When I came out, Max was already dressed himself. Dressed in dark chinos and a dark blue button-down shirt which clung to his chest, he looked gorgeous. I almost wanted to forego dinner and stay in the room instead.
“Wow,” he breathed. “You look incredible.”
I twirled around in front of him. “You think? You have good taste.”
His mouth quirked. “I know. How do you think I ended up with you?”
I found my shoes, then fussed around with my purse, getting my phone, a credit card, and some cash before stuffing them in the tiny clutch bag I’d found in the case. Max really had thought of everything.
“Are you ready?” He tapped his fingers on his thigh, something I’d noticed he only really did when he was nervous.
I cast one look around the room to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything. “Yes. Let’s eat.”
Max held my hand as we walked over to the Lodge for dinner, his other hand firmly in the pocket of his pants. The last time we’d been there, we’d eaten in the main dining room, but when we arrived, we were taken away down a side corridor. I didn’t question it, thinking we were eating in a different restaurant because there was an event on or something.
When the server opened the doors to the patio, I gasped.
Set out in the private dining area was a table for two, with a flowered arch twinkling with fairy lights over it. A bottle of champagne sat in an ice bucket in the center of the table, flanked by two white candles. Silverware for three courses and glasses for wine and water completed the table.
“Max, this is…” I couldn’t find the words.
He placed a tender kiss on my temple, smiling. “I know.”
The server gestured for us to sit down. Max held my chair for me, and I sank gratefully into it, unsure whether my legs would actually hold me up. No one had ever done anything like this for me before.
“Can I pour you a glass of champagne?” the server asked, sweeping the bottle from the bucket.
“Please, I think I need a drink.” Max grinned.
“Me too.”
“Dinner will be served shortly.” The server disappeared after he’d poured our drinks.
My mouth watered as I wondered what we’d have. Now I didn’t regret skipping the muffin with my afternoon latte.
A few moments later, the server reappeared with the entrees, a selection platter of hors d’oeuvres, including tuna tartar, tiny chicken quesadillas, and vegetable skewers. It took all my willpower not to shove the mini bites into my mouth all at once. Max, in comparison, picked at them, eating around two to my six. It wasn’t like him not to eat.
“Are you feeling okay?” I asked, when the platter was taken away. “You didn’t eat much.”
He took a large swig of champagne, then emptied the remains of the bottle into his empty glass. “I’m fine. It’s just…”
Anything else he was about to say got lost as the main course arrived, a beef Wellington with seasonal vegetables and a red wine jus. The meat was so tender, it melted in my mouth. I barely spoke as I ate, savoring each mouthful. It was as good as any of the fancy restaurants we’d been to in New York.
The suspicions I’d had about Max wanting to leave me returned, despite the venue and the fancy setting. He didn’t say a word, the silence between us palpable. Was he building up to break up with me? My fork dropped to the plate with a clatter. Max jumped.
“Soph? You okay?”
“No. No, I’m not.” I placed the knife down more quietly and took a fortifying sip of the delicious Malbec we’d been served. “You’re being weird. And you’ve been being weird for weeks now. Autumn said—”
“What did Autumn say?” His eyes widened, like he’d been rumbled and whatever bad stuff was going on, he was ready to admit it and break my heart into a million pieces.
I took a deep breath. “She said you weren’t going to leave me. But I’m not so sure. You’ve been acting shady, and it worries me.” My hand trembled as I replaced the wine glass on the table.
Max let out a hard breath, followed by a deep laugh.
I frowned. It wasn’t exactly the reaction I’d expected when I’d accused him of seeing someone else.
“For once, Autumn has managed to keep a secret. And in some ways, makes it a lot easier for me to say what I want to say, or rather what I want to ask you.”
My breath hitched, my vision suddenly clouding with tears in anticipation of what he might be about to ask.
Across the other side of the table, Max pushed his chair back and stood up, before moving around to my chair.
I swallowed, a shiver shimmering down my spine despite the heat.
When Max dropped to one knee, I couldn’t stop the tears from falling, my fingers going to my mouth. He dipped his hand into the pocket of his pants and pulled out a small, square duck egg-blue Tiffany box.
“Sophie Hale, would you do me the absolute honor of agreeing to marry me?” He flipped open the lid. Nestled inside the black velvet was the most beautiful diamond and platinum engagement ring. It was classy, simple, perfect.
A squeal escaped my lips, and I bent down to Max, threw my arms around his neck and kissed him so hard, we almost toppled over.
“Shall I take that as a yes?” He held me close, burying his nose into my hair, lips pressed against my temple.
Tears fell unheeded down my cheeks. “Yes! Yes, a million times yes!”
A cough behind us broke the moment. The server had returned with another bottle of champagne. “I take it the proposal was successful, sir?”
Max pulled me to my feet, wrapping one arm around my waist. “It certainly was, thank you.”
“Then
