“CeCe,” Alexis whispered.
CeCe looked up into Alexis's radiant face and smiled. “This is where our love began, so I thought it would be the perfect place to ask you something important. But first, you have given me the life I dreamed of. From when I was a little girl and imagined what true love would feel like to the woman I fantasized about who would whisk my heart away and make me swoon. You have done that every day since you walked into this salon all those months ago.” CeCe paused and took a deep breath. “Alexis Reed, my beautiful Lex, will you marry me?”
Tears streamed down Alexis’s face, so much so that she couldn’t talk. She reached for CeCe and pulled her up until they were face to face.
“Oh baby,” CeCe cooed, holding Alexis's face between her hands and wiping her tears with her thumbs.
“I never dreamed someone could love me the way you do.” Alexis managed to get the words out between sobs. CeCe watched her take a deep breath and as she exhaled she shuddered. “Even more amazing to me is that I love you the same way. My heart wasn’t made to love like this until I met you, CeCe Sloan. My heart was made to love you, Cecilia, and I will for all time.”
CeCe smiled through the tears that were now streaming down her cheeks. “I didn’t know we were going to cry. But, Lex…you didn’t answer my question. Will you marry me?”
The brightest and most beautiful smile CeCe had ever seen graced Alexis's face. “Yes! Of course I’ll marry you!”
Their lips met in a tear-soaked kiss. They couldn’t stop smiling.
CeCe reached into her pocket and pulled out the ring. “Here,” she said breathlessly.
Alexis held out her hand and CeCe slid the ring on her finger.
“Oh, baby. It’s beautiful, it’s perfect,” Alexis exclaimed, looking at the band of diamonds with one larger diamond in the center.
“I know you don’t wear jewelry much, especially when you’re in surgery. The larger diamond is almost flush to the band because I knew you wouldn’t want it sticking up too high.”
“I love it,” Alexis said, staring at the ring.
“That’s not all,” CeCe said, taking a small clear bag out of her pocket. Inside was a gold chain with a small circular hoop on it. “On days when you have surgery you can wear this necklace then when you get ready to scrub, the ring will clip into the circle right here and you can wear it around your neck.”
“How ingenious,” Alexis said. “Put it on me.”
As CeCe clasped the gold chain around Alexis's neck she said, “I had a feeling you wouldn’t want to take your rings off and I knew you couldn’t perform surgery with them, so the jeweler showed me this.”
Alexis turned around and faced CeCe with another bright smile. Her tears were gone and she stared at CeCe, shaking her head. “I love you so much. This is the biggest surprise of my life.”
“I love you, Lex. I can’t wait to be your wife. No more doubts.”
Alexis smiled. “I knew the doubts were gone. I know you, babe. I have your heart.”
CeCe brought their lips together in a tender kiss. This kiss promised a life of love and no more doubts.
They pulled apart and Alexis ran her hand over CeCe’s hair. “This may top all those other nights in this room.”
CeCe chuckled. “Up until now.”
“Are we going to try out our new toy?”
“Not just yet, babe.” CeCe grinned.
There was a knock on the door and Alexis furrowed her brow in confusion.
“Come on in!” CeCe yelled. “She said yes!”
The door opened and a group of people came streaming into the room with happy smiles and shouts of congratulations.
Cory and Cat were opening bottles of champagne as they quickly lined up glasses and began to pour. Someone turned up the music and the party started.
CeCe and Alexis stood arm in arm until Alexis had to keep her hand held out in front of her to show everyone her ring.
“The Lovers Landing ladies are here!” Alexis exclaimed.