Page 40 of The Rancher's Cinderella Bride

“I know we have things we’ll do tonight while we’re here. This isn’t one you had scheduled in. This one I planned.” He swallowed and looked up at her. “This has been a special time, Meg. We’ve been the best of friends and together off and on through the years. Now we’re not only friends, we’re intimate, and that’s a change to a deeper relationship that holds more importance. To make sure you’ll remember the moment and know that it was important to me, here’s a keepsake for you. When you wear that, think of me.”

“But, Gabe, you sent flowers and another teddy bear. I don’t need more presents.”

He pushed the box closer to her. “Please.”

Curious, she picked it up and untied the blue silk bow and opened the box. She gasped as she looked at the necklace resting on black velvet. Small diamonds formed the necklace, leading to a pendant that was a large sparkling diamond surrounded by alternating diamonds and emeralds.

She looked up at him. “Gabe, this is spectacular. It’s beautiful.”

“It’s for you, and when we’re home tonight I’ll put it on you.”

“I can’t wait. I’ve never had anything like this. It’s magnificent.” She reached out and squeezed his hand. “Thank you.”

“Whatever the future brings, Meg, we have a history that goes way back and you’ve been important in my life. You got me through some rough times. I wanted you to have something special.”

“It’s fabulous, Gabe. Thank you.” She glanced down at the necklace and then back up to him. “I can’t do much more than keep saying ‘thank you’ as long as we’re in public here.”

“You’ll get your chance to thank me when we get back to my place. You can wait till then for me to put your necklace on you. Or you can come over here and sit on my lap and I’ll fasten it for you.”

Smiling, she shook her head. She didn’t trust herself to sit on his lap right now. She gazed at him, taking in every inch of his beautiful face, thinking of how exciting he was, how good he was to her. Why did they have to be so opposite in lifestyles?

Their waiter came to take orders and as soon as he left, she turned to Gabe.

Raising her flute, she gazed into his blue eyes. “Here’s a big thank-you to my very best friend for all my life.” Smiling, she touched her flute to his and sipped her champagne as their waiter brought green salads on crystal plates.

The meal, like the place, was perfection. They both had rib eyes, sweet potatoes with pecans, and fluffy biscuits drizzled with honey.

It was after dinner as they sipped Irish coffee that Gabe got out another smaller box tied with a red satin ribbon.

“The time has come,” he said after he glanced around the dining room. “You said you wanted a lot of people to see us so it gets back to Justin—well, watch this move. I’m betting this will blow up social media and Justin will see it within the hour.”

She smiled, watching Gabe get up. As if on cue, the violin player strolled in their direction, playing a sweet ballad. He stopped several feet away from Gabe, who handed the box to her. As he did, she looked into his blue eyes and her heart pounded even though these actions were following a script she’d written.

Suddenly she saw this as a big moment, and one that made her feel as if her life were about to change, all because of the next few minutes.

“Open your present.”

She smiled at the drama Gabe was adding to their plan. The quiet restaurant had grown even quieter and she realized they had an audience. He was right. Comments and pictures would fly on social media.

She untied the ribbon, glancing up at Gabe, whose blue eyes twinkled with mischief. She raised the lid, expecting to see the ring she had purchased. Instead a smaller black box was inside the bigger box. Unbuttoning his jacket, Gabe took that box as she looked up at him expectantly. He opened the box, tossed the lid on the table, removed the dazzling fake diamond she had selected herself and knelt on one knee in front of her to take her hand. She looked at his well-shaped hands as they held hers and she felt her heart seize.

The violin player stepped closer, still playing sweetly.

“Megan Louise Aldridge,” Gabe said loudly enough for his voice to carry, “will you make me, Gabriel Callahan, the luckiest man in the world? Will you marry me?”

She couldn’t help it. For this one moment in time, she suddenly wished the diamond was real, this proposal was real. Gabe was her best friend. He was the most exciting lover possible. He was handsome and intelligent, caring and kind. For just an instant, she wished that his words were sincere and their lives would be joined forever. Wished she would be Mrs. Gabe Callahan. She saw it all playing out in front of her. The wedding, and a lifetime of happiness.

Then, just as quickly, the lovely images faded away.

She could never have a permanent relationship with Gabe. She could never live with a wild risk-taker, never love someone whose safety she would be in constant fear for.

Then she realized Gabe, as well as their audience, was waiting for her answer.

“Yes. Oh, yes, Gabe,” she said, as he slipped the ring on her finger. He stood up, holding her wrist as she rose, and drew her to him to kiss her. Their audience clapped while the violin player broke into a snappy rendition of Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March.”

She barely heard it, because though the proposal hadn’t been real, his kiss was. She held him as tightly as he held her and for a few seconds she forgot where she was or what was happening. All she knew was she was in Gabe’s arms and he was kissing her as thoroughly as she was kissing him.

When she stepped back, she met his gaze. The spell was broken by the resounding applause and a couple of whistles. The violinist continued playing “Wedding March” as Gabe held her hand, and they bowed and smiled at the diners before sitting down again and letting quiet return to the restaurant.

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