Jessy smiled. “Of course. Maybe I am a little nervous about tonight. Lincoln was so mysterious. What if he thinks we moved too fast? I warned him we should slow down.”
Speaking her doubts out loud only added fuel to them making her feel panicked.
“My brother is so crazy about you, Jessy.” Melanie patted her arm. “He has changed so much since you came into his life. He smiles so much it’s ridiculous. Abel teases him about it, but it warms my heart and gives me hope that love is out there for all of us. Whatever he has planned, it will be great.”
Jessy took in a calming breath. How many times a day did Lincoln tell her he loved her? He made sure she had everything needed to be happy. She had to quit waiting for something to go wrong. That was no way to live. “You’re right, Melanie. He is the best man on earth and I need to stop second-guessing myself.” Lincoln had a soft heart hidden by his gruff exterior and she was lucky to have discovered it.
“You girls need to have fun right now, but love is out there for every person. I truly believe that,” she told them. They agreed and Jessy enjoyed the rest of her day,
* * * *
The trouble he had gone through in arranging this special occasion had been worth it once he saw the delight on Jessy’s face. He asked her to meet him at the restaurant so he could set this all up. Her mouth went into the shape of
an O, her eyes sparkled with tears. She looked at him with so much love he almost cried himself. He cleared his throat instead and took her hand.
David Morelli, owner of Morelli’s Italian Cuisine, had allowed him to reserve the back table that was hidden by big pots of green plants for privacy. Lincoln bought his own roses in a pretty peach color and set them in the middle of the table, surrounded by lit candles. The glow of the dim light was romantic. The restaurant was classy and romantic.
“You did this for me?” Her voice trembled and her hand was lying on her chest. Her beautiful brown hair was loose like he liked it. She wore a lacy pink dress that reached her knees. She looked beautiful and he told her so. She beamed as he pulled the chair out for her to sit. He pulled his chair close to her, not wanting to be across a table from her. He inhaled the scent of her flowery perfume. She was the most precious person in the world to him and he was glad he let go of his doubts and fears. He couldn’t imagine not having Jessy in his life.
The waiter poured wine into the glasses. Lincoln felt a little nervous. He wasn’t good with romantic speeches but he was going to give it his best. He took a good swallow of the wine, although he preferred beer.
“I can’t believe this, Lincoln.” She looked around at the private corner table they had. “These roses are amazing and the candles are so romantic. How did you know I loved Italian food?”
“Lily,” he told her, glad to see her happiness. He had been waiting for her cast to come off. She hated the heavy cast and had rivaled him for the title of crankiest. Tonight, she was all smiles and sunshine. “I bought the roses for you, Jessy. You can take them home with you.”
She touched a rose petal softly with her finger. “My first bouquet. I will never forget this, Lincoln.”
She winked at him. “You have been a lot of firsts for me, Lincoln.”
He grinned and leaned closer to her. “More importantly, I plan on also being the last.”
She laughed but didn’t contradict him. They placed their order with the waiter. The waiter left back to the main dining room.
Lincoln took a couple of deep breaths but all he could hear was his heart thundering. He wanted to get this right. He practically bulldozed her into moving in with him and he loved living with her, but she deserved it all. He couldn’t sleep unless she was wrapped around him and stealing the blankets. She deserved the security of a ring and a wedding.
“Jessy, I love you.” He figured he’d start off with that, soften her up a bit.
Her smile was sweet and her look dreamy. “I love you, too, Lincoln. I am so happy to have you in my life.”
He reached in his pocket and took out the small black box. It had been burning a hole in his pocket for hours now. He opened it and showed it to her. It was a simple gold band with a diamond set in the middle. It represented what he felt. “I want it all with you, Jessy. Marriage, a house, children.”
“What about the headaches like crying babies, bills, everyday life? It will destroy your calm and orderly world,” she asked seriously with wide green eyes.
“I don’t care. I will deal with anything if it means I get to hold you at night. If I get to come home and see your beautiful face and sweet smile every day, I will die a happy man,” he promised her. “I can’t imagine how bleak a life without you will be.”
She took in a breath and her smile was breathtaking.
“So will you marry me? Make me a happy man?” He felt his throat swell with emotion. He wanted to remember this moment forever.
She nodded yes and he felt dizzy with relief. She held out her hand and he took the ring out of the box and slipped it on her finger. The sight made his heart beat just a little faster.
“Perfect, just like you.” He grinned happily.
“I’m not perfect, Lincoln,” she informed him seriously.
“You are perfect for me, Jessy Fallon. You belong to me for always.”
“And you belong to me for always,” she promised. The moment her lips touched his he knew whatever life brought, it would be okay as long as he had this woman by his side until the day he closed his eyes for good.