Now that Malika was a proper Western woman—her words, not his—she deserved a proper proposal.He’d come up with that idea, all on his own.
And now, he was ready.He didn’t know what made a proper proposal romantic, so he’d had to rely on Tilly and her internet skills.She’d handed him a list of the key elements.
It had to be tailored to Malika’s personality.That meant it had to be on a massively grand scale.The location had to be meaningful, the details thoughtful, and the accompanying speech heartfelt.
And he needed a ring.
Adam was the town’s procurement officer, so Jayce approached him for help.
“How much you willing to spend?”Adam asked.
Jayce gave him an amount.
“I have no idea how much rings cost,” he said.“I doubt if Malika does, either.But it’s got to be big, because she’s going to understand that.”
“Leave it to me,” Adam said.
“It’s got to be real, too,” Jayce warned him, because he might not know gemstones, but he knew how Adam worked.“She might find out if it isn’t.”
“If you’re going to place limitations on me…” Adam complained.
So now, Jayce had the ring in his pocket, the location picked out, and the accompanying speech all prepared.The details were thoughtful.
He hoped.
He knocked on Mavis’s door.Malika continued to live with her.The two women liked each other’s company, which he was happy about, but was also concerning.
Malika answered the door.
Jayce leaned in, swept one arm under her backside, and tossed her over his shoulder.
“This is a kidnapping, ma’am,” he said.“Don’t bother trying to resist.”He wore an athletic cup, just in case.
“Oh, my,” Malika exclaimed, sounding charmed, which was good.“An adventure.How exciting!”
Saber and Side-eye awaited.He helped Malika mount because she was wearing a dress.
“Where are you taking me?”she asked.
“You’ll see.”
She’d traveled the path through the woods many times, so it didn’t take her long to figure it out.
They arrived in the small meadow with serviceberry bushes and the shallow creek.He’d arranged for a picnic.Not just a regular picnic, however.This was for Malika, so he got Grady involved.Grady said it wasmezze.They had hummus—not something Jayce could see himself eating—and flatbreads and fresh vegetables for dipping, as well as mini meat pies.There were olives and stuffed grape leaves—he was likely to starve—and some kind of yogurt drink he thought he might try.
“This is lovely,” she said.“You did this for me?”
“I did.”
He was pleased with himself.Malika had a need to feel as if she were important.He understood that much better, now.She might be the spoiled youngest sister of a very rich man, but she also believed she was the least important member of her very large family.
She was not going to be the least important member of theirs, and he wanted to make sure she knew it.
Her eyes narrowed.“Why did you do this for me?”
“Because,” he said, “I owe you a proper proposal.”
“You already proposed.”
