“Yes! It’s fine.” Skye took the bridal bouquet from Ria’s hands and wrapped the last bit of the stem as she spoke. “We’ve done millions of these bouquets over the years. We’ve got it.”
“Millions might be a bit of an exaggeration, but we definitely know what we’re doing.” Madeline smiled and put a soft hand on Ria’s arm. “Seriously. Go have fun with Jacob tonight.”
“And you’re really okay?”
Madeline evidently understood Ria’s shift in tone and expression. “I’m fine. How many times do I have to say it? Josh and I have been broken up for almost three months. I really don’t care if he has a date tonight. Good for him. Maybe now everyone in town will stop thinking I broke the guy’s heart.”
“I’m not worried about his heart. I’m worried about yours.”
“I know. But my heart is doing just fine. I feel like I’ve left him completely behind at this point. I’m ready for something new—as soon as that thing makes itself known to me. The truth is I did love him, but I’m not sure if I was really in love with him. Honestly, I don’t even miss him. Is that bad?”
“No, it’s not bad. It’s good. And it’s confirmation that you did the right thing by ending the relationship, even though I know it was really hard for you.” Ria relaxed and stood up. “Okay. I’ll leave so I can take a shower and be ready on time for Jacob. Thanks, you guys. You’re the best.”
Madeline rolled her eyes. “Don’t get mushy on us. Save the mushiness for Jacob.”
Ria figured that was very good advice.
JACOB PICKED HER UP at seven on the dot, and he surprised her by driving out of town and to the little park by the lake nearby.
“What are we doing here?” she asked, looking around at the nearly empty parking lot. She was starting to get an idea, and it made her heart race in excitement. “The park closes as soon as it gets dark.”
Jacob’s hazel eyes were soft and warm. “Sweetheart, you know perfectly well we’re not here to go to the park.”
She gulped. “Oh. Our spot?”
“Our spot.”
They got out of Jacob’s grandfather’s old pickup truck—which he’d been driving ever since he’d returned—and walked toward the hill on the other side of the lake. Ria was wearing a cute little dress and her favorite pair of high boots. Not exactly ideal for a walk up a hill, but it wasn’t a steep grade or any great distance. She did fine. She didn’t need Jacob’s supportive hand on her back, but she enjoyed it anyway.
“October is kind of cool for sex on a blanket,” she said with a teasing smile. “In case that’s what you had in mind.”
He gave her an exaggerated narrowed-eyed glare that made her giggle.
He wasn’t carrying a blanket. He wasn’t carrying anything. She wondered where he was imagining they’d sit when they got to their spot. Surely he wasn’t picturing them sitting for any length of time on the ground on a cool autumn evening.
He’d planned tonight, however. He’d probably left a blanket and bottle of wine or something up at their spot. Something good was going to happen this evening. She could feel it.
She was ready for it.
The past three months had been the best of her life. After Jacob had returned from Alaska ready to commit to her, she’d had no more doubts. This was real, and it was going to last. She could count on it. Invest in it. Rest her heart in it.
Maybe nothing was certain in life, but she was sure of Jacob at least.
When they reached the top of the hill and circled around one of the big boulders, Ria froze, her breath caught in her throat.
Jacob had done more than leave a blanket and a bottle of wine.
There was indeed a blanket, spread out and covered with a lovely picnic, crystal glasses, and a chilled bottle of champagne. And the whole spot was surrounded by lit candles and pink roses.
“Jacob!” she gasped, her eyes flitting between the beautiful scene and Jacob’s slightly sheepish smile.
“I wanted to make it perfect,” he said, his voice slightly hoarse from what she knew was emotion.
“It is perfect! How did you get all these candles to stay lit for all the time it took to pick me up?” Maybe that was the most insignificant of details, but that was the question that came to her first.
“I didn’t. Fitz lit all the candles.” Jacob glanced at his watch. “Exactly four minutes ago. We had to practice to work out the timing.”
She’d raised a hand to cover her mouth, and now she made a little giggle behind it. “You practiced?”
“Of course. I told you. I wanted it to be perfect.”
“What exactly did you want to be perfect?”
His mouth twisted slightly. “You know.”
“So you aren’t going to... going to say it?”
“Of course I’m going to say it.” He cleared his throat. Looked just slightly self-conscious as he lowered himself to one knee.
Ria made a ridiculous little squeak. Her heart felt like it might just race out of her chest.
Jacob’s heart was in his eyes as he said, “I love you, Ria Phillips. I’ve never loved anyone else, and I never will. You forgave me when I didn’t deserve it, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you never regret it. So will you marry me?” He held out a pretty diamond ring in a small box.
She hugged her arms to her chest, shaking helplessly. She tried to speak but couldn’t force a sound out through the lump of emotion in her throat.
After a few moments, Jacob’s hand holding the ring wobbled slightly. “Is it too soon?”
The slight concern on his face and in his voice broke the tension holding her response back. She burst out, “No! I want to marry you so much! I say yes. Yes, yes, yes!”
His face softened in a shattering kind of relief. He reached out both arms, and she went
