his pocket.
My eyes widened. “Oliver, what are you doing?” I squeaked out.
His eyes locked with mine and he gently took my left hand in his. “Proposing to you.”
“But we’re already engaged! I already have a ring!”
“Adelaide, be honest with me. If you’d had your choice, would you have had me propose to you on national TV or picked out the ring I gave you?” His voice was steady. He may have phrased it as a question, but he knew the answer already.
