Three Months Later
“Whatever you think,” Jesse said seriously, turning his gaze from the wallpaper samples to the designer who had brought them. He’d come upstairs after work at her request to look at some options, but he didn’t want the burden of actually choosing one. “I’m fine with any of them, except the sunflowers. I trust your judgment.”
The apartment above Romeo Family Health was coming along. Over the last few months, Helio’s crew had framed the new walls, updated the plumbing and wiring throughout, hung drywall and installed most of the kitchen, master bathroom, and powder room. Then Jesse and the Colonel had patched, sanded and refinished the ancient floors.
It felt good to do some of the work himself, even if he didn’t have a lot of free time. But decorating was out of Jesse’s wheelhouse, and he couldn’t risk getting it wrong. It had to be perfect.
So he’d brought in a professional to obsess over the details.
“In that case, I’d recommend going with the cream colored toile. It’s thicker paper and the design is subtle and timeless. In an apartment you’re planning to rent out later on, you have to think about mass appeal and durability.”
“Sounds great.”
“Of course, it comes with a slightly higher price tag.”
“Of course,” he agreed. “Mass appeal is one thing, but remember, the real goal is to lure my unsuspecting girlfriend into marrying me.”
“Yes, I remember you saying that,” she said politely. She looked almost severe in her black dress and with her hair pulled back so tight and sleek, but her giant glasses were kind of working for him.
He took a step closer. “Do you think cream colored toile wallpaper will do it?”
“I think she’ll like it. I don’t know that I would—” She broke off as he stroked her cheek.
“What are you doing tonight?” he asked, his voice low. “You want to get a drink with me?”
“Sir!” she gasped. “I am not that kind of interior designer!”
Ignoring her protestations, he removed her glasses with care, slipped them into his breast pocket, and kissed her.
And the lady didn’t even bother to pretend that she wasn’t into it. She melted against him, just like he’d known she would.
“Clara,” he said at last.
“Jesse,” she sighed languidly.
He reached back into his breast pocket, but it wasn’t eyeglasses he held in front of her. He’d carried a princess-cut diamond ring on him for months, and he couldn’t wait any longer.
He watched as she noticed it, saw her expression change from dreamy desire to total alertness. Her hand lay on his shoulder; he lifted it gently and slid the rose gold band over her fourth finger.
Then he frowned. “You’re crying.”
“Ignore it,” she instructed calmly. “Proceed as planned.”
He could hardly believe what he was about to say, but he’d rehearsed this little speech a hundred times in front of his mirror and it went off without a hitch.
“Will you marry me?”
As if on cue, the grandfather clock downstairs chimed the half-hour and her eyes cut away from his for a second as she heard it. Then she gave him a misty smile.
“Yes,” she answered firmly, and cleared her throat a little.
He was feeling a little overcome with emotion himself, which is probably why, instead of something romantic or memorable, he said, “Good.” Then he cradled her face in his hands and set about kissing her tears away. “How’d I do on the ring?”
“Good,” she managed to echo, gripping his wrists tightly.
He pulled her against him once more and she squeezed him with all her might. “I love you, Clara.” It was easy to say these days.
“I love you so much,” she gasped, and then she started sobbing. “I’m going to be your wife!”
Jesse rocked her back and forth. “Yep. ’Long as I got a biscuit, you got half.”
He grinned at the sound of her watery laughter.