“Well, seeing as the drawings are done and permits are in place, we can start anytime. But there’s something I wanted to run by you first before we can officially start.”
“Okay, but it’s getting dark, so I don’t know if we’ll be able to see much in a little bit,” she said.
Gracie had been back in town for a couple of weeks, and she’d already filed for a business license and gotten things up and running. My girl was one hell of an impressive woman.
She came to a stop when she saw all the candles forming a path. The guys had helped me put this together earlier today, and I couldn’t wait to bring her here. To make it official.
“What’s this?” she whispered.
“This is forever, baby.” I placed a hand on her lower back and guided her forward. “Come on, let me show you.”
Glass jars with taper candles lined the path, and at the end was a gigantic pink heart made out of flowers standing upright on a stand so it would be eye level. Pink roses filled the heart,and white roses inside spelled out “CH + GR,” just like the heart I’d made her all those years ago.
She didn’t speak; she just stood there with tears streaming down her face.
I thought I’d feel nervous when this moment arrived, but I felt completely calm. This was Gracie—and I’d never been more certain about anything in my life.
I dropped to one knee and took her hand in mine. “I met you when I was five years old, Gracie, and I knew you were special even back then. I claimed you that day, and I swear I’ve claimed you every day since. And what started as a friendship grew into something I never even knew I could have. You are my best friend, my lover, and my favorite person on the planet.” I swiped away the tears rolling down her cheeks. “I’ve watched you these last few months, and I’ve been so damn impressed and inspired by you, pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone and kicking ass every step of the way like a goddamn warrior princess.”
She chuckled, looking up at me with those gorgeous dark brown eyes, wet with emotion.
“And I had all the faith in you, Jeege. I knew you’d figure it out, and I knew I’d follow you wherever you wanted to go, because I realized the only dream that I’m chasing is right in front of me. She’s been in front of me my whole life.” I smiled, pushing away the lump in my throat. “We’ve been through everything together, and you were always right there beside me.My girl.And through all the storms that we’ve faced over the years, you were always the one standing there in the rain with me, pulling me through. You have my heart. And I want to spend the rest of eternity loving you. Building a home together and a family together. I want you to be my wife. Gracie Reynolds, you are my forever. My forever girl. Will you make me the happiest man and be my wife?”
“You had me at ‘warrior princess,’” she said, her words breaking with a sob.
“I’m going to need a more specific answer,” I said, smirking. “Will you marry me, baby?”
“Yes. Of course. I’d marry you right here, right now,” she whimpered. “I’ve loved you my whole life, Cutler Heart.”
I pulled the ring box from my shirt pocket and slipped it onto her finger. It was a large round diamond on a platinum band. Classic and elegant, just like her.
“Oh my gosh, Bear, it’s stunning,” she said, gaping down at her hand and then blinking up at me. “I love it so much.”
I pulled her up to stand and leaned down and kissed her.
When I pulled back, I placed a hand on each side of her neck. “I’m so ready for you to be my wife.”
“I’m so ready for you to be my husband.” She sniffed a few times.
I took her hand in mine. “And we’re going to build our dream home right here.”
“Yes, we are. And Meatball definitely shouldn’t be an only child,” she said with a grin. “That would be very lonely for him.”
“Are we talking about puppies or babies?” I asked, my voice laced with humor.
She smiled. “We’re talking about everything. Thanks for giving me the fairytale, Cutler Heart.”
“Thanks for showing me that it exists.” I stroked my thumb along her bottom lip. “Are you ready to go celebrate with our friends?”
“They know about this?”
“There may or may not be an engagement party over at Four Clovers waiting for us.”
A wide grin spread across her face as we started walking. I was grateful at the moment that the candles were all battery-operated, at the insistence of Phoenix, who’d told me he was not okay with open flames.
So we could just leave these going until they ran out of charge.
“This is why I love small-town living. Everyone knows what’s happening and celebrates the big and the small moments,” she said, glancing up at me. “I can’t believe we’re getting married.”
