Chapter 31
CHAPTER 31
ROSE
A feeling of accomplishment warms my chest as I stare at the rows of black buckets filled with marigold bouquets. I grew these beauties. With help. But my dream has become a reality.
And I don’t feel any guilt about competing with my parents. For one, this flower stand is very different than their store. And two, the Stadtburg location closed two months ago. Probably because they let Richard run it.
Jasmine steps inside. “The marigolds are gorgeous. And I can’t believe how many we have left after selling to stores. This self-serve flower shop idea is genius.”
“It was Dallas’s idea. And when I worried that no one would find it, he connected me with Daisy. I had no idea she was so popular online.”
“Oh yeah. She loves spotlighting stuff like this.” Jasmine glances at the time. “Fifteen minutes. Are you ready?”
“I think so. The box is on the wall for people to slide in money. The instructions and our name on each of the money apps are there. There are pens that work—because I checked—for people to write down what they bought.” I step closer to the door. “Do you need any help outside setting up tables for the plants?”
“The fall vegetables are lined up in their little pots, ready for people to snag.” She motions for me to stand near the bouquets. “Go over there. I’ll snap a picture.”
I smile, excited to send it to Dallas. “I can’t believe we pulled this off. But I couldn’t have done it without your help.”
“I’ve loved every minute. This is something I never would’ve tackled on my own, but today feels like Christmas. Same as the day we made the first big retail sale.”
“Yeah. I’m pretty much on cloud nine. Are my feet actually touching the ground?”
Her phone rings and lights up with Tyler’s face.
“I’m going to take this call outside.” She wanders through the double doors and out into a field of marigolds.
The barn Dallas had built along the main road is surrounded by fields. Some are still full of marigolds. Others are waiting to be planted. What I love most is how the bright yellow barn and the parking lot are edged by a white picket fence.
A truck door slams, and I walk outside.
Dallas spreads his arms wide. “You did it. I heard a rumor that a news crew would be showing up later today.”
“Your doing?”
He gives a shrug. “Possibly.”
I launch into his arms. “I love you. Not because of this amazing space you helped me create or the business you funded. I just love you. And I love who I am with you.”
“I love who I am with you too.” He kisses me, lifting me off my feet. “I can’t stick around very long because I have to feed the cows and find that dang goat.”
“He’s missing again?”
“Dennis has decided he doesn’t like the barn. And he wanders, but he eats Tandy’s flowers.”
“I’ve heard. She’s a bit sore about that.”
He chuckles. “Goats were her idea. But anyway, I stopped in to say congratulations. I love you. And don’t plan anything for tonight.”
“Okay.”
Multiple cars pull into the lot, and Dallas gives me a quick hug. “Customers.”
After spending hours greeting people and explaining the self-serve system repeatedly to customers in disbelief, I race to Stadtburg for a shower and a bit of cuddle time with Floofy.
So much of my life centers around the ranch. I still work the occasional Saturday at the lingerie store, but otherwise, my time is spent at Matchmaker Ranch. The house in Stadtburg feels far away sometimes.
As I walk in the door, a text pops up, and I tear up a little.
Sage: Congrats! I saw the pictures online. Your flowers are incredible. I’m so proud of you. Cara and I will swing by tomorrow. She says she needs a bouquet of those marigolds.
Me: Thanks
Sage: Love you
Me: Love you too
Sage and I are closer now than we were before everything shifted. That’s a silver lining for sure.
But it’s been months since I’ve heard anything from my parents. Dad was serious about the ultimatum. After I quit, neither Mom nor Dad has reached out at all. I’ve texted a few times. Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and birthdays. But they haven’t responded. So for now, I’m done trying.
Dallas is probably tired of holding me while I cry.
After responding to emails and giving Floofy the required attention, I shower, excited about whatever Dallas has planned.
“You have to wear the blue dress. Seriously. Dallas has something special planned. You want to look perfect, and you know he likes that dress. I daresay it’s his favorite.” Daphne puts her face close to the screen. “But hurry because you don’t have much time to change.”
Her pushiness about what I should wear is getting me excited.
“Do you know something I don’t?”
“I know lots of things you don’t. But about Dallas’s plans this evening, I have no insider information. It’s just that y’all have been really and truly dating more than a year. And he loves you.”
“The deal ended in February, Daphne. That wasn’t a year ago.”
“Y’all were dating before that. And you know it.” She laughs. “You can pretend that y’all were pretending, but nothing you can say will make me believe it. I was the one you gushed to, remember?”
“I remember.” I step out of view of the video call and change into the blue dress. “Is this better?”
“Gorgeous. He’s going to love it.” She waves. “I’m hanging up now. Call me later.”
“Bye.”
Unsure of the destination, I opt for my cowboy boots instead of heels. It gives my ensemble a more casual vibe, but I’m okay with that.
“Hello! I’m here, but if you need more time, I can wait.”
I rush down the hall. “I’m ready.”
His gaze slides down, then back up. “You look amazing.”
“Thanks. You look pretty spiffy yourself.”
Dallas is in dark jeans and a long-sleeved paisley shirt. And his boots are freshly polished.
He gives Floofy a scratch. “I’ll bring her back later, bud. I need to steal her for a bit.”
