Page 35 of Marry Me, Right Now

I nodded. “Thank you. And any time you need to get away from someone, look for me, and obviously I was just waving you over. Right?”

He led us back to the couch, and I noticed he sat much closer. “It’s funny, I’ve had many partners on various projects over the years, and I’ve never come across anyone who was genuinely willing to do their fair share. You’ve stepped up and gone so far beyond that I don’t even know what to do with you.”

“Marry me immediately, apparently.”

We laughed together, then I leaned back and took a tiny sip of wine. Then I set the glass down, thinking. “You keep just enough wine flowing that I’m far chattier than usual, but never tipsy.”

“I keep an eye on the time, and calculate one drink per forty minutes.”

My head fell back as I laughed. “I’m very comfortable with you. Maybe that’s why.”

“I’m just a mellow guy,” he said.

M I A

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COCKTAIL PARTY PREP

I’d only been engaged for a few days, and my life had changed in ways I would never have expected. Searching for a tiny basement apartment had consumed my entire world. Now I lived in a gigantic airy condo, with a doorman who fetched my packages, a cleaning lady who was also a cook whenever we liked, and a fiancé who kept bringing me little gifts.

I was also now part of a ‘we’, but I was still trying to process that.

My hair had been trimmed and given a clear gloss treatment that made it gleam under bright lights. My nails were ready for a close-up photo whenever anyone saw my new ring. My huge closet was filled with new clothing, thanks to Jacob’s personal stylist. She had taken my measurements, asked what I already had, and added to my ‘collection of pieces’ with basics she assured me I needed, and a few ‘statement pieces’, whatever that meant.

Surprisingly, Manya had analyzed my style quite well, and except for a few tiny party dresses that seriously needed at least two inches added to the hemline, she had nailed my style perfectly. ‘Simple and effortless’ she called it. I hadn’t thought that I’d had any style at all, but apparently buying the plainest clothing at the second-hand shops, avoiding logos, and wearing eighty percent black, made me a minimalist. Who knew?

I really needed to throw myself into the role for our big cocktail party tonight, where I’d be meeting Jacob’s closest friends for the first time, and we’d be announcing our engagement. Manya had placed all of my ‘event pieces’ in one section of my huge closet, which I took to mean they were expensive special night outfits. I still couldn’t bring myself to call a dress a ‘piece’.

There was a dark blue dress that was nearly black, and nearly long enough for my comfort. A great blend of the old and the new versions of myself, but with matching sky-high heels, a thick rose gold chain necklace, and my new flashy ring, it was definitely an updated look.

Half an hour before guests were expected, I went out to the living area just as fresh flowers were being delivered.

“I’m so sorry, Miss,” the courier said, looking genuinely terrified. “I know that they were to be here two hours ago.”

I flashed him a huge smile. “Don’t worry about it. These things happen. Thank you very much.” I palmed him a twenty from the table drawer in the foyer as I had seen Jacob do. He practically bowed to me on the way out, looking extremely relieved. Perhaps he was accustomed to high society bitches freaking out at every little detail. But good grief, they were just flowers.

Carrying them to the living room coffee table, I ducked in and around the two servers in the kitchen to find the scissors and the glass vases, which I had discovered in my tour to find an old fashioned teacup yesterday.

Within ten minutes I had the flowers broken down into five different arrangements, scattered around the condo. Jacob came in just as I was cleaning up the trimmed stems and paper wrappings.

“What’s this?” he asked, seeming far more shocked than was necessary.

“The flowers just arrived, so I arranged them and set them up. Do you like them?”

“They were supposed to have arrived hours ago, already arranged.”

“Well, I took care of it. My grandmother and I used to create magical bowls and vases from wildflowers in her backyard. The same principles apply with fancier flowers.” He looked at me very oddly. “What?” I laughed.

He shook his head. “Sorry – it’s just that my mother would have freaked out if a delivery ran late on a party day.”

“Freaking doesn’t get the job done, does it?” I gestured to where I’d placed the arrangements. “Do they look okay?”

“Wow. Mia, they look professionally done.” He took the trash from me and snuck into the kitchen flurry to throw it out for me, then came back to clasp my hands.

“I admire the way you are so self-reliant,” he said, looking at me with that strange wonder that was getting more frequent.

I couldn’t help giggling. “I come from a world where if we don’t do things ourselves, they don’t’ get done.”

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