Page 16 of Dare to Love

“Lilian Raeflower!” Her voice practically vibrated through the speaker. “You and Reid disappeared last night and I want details. Are you okay? Are you still with him? Was there?—”

“I’m fine,” I cut her off as the heat instantly rose in the room as I noticed the way Reid watched me with undisguised amusement. “And yes, Reid is... here.”

“Oh. My. God.” Paisley squealed loudly. So much so that I had to pull the phone away from my ear or risk my hearing. “I knew it! Wait until I tell?—”

“Don’t you dare tell anyone,” I interrupted again, panic rising within me as I sucked in a deep breath. “Paisley, I mean it. Reid and I... we’re still figuring this out. We don’t want to become a spectacle.” Reid instantly reached for my free hand, interlacing our fingers in silent support at my words as the simple gesture seemed to ground me.

“Okay, okay,” Paisley conceded, though I could hear the excitement bubbling beneath her restraint. “Whatever you need. Just I thought?—”

“We need this time for us. I know you care and want what’s best but you have to trust that we know what we both need. Not the town gossip or you Pais.” I said nearly in a whisper hoping she understood where my words were coming from. A place of love and not disrespect. The two of us didn’t want people to meddle. We wanted the courtesy and respect that any couple would have when starting to date.

“I didn’t realize that—” Pais replied in a shocked tone. “I’m sorry if I pushed—” Her voice was close to cracking.

“Paisley, it’s okay.” I tried to tell her but I knew at the moment she needed time to think. “Please understand that Reid and I are okay.”

“Okay.” She whispered as she made her excuses to leave us alone. “I’ll make this right. Got to go.” The moment she hung up I flopped back against the pillows and let the tears fall down my cheeks.

“I don’t know if I’m ready for this. The whole town is going to be watching us. I didn’t mean to upset her.” I choked out as Reid laid next to me and pulled me close.

“I think it was just a shock to her. Pais, didn’t see or feel what we have been.” He confirmed out loud. “Now how about the two of us have a day where we do nothing but eat, drink and explore one another’s bodies?” Reid winked as I let out a giggle moving the hair from my face.

“Are you saying you want to play dirty with me, Mr. Belgrave?” I asked him.

“Ab-so-fucking-lutely, I am. Now how quickly can you take that skimpy little outfit off?” He growled out as I shook my head and wiggled my finger at him admiring the ring on my finger.

“Now as your fiancée I think I deserve a head start. Ready steady—” I began as I jumped off the edge of the bed and squinted my eyes ready for the chase.

“Go…” He finished as he jumped over the bed and was hot on my heels. “I hope you’re ready for me as I can’t wait to have you naked wearing nothing but that ring.”

CHAPTER 10

Reid

The next day,I woke up with a sense of urgency. I couldn’t stop thinking about everything that Lilian had done for me. The way we had spoken all night about commitment and connections. The love we shared for our careers and of course the future. I stood there, suddenly nervous. She looked beautiful in her simple work attire—a blue dress with a white apron tied around her waist, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, highlighting the gold in her eyes.

“I have something for you,” I said, my voice steadier than I expected.

Lilian approached me, her brows furrowed as she licked her lips tempting me. “A gift? What’s the occasion?”

“No occasion,” I replied, shifting the package in my hands that I had spent the last few hours hand crafting away. I wasn’t normally a craftsman by trade but knew how to use the odd tool. “I just wanted to make something for you. Something in which I hope you’d find useful.”

“Make me something? I’m confused, Reid.” She stated. I carefully unwrapped my package to reveal the little wooden box and showed it to her. It was just big enough to hold her ring with an engraved truffle on top remembering how special they were to her. I wanted her to have a special place to hold her ring as long as she needed to—whether that be just whilst she was in the chocolate shop in the day or longer until she was actually ready to remain mine.

“Reid?” Lilian questioned, her eyes full of unshed tears. “It’s beautiful.”

“You can now keep your ring safe. It’s your decision for how long but you know that I’m always thinking of you—” I replied, tapping my chest. “Right in here. I want you to be mine always and forever, Lilian, but when the time is right for you. This way you know I’m always close by.”

“You made this... for me?” Lilian replied in awe. Her fingers trailing over the wooden carved top. “Reid, I love this. It means so much—” She choked out. “I want to be your fiancée now you silly man.” She chuckled. “We can have a long engagement and wait but knowing you were thinking of me from all perspectives…”

“I’ll always be thinking of you. I don’t want to go back to the man I was before I knew you—really knew you—was half alive,” I said firmly. “I was just going through the motions, hiding behind work and the walls I’d built to keep everyone at a distance.” I admitted. “The thing is I realized how much I wanted the mornings like this where I can bring you imperfect gifts that make you smile. I needed evenings where we could talk until we lost track of time. I want... everything, Lilian. With you.”

“That’s a lot of wanting, counselor.” Lilian chuckled as she tilted her head to the side.

“I’m a man who’s not ashamed to show his woman that she’s his,” I replied, my voice low.

“Is that so?” Lilian chuckled as she walked toward me and pulled me down kissing me, slowly and deeply so that the oxygen in the room became thin and made my head spin. The bell above the shop door jingled announcing the arrival of a customer, and Lilian reluctantly pulled away. “I should get to work,” she murmured, though she made no immediate move to leave my embrace.

“I should let you,” I agreed, equally reluctant to let her go. “I really don’t want to though.” Finally, with a sigh, she stepped back and smoothed her apron.

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