25. Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Five
D inner was over.
And now it was time for a serious talk.
Carrie’s stomach dipped. They just had to figure this out. They’d come too far not to get the details right.
After their dishes were cleared, Carrie turned to Jackson. “I want to give us a real chance.”
“I do too.”
“And that’s why I feel we need to be on the same continent, preferably in the same town. We need time together to rebuild all of the bridges that distance and time has torn down.”
His gaze searched hers. “I feel the exact same way. That’s why—”
She pressed her fingers to his lips, silencing him. “Please, let me say this.” When he nodded, she lowered her hand. “I’ve given this a lot of thought. I can’t just walk away from the chocolate shop. I have so much of myself wrapped up in it, but what if I promoted Alice to manager and hired an additional person? Then when I’m in London, things will continue to run seamlessly.”
He reached for her hand and wrapped his long, lean fingers around hers. “You’d be willing to make that sacrifice?”
She felt as though she were standing on the edge of a cliff with a parachute strapped to her. She hesitated. And then she imagined Jackson taking her hand and telling her to jump with him. She just had to believe…
So, she figuratively took a leap: “Yes.” Her stomach shivered with nerves. “I want to do everything I can to make us work.”
After the server returned with Jackson’s credit card and receipt, he got to his feet and held his hand out to her. “Will you take a ride with me?”
Her gaze moved to his hand. She placed her hand in his. Her fingers laced with his. Hand in hand, they walked to his car.
She glanced around. “Where are we going? To the chocolate shop?”
“As delicious as your treats are, I have something else in mind.” He pulled his car to the curb in front of the building.
He told her to wait in the car. He got out and rushed around to open her door for her. He held his hand out to her. He was being such a gentleman. She loved it.
He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm as they walked to the front door of the vacant unit next to her shop. It was only then she realized all of the wood covering the windows and door had been removed. Mark’s guys were making fast progress.
“What are we doing here?” she asked.
“You’ll see in just a second.” Jackson unlocked the door. “Wait here for just a moment.”
He stepped inside, only to return a few seconds later. “I have something to show you.”
She saw the gleam of excitement in his eyes. She hadn’t seen him this wound up in a long time. It looked good on him.
When she stepped inside, she was caught off guard by the sweeping changes. All of the damaged wood and the sagging ceiling were removed. Even though there wasn’t much more than framing up, she could now envision the space in a whole new way.
“This looks great. Are you going to finish it? Or leave it as a blank canvas for the new owner?”
“Well, see that’s the thing. The new owner is thinking of turning it back into a cafe.”
“Oh. So, you have a buyer?” She wasn’t expecting it to go down so fast. When Jackson nodded, she asked, “Who is it?”
“Me.”
Surely, she hadn’t heard him correctly. “You’re buying this building?”
“I am.” He smiled at her.
“But I don’t understand. You live in London.”
“I know. But I’m thinking it’s time for a change.”
She turned to him so she could look into his eyes. “Jackson, what’s going on?”
“Well, I was thinking that this area could hold the tables and chairs.” He gestured to the front of the space. “And back there”—he gestured to the back of the unit—“will be the kitchen.” He walked to the middle of the area. “And right here, I’m thinking would be a good spot for a small stage.”
She was totally intrigued. “And what would the stage be for?”
He smiled. “It would be for karaoke.”
This time she smiled. “I love it. But who is going to run it?”
“I was thinking that I would.”
“And what about London?”
“I like it over there, but I love it here.” He approached her. “Carrie, I fell in love with you when we were teenagers. And I don’t think there has been a day since that I haven’t loved you.”
Her heart swelled. Tears pricked the backs of her eyes. “I love you too.”
She lifted up on her tiptoes as he lowered his head. Their lips pressed together. His arms wrapped around her waist as he drew her to him. Her heart pounded so hard it echoed in her ears. She wondered if he could hear it.
Now that she was in his embrace—now that he was kissing her—she wondered what she’d been scared of all this time. She’d never felt safer in her life. He loved her. And she loved him.
When Jackson pulled back, he asked her, “So, do you approve of my plans?”
“I just have one request.”
His brows drew together. “What’s that?”
As seriously as she could muster, she said, “No more banging on the wall. I already lost one picture frame.”
A smile returned to his face. “I think I can handle that. There’s one more thing I need to ask you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. Then he dropped down on one knee. He opened the box and held it out to her. Inside was a three-diamond ring. The center square diamond was larger than the two diamonds flanking it. It was simply gorgeous.
“Carrie Ann Byers, I love you with all my heart. You are the best friend I’ve ever had. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
She didn’t need any time to think it over. Her heart knew the answer all along. “Yes. Yes, I will.”
He slipped the ring onto her finger. When he straightened, he looked deep into her eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
He pulled her back into his embrace, and they kissed again. All the while, Carrie felt as though she were floating on a cloud. If this was a dream, she didn’t want to wake up.
But when the kiss ended, her gaze latched onto the sparkling diamond ring on her finger. “I can’t wait to tell my family.”
“They know.” His words were soft but distinct.
She turned to him with her eyes widened. “How?”
“It’s the reason I needed your grandmother’s help. I didn’t have your father’s phone number. And I couldn’t just ask her for it because your grandmother has always been the curious sort. It’s impossible to get anything past her.” When Carrie smiled and nodded in agreement, he said, “I didn’t want her to ruin the surprise, so I filled her in on the plan. She was more than willing to help. And then she gave me your father’s phone number. I called him and asked for your hand.”
“You did?” When he nodded, a rush of bubbly emotions choked off her words. Tears rushed to her eyes and blurred her vision. She swallowed hard. “Thank you. I know it meant so much to my family.”
“You’re happy?” His gaze searched hers.
“Deliriously so. I’m going to marry my best friend. How could I not be?” She wiggled her finger, letting the light dance across the diamonds. “I just have one question.”
“What’s that?”
“How are you going to top this Valentine’s Day next year?”