During the drive, he asks me about my day, and I tell him in too much detail about the customers, their reactions, and what they bought. “I’ll have to be out there early tomorrow to make sure we aren’t sold out. I might be cutting more marigolds when the sun comes up.”
“I can help.” He pulls my hand to his lips.
I recognize the way he’s headed. I was here earlier today. “Are we headed to the yellow barn?”
“Close.” He turns down the gravel road and parks behind the garden shed.
After helping me out of the passenger seat, he reaches into his pocket, and the building lights up. He’s draped strings of lights in the rafters of the shed. And in the middle of the room is a table for two.
“This is beautiful. So romantic.” I glance around but don’t see any food.
Reading my mind, Dallas chuckles. “Food will be delivered shortly, but there is something I want to show you first.”
Excited, I bob my head.
In a move I am not expecting, he reaches for the buckle on his belt. After unfastening it, he undoes his jeans. Is he going to take off his pants?
I’m stunned because I’ve never even seen him in his boxer briefs. “What are you doing? Should I give you some privacy? Did something crawl up your pant leg?”
“Crap.” He blinks. “When I planned this, I didn’t think about how this would look, but I promise, I’m not being creepy.”
I laugh, even more curious than I was before. “Okay.” I didn’t think he was because this man has never been anything less than a gentleman with me.
He pulls down the waistband on one side of his jeans, revealing his hip.
But before I can see what he’s trying to show me, a van pulls up.
“You ordered from Jeffrey’s?”
“Yeah. Hopefully he doesn’t see me buckling my pants. That would be awkward.”
He hurriedly fastens his jeans. “What I was going to show you will have to wait.”
I’m laughing that he was caught with his pants undone, but I’m curious about what he plans to show me. It must be his tattoo. That thought makes me impatient. “But not long, I hope.”
He laughs. “Hold your horses.”
After tipping the driver and getting our food, he sets it on the table. “We have salads for a first course, then steaks and some sort of vegetable, and for dessert, cheesecake.”
“I don’t care about food right now. Slide those jeans back down.”
He smirks. “Months ago, you were very interested in knowing about my tattoo.”
My heart starts to race. “Every time you have your shirt off, I’m looking. When we’d swim during the summer, I was sneaking glimpses, hoping to spot it.”
“I wanted it in a place where most people wouldn’t see it. That’s why I chose my hip.” He tugs down his waistband on one side, but his untucked shirt falls over the hip, blocking my view. “You’ll have to lift my shirt to see.”
I lift the shirt and see the small tattoo on his hip. Then I meet his gaze. “A rose.”
He quickly puts himself back together. “I was in a dark place after my parents died, and I was so afraid I would forget them, that their memory would fade. Then one morning, I woke up and knew that I needed to move on with my life. That their memory would always be with me. That day, I got this tattoo. I’d heard a song about a rose tattoo and decided that was going to be my reminder. My reminder of all the years of love I enjoyed before they were taken from me. I had no idea it would be a sign of the love waiting for me in the future.”
“You have a rose tattoo.” My chin quivering, I restate the obvious.
“I do.” Dallas drops to one knee and slips a small box out of his pocket. “Rose Potts, I love you. I want you in my life, my bed, my arms. You’ll forever be in my heart. Will you make me a happy man and become Rose Busch?”
Ugly crying, I huff out a laugh. “With a name like that, I think we were meant to be.”
“You’ll marry me?” Tears brim in his eyes. "Please say yes."
I drop to my knees and wrap my arms around him. "A thousand times yes."
After I answer, we take Mason’s wise advice for a few minutes.
Dallas runs a hand over my hair. “I’m so happy, Rose. My aunt loves me and my friends love me. I knew that before you showed up. And they made it more obvious when I messed up. But the way you love me is different. I thought I’d live my whole life without knowing true love. My tattoo has a double meaning.” He slides the ring out of the box. “I hope you like this.”
I don't even look down because I can't tear my gaze from Dallas's face. “I know I’ll love it.”
I glance down as he takes off the rose-shaped ring I’ve been wearing since the night of the fake proposal and slips on the new one.
“Oh, Dallas!” I wipe fresh tears off my face.
“It’s a rose like the other one. This one just has a few more diamonds on it.”
I cradle his face. “I absolutely love it. And I’ll skip saying that you didn’t have to because I know how you’ll answer.”
“There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Zuzu.”
“I know, and I hope you know that I will always choose you.” I press my lips to his. “I am beyond happy, and I want to just keep kissing you, but those steaks smell incredible, and I’m hungry.”
“Let’s eat.” He helps me up, then pulls out my chair. “Have you given any thought to when you want to get married?”
The man knows me.
I’ve been thinking about marrying him since February. Maybe even before that. But until now, I didn’t have a picture in my head of when or where. “Soon. And I want to marry you right here. I want the garden shed decked out in lights like it is right now. In a couple of weeks, this field will be empty. We can put down tarps and set up chairs. The minister can stand in the doorway of the shed, and we’ll be right in front of it. What do you think?”
“It sounds perfect.”
I bump my boot against his. “I wish it were possible to kiss and eat at the same time.”
“We’ll never know until we try.”