I took a bite, enjoying the sweetness of the drink and the cookies.
The horses clip-clopped down the cobblestoned streets toward town square.
Morgan settled back in the seat, putting his arm over the back of it.I snuggled against his side, resting my head on his shoulder.
"Thank you for the perfect night."
He winked at me."It's not over yet."
"Oh, really?What else could you possibly have planned?"I loved running the bakery, but it was nice to be able to enjoy the town in the way visitors did.It gave me a unique perspective on what they experienced and what they might want in the future.
"You'll see."
Instead of going around the square, the driver led the horses toward the light trail and the ice rink on a nature trail that led through the park."I didn't know the carriages' route went this way."
He grinned."They don't.This is just for us."
The paved trail was lined with lampposts for those who went for walks in the evening, but the driver took the horse trail.There weren't any lights on this one, since horseback riding was only permitted during daylight hours.But as we entered the woods, twinkling lights hung from the trees."Who did all of this?"
"I might have had some help."
I didn't even have to ask.He'd enlisted his family to hang lights for us to enjoy this carriage ride."I can't believe you did all of this."
"I wanted to create a special evening."
"You definitely did."I was a little in awe of the effort he'd made.It was so romantic.The driver continued for a while before he came to a stop.
"I want to show you something."Morgan helped me step down from the buggy and led me on a trail through the woods.There were pillows on the ground, and lights hanging from the trees, and champagne in flutes.It was far enough from the trail that we couldn't see the carriage anymore.
I walked in a circle around the space.It was like we were in our own little world.The town seemed so far away."What's this?"
"I wanted to do something special for you.You work so hard and do so much for everyone.And I wanted tonight to be about you."
"I love it."I wished I could bottle this scene up, and revisit it again another night.
He snagged my hand and pulled me over to the pillows.He paused for a second.Then he dropped down to one knee."From the moment that I heard there was a fire and you were sleeping, I knew you were mine.Nothing could have stopped me from getting to you."
I blinked away the tears.
"I fell in love with you a little more each day.The way you picked yourself up and tried again.The way you believed in yourself and your ability to create something beautiful.You inspire me to be the best version of myself."He paused to take a breath, and my hand trembled in his.Then he pulled a ring out of his pocket."Will you marry me?"
I let out a breath slowly, my heart racing."Yes."
He slid the ring on my finger, and then stood, cupping my face with his hands."I never planned on you."
A tear spilled down my cheek, and he brushed it away."I didn't either."
"Everything in my life has led me to this moment."
I couldn't believe what he was saying.Every word was so beautiful.I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him.
At some point, we ended up on the pillows, and I eased back to ask, "What about the carriage driver?"
He held me tighter."He's supposed to come back in forty-five minutes."
I smiled."So we have time."
"I wanted to be alone with you."
