Page 160 of Bitter Rival

I play dumb. “Wednesday.”

“Our one-year anniversary.”

I wrap a lock of her hair around my finger and tug before releasing it. “Pretty sure that’s not until December.”

“Today is still an important date so I think we should celebrate.” She gives me a flirtatious smile. “I’ll even save you a dance.”

“Luckily, I’m one step ahead of you, princess.” I take her hand and usher her out the doors to the terrace. “And what do you mean, you’ll save me a dance? All your dances are for me,” I growl.

The laughter dies in her throat and her eyes widen as she takes in the sight before her.

“Oh my god. What the… Where did you get all those daisies? There must be hundreds.”

“A thousand. Give or take.” Not that I actually counted. I don’t have that kind of time. But there are a shitload of daisies with pure white petals and sunshine yellow centers.

“A thousand daisies?” she asks incredulously.

“Probably more.” I shrug, waiting for her to figure out the message. The number of daisies is irrelevant. They’re potted daises arranged to spell out two words. That is what’s relevant. But Daisy is taking her sweet time working it out. In fact, she’s taking so long, I’m starting to sweat.

Finally, she turns to me, her mouth parted. “Does that—are you…” She covers her mouth with her hand, her eyes glossy as I drop down on one knee and pop open the velvet box in my hand.

If the daisies spelling out MARRY ME? weren’t a big enough clue, the pink diamond halo ring nestled in satin will certainly give it away.

“I don’t think I understood the meaning of love until you crashed into my life and showed me how it’s done. If not for you, I’d still be a miserable bastard. I’m still a bastard but now I’m a happy one.”

She laughs through the tears streaming down her cheeks—I hope like fuck they’re happy tears because I forge on, spilling my guts and offering up my heart.

“I can’t promise that I’ll always be perfect. I still have asshole tendencies. I’m still a cynic. I still think Zelda is a fraud and you can’t convince me otherwise. But you make me want to be a better man, and for you, I would do anything. I promise I won’t lie or keep you in the dark. I promise that you will always be my equal partner in all things, in all ways. And if you’ll let me, I will devote my entire life to ensuring that you always feel loved and respected and cherished.”

I take the ring from the box and hold it out to her. “Will you marry me, Daisy?”

After a long moment of stunned silence, she drops to her knees, throws her arms around my neck and kisses me.

I can taste the salt on her lips from her tears.

“Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you.”

“Thank fuck.” I slide the ring onto her finger but Daisy barely even glances at it. She doesn’t give a shit about material possessions.

“I love you,” she says, taking my face in her hands. “And I plan on keeping you on your toes and holding you to your promises for a long, long time to come.”

My chest tightens. Just the thought of being without Daisy is physically painful.

“You’d sure as hell better,” I say gruffly.

I get it now. I understand why a man would give up anything and everything just to have the woman they love by their side. If she asked me to, I would give her every cent I’ve ever earned and not even blink an eye.

I pull her to her feet, change the music on my phone, and we slow dance to a sad, romantic song on the terrace as the last of the sun dips into the horizon.

I have no doubt it was a beautiful sunset, but when you have Daisy Larsson in your arms, everything else pales in comparison.

Daisy

Dear Daisy,

If you’re reading this, it’s been a year since you set foot on the vineyard to live and work with my son. This will be my final letter.

When I met you for lunch in NYC, you were just as smart, beautiful, and vibrant as I remember. After just a short time in your company, I was confident that I was doing the right thing.

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