“No thanks. If you’re satisfied with that house, then I’m not going to stop you.”
“You don’t seem happy.”
“I’m just not sure what we’re going to do with the rest of our day. I’ll have to call the other realtors and cancel with them,” she said.
“Well, why don’t we go back and rest?” Ash asked. “I’ll take you out to a nice dinner to celebrate, and that’ll give us yet another chance to try a different restaurant on the island.”
He watched Kallie turn the idea over in her head before she nodded.
“Rest and dinner sounds nice. Okay. But pick a restaurant we haven’t done yet. We might as well keep exploring your new home so you can become more acquainted.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said.
Ash got back to his hotel room and booked them a table at the nicest restaurant Bali had to offer. It had a terrace that hung over rice paddies and had a beautiful view of the moonlit sky at night. It was the perfect place to fill Kallie in on his plans. It would be romantic and breathtaking, and he knew the atmosphere would smooth over any anger Kallie might experience in the beginning of the conversation.
After all, he was under no illusions that this would be an easy one to have.
The second Kallie stepped out of her room, he was robbed of his breath. She was dressed in a dark-green dress that hugged every curve and fell seductively off her shoulders. Her hair tumbled down her back and the jewelry she had on glittered in the dimly lit foyer that encompassed both of their hotel suite doors. Her heels clicked softly along the floor as her hips swayed.
Ash’s heart slammed against his chest so hard he thought it would fall out at his feet.
“Do you usually wear such beautiful dresses to business dinners?” Ash asked.
“Something tells me this entire dinner won’t quite be business,” Kallie said.
He stole a glance over at her and saw a grin playing upon her lips. Did she know? Was she okay with it? If she knew this wasn’t strictly professional, then why did she agree to come out with him? Was she finally letting her guard down?
Ash’s chest surged with hope as a smile crossed his lips.
“Well you look gorgeous,” he said.
“And you look very dashing in that suit.”
Kallie gasped the second he led her onto the terrace. The moon couldn't have been more perfect. Full and large. Fully rounded out and bathing the private terrace in a pale-blue glow. Kallie couldn't stop staring at it. Couldn't stop gawking at the beauty that hung so low in the sky. Ash looked down into her face and watched as her dazzling eyes danced across the sky.
This was it.
This was the moment where he would ask her to be his forever.
“Kallie?”
“Yes, Ash?”
“There’s something I’d like to ask you,” he said.
“What is it?”
Ash felt Kallie’s heat intensify as she turned toward him. He couldn't take his eyes off her. The way her skin glowed. The way the moon reflected in her bright-green eyes. The way the shadows playing underneath her lower lip made them look fuller than he ever imagined them to be. He reached his hand up and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, studying her reaction. Kallie furrowed her brow, but she didn’t move away.
If anything, he could’ve sworn he saw her stop herself from moving into his touch.
“Pretty Kallie,” he said. “You’ve helped me so much on this trip.”
“That’s my job,” she said with a grin.
“But this trip ... it’s been so much more than that.”
He watched her cock her head as he slipped his hand into his pocket. He’d picked it up in a jewelry shop they had passed on their second day. The ring had called to him. It was dainty. Small. The white gold band was fragile and the small diamond that sat on top of it sparkled in the Bali moonlight. It was simple and made a statement, just like Kallie. And if the idea of an engagement didn’t go over well with her, then he’d phrase it as a promise ring. A promise that he will always love her and always cherish her and always protect her, no matter what.