I heaved a sigh. “Right.”
An hour later, the bakery was in fact packed. Many of the patrons were club members and their women, but there were a lot of new faces as well.
When it got busier than I could handle, Maddox stepped in to help, followed by Wren, and then Liv and Ginnie. If this kept up, it was obvious I’d need to hire full-time help.
“Whatever those lemon-ginger things were, they’re gone,” Ginnie reported.
I smiled, pleased; those scones had been one of my new recipes.
“We’re nearly sold out of everything,” Wren added.
“Told you,” Maddox murmured in my ear.
I looked around the busy bakery, marveling at the possibility that I could really do this—run my own bakery, with my name and my recipes. I could keep my family name alive but with my own style and dreams. Nonna would be so proud if she could see me now. The thought had me swallowing back emotion as I thought of her.
Maddox gave me a squeeze as though reading my mind before he went to fill a cupcake order.
I watched his delicious backside as he moved toward the display case, not bothered in the least by spending half his day serving up pastries. He’d worked to make my dream real. Hell, he was the reason I had one. He wouldn’t take credit for it, but I think I’d forgotten how to dream before I met him. Now, with my business starting and our babies in my belly, I could do nothing but. Damn, I was lucky.
Hours later, I’d just turned the sign to closed after a very productive first day. Maddox had taken off for a few hours, saying he had club business. I counted out the register, marveling at the amount of business I’d done.
I felt him before I saw him, leaning in the doorway, his arms crossed, watching me, appreciation clear in his gaze.
My cheeks heated as I blushed. “What are you looking at?”
“The most gorgeous fucking woman I’ve ever seen,” he replied without delay, shoving off from the doorway and stepping into the bakery. “You had a good day,” he murmured.
“I had a great day.” I smiled, shutting the register.
He stepped around the counter, pulling me to his broad chest. “I’d like to make it even better.” His head tipped as his lips skated over my neck. “I’ve got something to show you.”
I’d been curious all day about what surprise Maddox had in store for me. “I’m ready.” I nodded. “Just need to lock up.”
“I’ll help.” As he moved around me helping to put things away, I couldn’t help but think of that first time we met. How effortlessly we’d moved together in my nonna’s bakery—the electricity I’d felt at his nearness. It was no different now.
A short time later, my arms wrapped around his middle, the rumble of the bike beneath me, we made our way up the mountain pass not far from his parents’ house. When we pulled down a dirt drive I marveled at the beauty of the land, all while wondering what we were doing here.
He helped me off the bike, took my hand, and guided me toward a clearing encircled with trees, a gorgeous view of the mountains just beyond the ridgeline.
“Do you like it?” he asked, and I didn’t imagine his voice was deeper than normal, some unknown emotion behind his words.
“Of course, it’s beautiful,” I marveled. “But what are we—”
My words were cut off abruptly when he dropped to one knee. I nearly lost my breath as he stared up at me, his gorgeous eyes bright with love as he looked up at me. “I wanted to ask you to be my wife on the land where I plan to build our home.”
My hand flew to my mouth as I stared down at the gorgeous diamond ring he held out to me. “There aren’t words to describe how happy you make me, how much I love you and our babies.” He swallowed hard. “There may not be words, but there is nothing I want more than to spend the rest of my life showing you. I want to love you, to take care of you for the rest of my life. Will you be my wife?”
I grinned at him through tears. “Yes,” I managed over the lump in my throat as he slid the ring on my finger, its weight unlike the kind I’d experienced most of my life. This time, it was an anchor tying me to the love of my life forever.
He stood up, taking me in his arms and kissing me deeply. “Thank fuck,” he breathed, his forehead pressed to mine.
“Did you think I’d say no?” I teased, my hands gripping the back of his tee.
“Wasn’t gonna let you say no, sweets.” He grinned. He stepped back, wrapping an arm around me as we stood, staring at the land stretched out in front of us. “Gonna build us a house big enough to fill with as many babies as you’ll give me,” he declared.
“Let’s get through these guys and we’ll see where we’re at.” I laughed, patting my stomach affectionately. “When do you want to get married?” I asked, my gaze on the blue sky overhead.
He kissed my temple. “As soon as possible.” His tone was resolute.
