Page 123 of Steadfast
“Same as you!” She touched her glass to mine.
“You didn’t have to do that.” She could have a few drinks if she wanted to.
She stood on her toes and kissed me. “I know. But why not? Gin makes me sleepy.”
I kissed her again, putting my free hand to the silky fabric of her dress. How was this my life? I had everything I’d ever wanted right here.
“Break it up you two!” Zara complained. “I want to show you guys the patio, because it’s less loud and less crowded. Follow me.”
We all trailed after her, and it was totally worth it. The patio stretched the length of the rear of the mill, overlooking the Winooski River. There were strings of lights on the banister and candle sconces on the wall. It was a surprisingly warm April evening for Vermont, and the nighttime air promised that spring was really coming.
“Wow!” May said, and I could hear her because it was quieter out here. “Pretty.”
“What a spread!” Audrey crowed. “They could rent this space for private parties.”
“Like,weddings,” Griff’s cousin Kyle said. “Maybe if Griff ever gets around to proposing, you guys could have the reception here.”
Griff gave his cousin an evil glare. “I’ll take it under advisement.”
“What?” Kyle said. “Just a suggestion.”
“You can’t throw a man under the bus like that,” May argued. “These things happen on their own time.”
Kyle grinned. “Just hangin’ it out there. All men are a little squeamish at the mention of weddings. It’s a guy thing.”
“Nobody’s squeamish,” Griff argued. “Some people have to do some home renovation before they plan a wedding.”
“Is that so? I thought maybe you were chicken.”
Audrey rolled her eyes. “You’re an ass, Kyle.”
“I’m perceptive, that’s all.”
Sophie tugged my hand, and I followed her to the railing away from the group. “The moon is shining in the river,” she said. “Look.”
“Beautiful,” I said, finding the moon on the surface of the water. But the real beauty was her.
“Is it true?” she asked, pinching me playfully on the ass. “Do men get all clenched up when someone brings up weddings?”
I gave her what I hoped wasn’t too awkward of a smile. “I wouldn’t say that.” My heart began to beat a little wildly in my chest, though. And not because weddings scared me.
Quite the opposite.
She lifted her chin to kiss my jaw. “This is an awfully nice spot in the world. Maybe the nicest spot anywhere. I predict there will be lots of romantic moments happening out here.”
“Yeah?” I asked, stealing a kiss. “Should we test that theory out?” My pulse accelerated again, because I was about to do something a little reckless.
“Sure.” Her smile was playful. “Kiss me, then.”
I pulled her into me, skimming my lips over hers. The last couple of months had been a dream come true. My job was going well and every night I came home to someone I loved. There was nothing like walking into the house we shared to hear her call out, “In here!” from our kitchen. I always kissed her hello, then ran off to take the fastest shower ever so I could go back and help with dinner and hear about her day.
And the nights? Heaven. Holding her in my arms every night was all I ever wanted.
I took a sweet sip of her mouth now, and she gripped my biceps and sighed. It took all my willpower to break the kiss and step back. I jammed my hand into my pocket and closed it around something my father had given me earlier.
That’s when I got down on one knee.
My girlfriend tilted her pretty face to the side, as if waiting for the punchline of a joke.
