Chapter 35 #2
Unable to hold back, I rush over and throw my arms around his waist, clinging to him like a kid on Christmas morning. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I squeal, standing on my tiptoes to pepper kisses all over his face. He leans down to make it easier, his deep chuckle vibrating against me.
“Anything for you, Peach,” he says. My heart feels like it might burst.
Once the paperwork is finalized, Calvin takes my hand, his fingers lacing with mine. “I have a date planned for us,” he says, with a tinge of excitement. “And after the date, I’ll help you pack.”
“A date?” I grin up at him, my curiosity piqued. “Where?”
“You’ll see,” he teases, bringing my hand to his lips for a gentle kiss. “Just trust me.”
We leave the building hand in hand, and I’m surprised to find a sleek, luxurious car waiting for us. Calvin opens the door for me, ever the gentleman, and soon we’re on our way.
As we drive, the city fades into the distance, replaced by sprawling green fields and quaint farmhouses.
The air becomes fresher, the scent of wildflowers and earth wafting through the open window.
The golden glow of the setting sun paints the landscape in soft, warm hues, making everything look like a scene from a painting.
After about forty minutes, the car slows and pulls into a beautiful vineyard nestled in the rolling hills.
Endless rows of grapevines stretch across the landscape, their leaves glowing in the evening light.
At the center of it all is a charming villa, its stone walls covered in ivy that climbs toward the terracotta roof.
It’s elegant but cozy, in fact it feels like a dream.
“Wow,” I breathe as we step out of the car. “This is stunning.”
Calvin walks around to my side. “I thought you’d like it.”
We’re greeted by a friendly host who leads us through the vineyard, pointing out the types of grapes and the history of the estate. The stroll is peaceful, the scent of ripe fruit and earth surrounding us as Calvin keeps a steady hand on my lower back.
The tour ends at a private patio overlooking the vineyard.
The area is secluded, adorned with fairy lights and a small table set for two.
A soft breeze carries the scent of lavender from the nearby garden.
There is some kind of outdoor heater embedded in the walls that makes the patio nice and comfortable.
“Calvin, this is… incredible.”
He pulls out my chair, helping me sit before taking his seat across from me. “Only the best for you.”
The meal begins with an amuse-bouche, a delicate bite of smoked salmon topped with crème fra?che and caviar.
Each dish that follows is more divine than the last: arugula and pear salad with candied walnuts, freshly baked rosemary bread, and a main course of perfectly seared duck breast with a cherry reduction.
After the amazing meal, I lean back in my chair, grinning at how deliciously full I am. “I hope you saved some room for dessert,” Calvin teases, chuckling softly.
Before I can protest that I don’t have an inch of space left, the sommelier who’s been taking care of us all evening appears, carrying a medium-sized brown box. He sets it down gently on the table and hands Calvin what looks like a lighter.
My heart skips a beat, and a smile stretches wide across my face. I already have a feeling about what’s inside.
“You got me a cake?” I ask excitedly as Calvin carefully opens the box.
Inside is the most beautiful cake I’ve ever seen: pale pink frosting wrapped in a bold fuchsia bow that looks like it’s been draped by hand.
The bow spills down both sides like flowing silk, each fold soft and intentional, like it was tied onto a gift instead of piped with sugar.
Delicate, tiny white hearts are scattered across the surface, like they were embroidered with love.
I can’t stop smiling. This cake, this moment, makes me feel completely seen, cherished, and loved in a way I didn’t know I craved. How did I get so lucky? How is Calvin real?
“Calvin…” My voice trails off, words failing me.
He takes out a single birthday candle and places it delicately on the cake, lighting it with the lighter. The soft glow of the flame feels as warm as his gaze.
“It’s not a birthday until you make a wish and blow out a candle,” he says in low, affectionate murmur.
My heart swells. I close my eyes, the only wish I can think of being to have this incredible man in my life forever. When I open them, I blow out the candle, the tiny puff of smoke curling into the air.
“Happy birthday, beautiful,” he says, his smile so warm and genuine that my chest feels like it might burst.
“Best birthday ever,” I whisper, fighting back the happy tears threatening to spill over.
Unable to resist, I swipe a finger through the frosting, grinning mischievously as I smear it across his cheek. His eyes widen, and he lets out a mock groan, but the smile tugging at his lips betrays him.
“Really?” he asks, raising an eyebrow. “That’s how you’re going to play it?”
I giggle, unable to contain myself. “Absolutely,” I reply, laughing as I lean in, grabbing his face. Before he can react, I lick the frosting off his cheek with a dramatic flourish.
“Hmm, peach. My favorite,” I say with a smirk, savoring both the taste of the frosting and the way his jaw drops in exaggerated disbelief, causing me to throw my head back and laugh. He can’t help but join me.
My laughter dies down when I catch him looking at me with a certain soft intensity.
“You’re staring,” I tease, grabbing the napkin to wipe his cheek and my finger.
He takes a deep breath, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from my face. “I love you,” he says softly.
I smile, warmth blooming in my chest. “I love you too.”
But then he shakes his head, a serious expression settling on his face. “No,” he says. “I don’t think you understand. I’m in love with you, Blair. Completely, overwhelmingly in love with you.”
I blink, caught off guard by his intensity, and he continues.
“You’ve changed everything for me. Before you, my life was fine, successful, predictable, maybe even a little empty, but then you came along, and suddenly, it’s like the world is brighter. Every laugh, every eye roll, every little thing you do makes me fall harder. You’re it for me.”
My breath catches as he cups my cheek.
“I wake up thinking about you. When you’re not with me, I’m counting the hours until I can see you again. And when you are with me, nothing else matters. Not work, not the world, just you. You’re my safe place, my wild adventure, my future, all wrapped into one incredible person.”
His eyes search mine. “You make me want to be better, Blair. For you. For us. And I’m not just saying this because it’s your birthday or because this night is perfect.
I’m saying it because it’s the truth, and I need you to know it.
I’m so in love with you it terrifies me, but it’s also the best thing that’s ever happened to me. ”
Tears prick my eyes, and I’m too overwhelmed to speak. He takes my hand, placing it over his heart.
“Do you feel that? It’s yours. Always. Every beat, every breath, every piece of me, it’s all yours. Forever, if you’ll have me.”
I can’t hold back the tears now, but they’re happy tears. “Calvin,” I whisper, my voice trembling.
He leans forward, pressing his forehead to mine. “You don’t have to say anything. Just know that I’ll spend every day proving to you how much you mean to me.”
I pull him into a kiss, pouring every ounce of love and gratitude I have into it. When we break apart, I rest my forehead against his and say, “I don’t need proof, Calvin. You already have my heart.”
“Happy birthday, Blair.”
And in that moment, with the stars shining above, I know that this love is the kind you hold onto for a lifetime.
1 Mr Stirling
2 Nice to meet you.