Page 26 of Jaime's Story

“Only then,” he concedes and the delicious thoughts of it run through my mind as we get into the car, not realizing until he’s opening my door that we’re not at his house, or mine, but outside my favorite bookstore.

Honestly, if I hadn’t loved graphic design, I would have happily come to work here because the place is amazing. Although I would have probably been told to be quiet after making one too many suggestions of what could turn the place from amazing to magical.

“What are we doing here?” I ask as he guides us inside and my jaw drops at what’s in front of me. My favorite shop is decked out with fairy lights and extremely real looking fake candles. It’s so much like the designs I did that my mind absolutely races with questions. “Bryan?”

He walks us further into the space and the resemblance of it matches my ideas so perfectly that it can’t be a coincidence. My eyes slip around the room taking in the kiddie area that looks like a magic garden and I can’t stop from giggling softly at it’s perfection.

I turn back towards Bryan and let out a gasp finding him on one knee, a jewelry box in his hand as he reaches for mine. “Bryan…”

“I love you more than anything I ever imagined possible, and I wanted to give you everything you ever wanted or imagined because you’ve made my world so much brighter, princess. I couldn’t have done this without your family who have shown me what I want for our future. You as mine, always. Our own part of this amazing family. Jaime Elizabeth Cartwright, will you be mine for always? My heart. My soul. My princess for life. Marry me,” he adds, and I laugh because the last part was more demand than question, but I still can’t stop from nodding yes long before my voice finally works.

“Yes, a million times yes,” I answer smiling more when the ring he pulls out is my dream ring. Not too big that I have to worry about losing it and the pink diamonds that surround the round middle stone are the icing on the cake. “I love you, daddy,” I add in his ear as the sound of footsteps reach mine.

“I love you, princess,” he whispers before kissing me until a loud ‘uh-hum’ breaks us apart. His eyes roam over me and his smile is everything. “When I saw you come down in this I almost couldn’t wait, baby. It took everything to stay at dinner that long.”

“The perfect storybook picture,” Jillian teases hugging me as I shake my head at her.

“This is why you were in my computer, isn’t it?” I ask and she shrugs, making me laugh and hug her even tighter in return. “I don’t even know how you knew but thank you, it’s absolutely perfect.”

“Well that’s good to know, because it’s now yours,” Jennie says, and I glance around at the group not understanding what they mean at all.

“As much as Jennie, Jillian, and I tried to talk the old owner into letting us rent out the place for the day to get this all set up, they kept saying no,” Jasmine says, giving me a hug.

“So, we asked them how much for the entire place instead,” Jillian adds, and my jaw drops as Mom nods.

“You can do whatever you want with it, sweetheart. If you want to keep your job you can, if you want to take this place over you can, or if you want to hire on a manager and new staff you can,” Mom tells me, and I seriously don’t know what to say.

“And if you’re hiring, I’m available,” Maia says, “well, around classes that is.”

“You’re definitely hired,” I assure her. “I should probably keep my job though because if I were here all day I’d just want to sit around and read now.”

“We can find someone to manage the place, and you can just enjoy knowing it’s yours then, princess,” Bryan says and it’s a relief to see that he’s not worried about the extravagance of it.

“So this is what you were up to today?” I ask Jillian who gives me a nod. “How long…”

“Yesterday,” Jillian says making my eyes widen in shock. “I got a phone call from an unknown number, so I ignored it, until a text message popped up saying it was Bryan and he needed my help to surprise you.”

“Where did you get her number?” I ask him and the look on his face is amusing.

“You didn’t lock your phone when you went to the bathroom, so I grabbed it and put it in mine,” he says, and I know he means yesterday morning after I ate the delicious breakfast he cooked for us and before I left for work.

“I love you,” I sigh, resting in his arms and I can’t wait for the rest of tonight now.

“I love you too, princess, but I want you entirely as mine soon, so, I hope you can plan a quick wedding,” he adds and that is absolutely something we Cartwrights can do.

“Tell me when, where, and what, and we’ll make sure of it,” Jasmine promises giving me a wink as Dad shoots Bryan a slightly dark look when his hand trails down my hip further.

“May is so crowded with things already and I don’t want to wait for June,” I state looking up at the man I adore for his input.

“I never ask for time off and that’s one thing about being a relief detective, I don’t have to wait for someone to relieve me. Why don’t you check with your boss Monday, and I’ll give the chief a head’s up tomorrow, and we can see what part of maybe middle to late April works best?” he suggests, and I smile more, completely good with that idea. “Try for at least a week off if you can? I know you haven’t been there long so if you can’t get it off now, we can always wait and go on a real honeymoon later in the year.”

“I think my boss will be okay with it. They’re so happy with the way the new videos are brining in sales they shouldn’t argue too much,” I muse, and the girls give me hugs before Dad gives me a much longer one that fills me with joy.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better man for you, sweetheart. So whatever you want for the wedding, dress included, we’ll make happen,” Dad says after shaking Bryan’s hand.

“Ooohh, dress shopping. We should go tomorrow if he’s on-call,” Jillian states and I let out a little laugh pulling all eyes to me as a hint of color fills my cheeks.

“What’s that look about?” Mom asks curiously.

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