Page 53 of Big Bad Single Wolf Dad

I can feel the collective tension dissipating as the room empties and I’m left alone with a stunning scene and a racing heart.

The nerves aren’t out of fear, though. They’re a sign of excitement, a sign of how much this means to me. I have no doubt that Sarah is exactly the person I want to spend the rest of my life with and I can’t wait to ask her to do just that.

The final details are in place, and the room screams romance. A soft melody plays in the background, gentle harp to really set the mood. I know I’ve pulled off some pretty romantic gestures in my time but even I have to admit I’ve outdone myself.

Suddenly, I hear the doorbell ring and my heart skips a beat. She’s here. I take one last look around, ensuring that everything is perfect, and then make my way to greet her.

When I open the front door, I’m greeted by Sarah’s radiant smile, and for a moment, everything else fades away. I still can’t believe I have this incredible woman by my side and I hope that tonight she’ll agree to be there for good.

“Hi,” I say, smiling warmly. “You look beautiful.”

I kiss her hello, letting my lips linger a little. I can’t help it. My heart is full and I want to commit every moment of this night to memory.

“Well, hello,” she says when I pull away. “That was nice.”

I grin. “That’s just the beginning,” I tell her, taking her by the hand and leading her inside.

“Wait, what?” she asks and I relish the confusion in her voice. “I thought we were going out to dinner.”

“Slight change of plans,” I tell her, with a mischievous smile.

Thankfully she doesn’t protest. Instead, she follows me inside, clasping my hand with excitement, aware by now that I’m prone to organizing surprise dates.

When we finally reach the events room, she’s practically vibrating with anticipation, and, if I’m honest, so am I. With a flourish, I open the door, leading her into the space and toward the dinner table that’s been set up for the occasion.

“Greg,” she says, her voice filled with awe. “What’s all this?”

“A surprise,” I tell her, smiling and looking into her eyes.

A waiter appears from nowhere, carrying a silver platter, just like the ones we shared at Magic Land.

Sarah is smiling at me as I guide her into her seat. It’s taking everything in me not to get down on one knee right now, but I know I want this all to go according to plan. The happiness in Sarah’s eyes makes the anticipation worth it.

“This is amazing,” she says, looking around the room. “And is that…?”

She points toward the colored sashes and I nod.

“Yep,” I say. “From the night we met.”

She smiles warmly, taking my hand across the table. “This is lovely.”

“And it’s only going to get better,” I reply with a mysterious grin. Before she can answer though, I gesture to her plate. “Bon appetit.”

She smiles again before taking a bite of the French dish, catered from Le Chatière, where I asked her to go to France with me. I have the feeling her answer would be different now, but that’s not the question I’m here to pose.

As we eat, Sarah comments on the food, the decor, and the roses, but she doesn’t press me on the meaning of it all. I’m sure she has an inkling but I appreciate that she’s not ruining the surprise, perhaps for me as much as for herself.

When the meal is finally over, I reach across the table to take her hand again.

“Sarah,” I say, looking deeply into her eyes. “Tonight is about us. It’s about our love, our journey, and the future we can create together.”

She smiles back, her eyes speaking volumes about what she feels for me and I know now more than ever that this is exactly where I want to be. Sliding from my seat, I finally get down on one knee, looking up into the eyes of my love.

Sarah’s eyes begin to well with tears but she says nothing, allowing me instead to ask the question I’ve been wanting to ask for so long already. From my pocket, I pull out the ring box that I’ve been fingering all night and open it to reveal a beautiful diamond ring that I already know Sarah will love.

“You are my world,” I continue, my voice steady but full of emotion. “From the first moment I saw you, I knew you were the one. You bring so much joy and light into my life, and I can’t imagine spending it without you or the kids now. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and allowing me to be stepfather to your children?”

As the words leave my lips, time seems to hold its breath. Sarah’s tears begin to spill over now, running down her cheeks that are full from her smile. She places her hand on her heart. For a brief moment, there is silence, the weight of the question hanging in the air.

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