Chapter Nine #3
Lainey was a special, unique, wonderful woman, and he’d be an idiot to let her get away. If it took him years to convince her to marry him, he decided he’d do it. She was worth whatever effort it took.
He gave her a sideways glance and hoped it wouldn’t take nearly that long.
For the next several days, when Jason could sneak away from Lainey, he started putting his plans into play.
Friday morning, he encouraged Lainey to go with Brylee for the day to a rodeo that was only a few hours away. Brylee was in on his ruse and would have Lainey home in time for dinner, although it meant leaving the rodeo early.
Jason drove to the all-but-forgotten town of Lovely, located about ten miles southeast of Baker City, where the Birke family had been silversmiths for generations.
They had a shop there where they sold everything from jewelry to saddle silver and artistic pieces.
It only took one look at the rings they had in stock to find one that was perfect for Lainey.
It had a vintage look to it, like something a woman on the Titanic might have worn, but it seemed perfect for his gypsy girl.
After paying for the ring and thanking Levi Birke for placing it in a beautiful velvet-lined box, Jason hustled back to Baker City, where he stopped by the florist shop and worked with the owner to find exactly what he wanted for Lainey.
He picked up a meal from one of his favorite restaurants, then ran by the bakery before he drove to the house on the hill at the ranch where he’d spent a happy childhood.
Brylee would bring Lainey there when they returned in an hour.
He’d just slid the foil-wrapped dinner rolls into the oven to warm when he heard the crunch of tires on the gravel outside.
With a deep breath, he tugged on the clean shirt he’d brought with him and hastily snapped it, tucking it in on his way to the door.
Lainey got out and looked at him as he walked down the front steps and waved at Brylee, who had already turned around and was leaving.
“What’s going on? Brylee said she forgot she needed to be back by six for an appointment, so we left the rodeo early. Are you the appointment?” Lainey asked as she made her way along the walk, offering him a suspicious look.
“Guilty as charged.” Jason grinned at her and kissed her cheek.
“You look nice. Are we going somewhere?”
“Hmm. In a roundabout way,” he said, not quite ready to divulge his plans as they started for the door. “How was the trip today?”
“Fine. Caitlyn and Carter had fun with their friends and then slept most of the way home. In fact, they were still asleep when Brylee practically kicked me out of her SUV.”
Jason chuckled. “I’m pretty sure she didn’t kick you out.”
“But she did drive off with my bag.” Lainey glanced at the dust on the road, as though she might be able to flag Brylee down.
“She’ll leave it at the house.” Jason placed his hand at the small of Lainey’s back, ignoring the tingles that trailed up his arm.
He guided Lainey inside the house and into the living room, where he’d rearranged the furniture and set up a table for two, complete with candlelight, even though it was still bright daylight outside.
Lisa had pressed a white tablecloth and napkins for him and helped him wash his mother’s china to use to serve the meal.
An antique crystal bowl held an assortment of flowers Dani had picked, and Lisa had arranged.
The table looked inviting, if he did say so himself. He’d considered eating outside on the patio, but it was hot, and swatting at bugs certainly wouldn’t add to the aura of romance.
“What are you up to, Slim?” Lainey asked, taking in the table in front of the windows with the fantastic view of the valley.
“All in good time, Gypsy. Are you hungry?” Jason asked, motioning to the table.
“Starving. Carter dropped his hotdog, so I gave him most of my hamburger. I was going to get some popcorn, but Brylee got in a toot to leave before I had a chance.” Lainey took a step back, toward the entry hallway. “Mind if I wash up first?”
“Go right ahead.” Jason watched as she left the room, admiring the slight sway of her hips. She’d worn a long summer dress with her boots and looked both feminine and western.
Jason hurried to take the food from the oven and fill two plates.
For dessert, he’d purchased mini cakes at the bakery—one with a cinnamon mousse filling for Lainey and a lemon cake with strawberries for himself. They were chilling in the refrigerator.
Jason set the plates on the table and glanced around. The cleaning crew he’d hired had done a great job. The windows sparkled, the floors gleamed, and the house smelled clean and fresh.
If Jason had his way, it would soon be a happy home again, instead of one that had been left empty for far too long.
Lainey returned and looked at the table, then at him. “Jason, I won’t be able to eat a bite until you tell me what is going on. Come on. Spill it.” She settled a hand on her hip and lifted an eyebrow, as though daring him to try withholding the truth.
Jason smiled and went to the kitchen, returning with a spectacular bouquet of a dozen roses. The blooms were a mix of dark coral, pale yellow, and peach. He handed the bouquet to Lainey.
“These are marvelous, Jase. The colors together look like a sunset. I love them.”
“I’m glad. I thought the colors suited you, and us. I know I’m no spring chicken anymore, Lainey, but I think we still have some vibrant years ahead of us before we begin to fade.” He drew in a deep breath and pointed to the roses. “You should know I’m going to love you until the last one dies.”
“What are you saying, Jason? You’ll love me for a week or two?”
“No. I’m saying that I love you, Lainey. I’ve loved you since you bumped into me that day back in April. I want you in my life, in my arms, and in my heart. Lainey Collins, I love you, and I will until the last rose in that bouquet drops all its petals and dies.”
Lainey buried her face in the blooms, then lifted her head and studied the roses. She gently extracted the silk rose he’d had the florist tuck into the bouquet. It was a peach hue that matched the real roses almost exactly in color, and it looked realistic unless studied too closely.
“Until this one dies?” Lainey questioned, holding the stem of the fake rose between her fingers.
“That’s the one.”
Lainey seemed to understand what he was saying and implying—that his love would last for the rest of their lives.
He took a step closer to her and got down on one knee, then dug the ring he’d picked out that afternoon from his shirt pocket. Candlelight reflected in the diamond in the center of the ring and the smaller diamonds that encircled the silver band.
Lainey set the roses on a side table as her eyes filled with tears.
Jason took her left hand in his and slid the ring onto her finger.
Pleased it was a perfect fit, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it before he looked up at her, seeing the answer in her eyes before he even asked the question.
“Will you marry me, Elaina Collins? Will you walk beside me through however many days we have left on this earth? Be my wife, my friend, my love, and the reason I get up with a smile every morning?”
“Oh, Jase.” She nodded her head and tugged on his hand. He stood and wrapped his arms around her before their lips met in a tender kiss full of hope and promises.
When he pulled back, he looked at her in question. “Does that mean you’ll marry me? That you might even like me a little?”
She released a choppy breath, then bracketed his face with her hands. “Jason Jordan Price, I have loved you for months, and will love you until my last breath. Nothing would make me happier than to be your wife, your friend, your love, and to wake up every morning to your smile.”
“When, Lainey? When will you marry me?” Jason asked, then didn’t give her a chance to answer when he kissed her again. “Soon?”
She laughed. “You don’t have time to devote to a wife until the rodeo season ends. Let’s wed the first weekend in October. A small ceremony at the church in town with just family. Then we can have the biggest party you want for the reception.”
“I like that plan.” Jason nuzzled her neck and kissed her one more time before he pulled out her chair at the table. “If it sounds okay to you, I’d like us to live here, in this house.”
“Nothing would make me happier,” Lainey said, hugging him tightly before she took a seat.
As soon as he sat across from her, he lifted his glass and held it out. “A toast to the wonder of unexpected love and the blessings of receiving it.”
“To love, and to home.” Lainey clinked her glass to his, her heart glowing in her beautiful blue eyes.
Together, they began turning their dreams for the future into plans.