“It’s the only thing I want,” I tell him, giving him a thank-you kiss. “Oh, and I want to go to the cemetery. Would you mind taking me? Malakai said my car will only be ready the second week of January.”
“Why are the repairs taking so long?” Levi asks.
“They’re closed for two weeks over the holidays.”
“Right.” I watch as he neatly stacks the boxes on top of each other so they’re not scattered all over the place, then he asks, “When do you want to go?”
“Seeing as we’re leaving early tomorrow to head to Naperville, I was hoping I could visit today.” When Levi’s gaze meets mine, I add, “I’d like to introduce you to them.”
The corner of his mouth lifts. “Yeah? What are you going to introduce me as?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” I tease him. “My friend. My neighbor.” I toss around a couple of ideas. “My stalker.” I snort. “They’ll get a kick out of that one.”
Levi comes to wrap his arms around me, and staring into my eyes, he asks, “How about you introduce me as your husband?”
My lips part, but an instant later, I scowl at him. “You want to skip the whole wedding and go straight to being my husband? That’s cheating, mister.”
He chuckles, then says, “Okay. Then how about you tell them I’m your fiancé?” Before I can give him my thoughts on that, he continues, “Tell them I bought a farm to show how invested I am in us. Tell them I can’t live a single day without you.” My eyes begin to fill with tears when I realize what he’s doing. “Tell them I would be the luckiest manon the face of this planet if you agreed to marry me. I want you as my wife, Kelcie.”
“Levi,” I whisper.
Standing in the house where my happiest memories are, I add another one to them as I ask, “Is that a proposal?”
The corner of his mouth lifts, and with emotions swimming in his eyes, he brings his hands up to frame my face. “Will you marry me, Kelcie?” A tear escapes, and as it rolls over my cheek, Levi leans in to catch it with a kiss. “Please. I’m only half a soul without you.”
A sob sputters over my lips as I nod. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He seals our special moment with a kiss, and when he finally lifts his head, he says, “We can buy your ring while we’re in Naperville and celebrate with your brother.”
“I’d like that.”
“But first.” He pulls away from me and grabs our coats from where they’re hanging near the front door. “Let’s go so I can ask my soon-to-be in-laws for their blessing.”
While I shrug on my coat, I ask, “How soon?”
“As soon as you’ll let me.” Levi indicates for Lick to come. “I’ll marry you today if you give me half a chance.” When Lick just stares at us from her warm spot on the couch, he asks, “Are you staying?”
Her reply is to curl up and go back to sleeping.
Laughter tumbles past my lips as I open the door. “Let her stay. We’ll only be an hour at most.”
I step out onto the porch and put on my gloves while I wait for Levi to lock up behind us. We walk to his truck, and when his phone buzzes, he digs it out and checks the message that came through.
“I think that’s the first time I’ve seen you get a message,” I mention.
“It’s my agent. He’s just wishing me a happy holiday and not so subtly asking when I’m sending the manuscript.”
I give him a worried look. “Have you gotten any writing done the past month?”
Levi shakes his head while we climb into the truck, and as he starts the engine, he replies, “I couldn’t write while we were apart. Don’t worry. I still have eight months before the deadline.”
“Oh, that’s good.” I place my hand on his thigh, then say, “I’m sorry all the nasty business messed up your writing schedule. We can set up a writing corner for you in the main bedroom until we have the study ready.”
“I was just going to sit on the couch, but I like your idea better.”
The drive to the cemetery is quick, and when we get out, I glance over all the headstones that are covered in snow. “It’s actually so peaceful here.”
Levi meets me at the front of the truck and takes hold of my hand. “Where are they?”
