Page 116 of Stirring Up Love
Gran came out of the kitchen with a tray of Alisha’s cookies. Simone and her sister were working on a plan to open a second Vanilla Honey shop here in town, hopefully by next year. But until then, the baked goods Alisha shipped from Chicago flew off the shelves.
Simone went over to help her grandmother with the tray. “Go ahead and find a seat, Gran. I think we’re ready to eat.”
Two of the graduates from Finn’s cooking school hovered near the swinging door to the kitchen, looking nervous and stiff in their black Honey and Hickory aprons.
She walked over, smiling. “Hey, y’all. This is your celebration too! Kitchen’s closed—get on out and enjoy the fruits of your labor.”
They looked at each other, unsure, and she sought out Finn in the crowd. He was chatting with Bella, who’d taken a rare evening off so she could be a part of the celebration.
“Here, follow me.” She led the graduates over to the table and ushered them to the empty seats. “Try not to scare them too much,” she told Bella with a grin, and the other woman chuckled, her gray eyes sparkling.
“I’ll save that for after they’re fully initiated. Though there was this one dinner service where ...” The cooks leaned in, rapt, as Bella recounted a kitchen horror story, while Simone stepped back to an open spot near the front of the room.
Public speaking never made her nervous, but tonight was different. Special. One deep breath, then she found Finn’s face in the crowd. She was ready.
Raising her voice and her glass, Simone addressed the room. “Has everyone got a drink?”
There were nods and murmurs.
“Good, because I want to start off with a toast to the talented cooks who prepared this meal.” The chitchat died down, and she went on: “We’re so happy to have you both on our staff and can’t wait to see what the future has in store for you.”
She took a sip of her drink, gathering her courage. “Between the graduates and the grand opening of the boutique, there’s a lot to celebrate.” Cheers cut into her speech, and she waited for things to quiet down again. “I just hope I’m doing our part to give people more reasons to love our town, because there’s so much goodness here.”
“Got that right,” Bill Lewis called out, and a chuckle swept through the crowd.
“Just one more thing, then I’ll wrap it up, because I can see some of y’all giving me the stink eye, wanting to dig in to dinner.” A smattering of laughter arose.
Her next words were meant for Finn, but she wanted everyone to hear. “Two summers ago, I met a man who turned my life upside down. It’s no secret he and I clashed from the start. I thought I had life figured out, and then Finn Rimes showed up and blew my expectations to pieces. In the best possible way.”
Leaning against the wall in the back of the room, Finn bit his lip, bashful, and her heart squeezed.
“I was worried he was out for my sauce, but it turns out he had his sights set on my heart.” Their animosity seemed ages ago, long since transformed into ardor. “When I met Finn, I met my match, in every sense of the word. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather spend my life with than the man I once tried my best to get rid of.”
Heart thudding, she wound her way through the bentwood chairs and rows of tables toward him. “You are the perfect man for me. I couldn’t not love you if I tried. And believe me, I tried.”
He rolled his lips together, took her hand in his, and his warm touch filled her up with ooey-gooey mushy happiness.
Happiness that sent her down on one knee, where she knelt, looking up into his eyes, bright with unshed tears. “Don’t you go crying on me.”
“Too late,” he said, and he breathed out a laugh.
She sniffed and squeezed his hand, drawing strength from it. “Finn Abraham Rimes, you are my most favorite person. You are brave and smart and strong and sensitive and stubborn as all get-out, and I love you. I adore you. I cherish you, and I want to spend forever showing you how much you mean to me.”
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small handcrafted wooden box. Flipped it open to reveal the key inside and held it up, hands shaky. “Will you do the honor of being mine forever?”
“Are you asking me to marry you?”
“You’re really going to make me say it, aren’t you?”
He nodded. “Just want to make sure I read the fine print of the deal.”
Smiling, she shook her head. So sappy, this one. So perfect for her.
“Finn, will you marry me?”
He bent down and scooped her up under her knees, swooping her into his arms. “Yes, Simone. A thousand times, yes, I’ll marry you.”
She slid her hands around his neck, and he kissed her. Quick, soft, sure. Then he parted his lips and swept his tongue across hers. Bliss. Heaven.
