Page 87 of French Martini

“I had your schedule cleared for the weekend.” Standing, I walk over to him. His smile grows as I wrap my arms around his neck. “It’s just you and me until Monday morning.”

“Damn. It’s not even my birthday.”

“It doesn’t have to be.”

He studies my face, his brow creasing. “Are you okay? You seem a little off.”

“I’m amazing. I have appetizers planned and then a nice dinner. I thought we could go on a nature walk tomorrow and enjoy the weather. Then maybe later a steamy bath. How does that sound?”

“Incredible.”

“Good.” I blow out a breath, replaying the order of events, but realizing with annoyance that there’s no way I’ll be able to enjoy myself.

Oakley kicks off his work boots, and I turn around, watching him before blurting out what this whole weekend is really about.

“Oakley?”

“Yeah, kitten?”

“You know how we talked a couple of months ago about getting married? The formality and legality of it?”

“Yeah.” He looks worried now. “We agreed that’s not something either of us need to feel committed.”

“Right. We did.”

“But? Are you feeling like moving in wasn’t the right step yet?”

“No. I mean, no, I don’t feel that. I love that we live together.”

“Okay. So what’s going on? I can handle it, whatever it is.”

“Remember when I asked you to be my fake fiancé and we made up a story about what our engagement was like?”

“Yep.”

“I was trying to recreate that. I found this cabin, and I have roses and champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. Wren made us a beautiful dinner.”

His jaw drops, his lips moving like he’s talking, but no words come out.

“But I have zero chill, and I can’t go through the night pretending to be normal. I can’t pretend anymore that I don’t want to marry you for real. I do. So, if you do too, if you were maybe just saying that for me?—”

“Yes.” He nods, walking towards me. “Yes, Lowen. If you’re asking me to marry you, my answer is yes.”

“Yes?” My eyes immediately fill with tears. “You’re such a good man. You said you didn’t need it for my benefit and then waited for me to accept that I do want it. With you. Because of you. I’m not scared anymore.”

“Are you proposing?”

I nod. “Yes.”

He claps his hands once, yelling, “Yes!”

Oakley grabs me around the waist and spins me, kissing my neck. I laugh even as tears fall down my cheeks. I hold on to him tightly.

He sets me down after a minute. “I’ve had a ring for you since right after the awards. I returned the other one and my uncle made me something special. It’s not ten carats, but it’s beautiful.”

“I don’t want ten carats, I just want you.”

“You got me, kitten. You’ve always had me, and you always will.”

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