A night alone with Rachel was a rare treat. A night alone with Rachel made him plot what they’d do next.
Spoiler, it probably wouldn’t involve food.
Then again, maybe it might…
“Does that mean we get to have a sleepover?” he asked, hoping his eyes held the glimmer of excitement he felt in his bones.
Rachel nodded toward the box. “Open the box.”
He ripped off the paper and held up a garage door opener. He raised his eyebrows.
“There’s now room in the garage for your car. And there’s this—” She handed him a large framed sign that matched the others she’d made for the house.
Turning it over, he studied the craftmanship. The vinyl words she’d added to the cream background read,The Perfect Blend, Travis, Rachel, Kellan, Brady.
“It’s for the entryway. So everyone knows you live here,too.” She was wringing her hands again.
His pulse started pounding in his ears. Did she mean…?
“If you want to live here, too,” she added quickly.
He stood in stunned quiet.
She wanted this?
Yes,of course, he wanted this, but he hadn’t been certain thatshewanted this.
“Ask me again,” she whispered, knocking him out of his funk.
Travis’s heart did a ka-thump that he was pretty sure wasn’t healthy.
“Rachel.” Her name on his lips came with a heavy dose of southern that he wasn’t able to filter out, even if he’d wanted to. He stared at the sign she’d made like she’d crafted it from gold and diamonds instead of reclaimed wood and vinyl.
“I’m ready now,” she continued.
She didn’t look ready. She looked nervous as all hell, what with the way she worried her bottom lip and continued to wring her hands.
Then she crossed her arms at her middle, and that was unacceptable.
She didn’t have to hold herself up alone anymore. They held each other up now.
Until that moment it’d been an unspoken agreement, but it seemed like it was time to make it more formal.
He stepped into her personal space, slowly, because it felt like she might run. And if she ran,it wasn’t because she wanted to, it was because she put herself out there to him and Rachel was not used to making herself vulnerable like this.
Tilting her face up with a fingertip under her chin, he asked, “Marry me, Rach?”
A heavy teardrop fell from her eye. “Yes.”
So that’s what it felt like to hear a yes. His heart squeezed tight and gravity felt lighter. Pretty damn amazing.
He pulled her close for a hug, holding her while she held him.
“What else do you need from me?” Travis asked, holding her tight against his chest.
“Just you,” she said against his shirt, without hesitation.
“Okay.” He closed his eyes a little.
