Page 57 of I Dated a Retired Hero

“No more samovars.”

He laughed. “Yours is warming up.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Go. I get the feeling she spent the night or morning making buns.”

“I am not going to take that bet.” He kissed her quickly and disappeared in a flash of midnight sky.

Litha chuckled, and Drin was staring at her. “What?”

“Litha, you look... you are stunning.”

“I always was. I was just surrounded by people who wouldn’t touch me. It causes a hit to the ego.” Litha smiled. “Wow, this looks very formal for a barbeque.”

Drin looked innocent. “Does it? Go make a list of food that needs to be made, boss.”

Tables were being set out on the gravel yard near the barn, and chairs were being brought. The chairs were fairly hefty as they were going to be supporting some pretty sizable actives.

Litha went inside, gathered her valuables, and took them upstairs, including her cookbook. It was all books, but she wanted to make sure that she kept them safe. Family albums meant a lot.

Sergei entered her room and said, “Keeping things from curious fingers?”

“Yeah. My parents kept track of every part of my life until the moment they passed. It feels wrong to leave that out where people can see them.”

He smiled. “Baby pictures?”

“A few. That pink book over there.”

He laughed and snagged it, making awestruck sounds at her extreme cuteness. “One day, you need to show my mother these. She has always said I was the prettiest baby in the country, and I think you are far more adorable than myself.”

Litha smiled. “If we ever have kids, they are probably going to be little spuds. Not that I am shopping for offspring, I just wouldn’t object.”

He looked over and smiled. “If we are blessed, we will be blessed. Spuds or no.”

She laughed.

“On that vein of thought.” He knelt and took her hand. “Litha, will you marry me?”

“Um, why?”

He smiled. “Because as much as it does not matter to me, as long as I have you, my mother pointed out that there is a legal pension you could apply for if we were married and anything happened to me. She also wants you to be a wife and not a mistress. She has issues.”

Litha laughed. “Not like we don’t have our own baggage.” She paused. “Wait. Did you just propose?”

He grinned and brought out a wide band studded with different gems. “I did. Will you marry me?”

“Um, yes?”

He slid the ring onto the middle finger of her left hand. He kissed her knuckle and got to his feet, hugging her tight.

“You are definitely going to be going to therapy.”

He nodded. “Accepted. I was able to sleep through the night with no nightmares.”

“You didn’t sleep.”

“Yes, thank you.” He kissed the tip of her nose.

She wrinkled her nose. “You got me a ring. What do you get for the engagement?”

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