Epilogue #2
“Sort of.” I lead her along the meandering path that leads to the little gazebo at the center of it. “It’s part of it, at least.”
“It’s beautiful out here,” she comments. “With the fresh snow—” Her eyes rise to the flakes fluttering around us. “And the lamps all glowy—”
My lips twitch. “You do like glowy stuff, don’t you?”
A giggle escapes. “I like some glowy stuff. Like lights in the snow. And Christmas trees.”
“And me naked beside it?”
“Especially that.”
“Well. I think we might have to save being naked and glowy until later. But.” I angle my chin towards the gazebo ahead of us. “This is kind of sparkly and glowy, too.”
Now that we’re close enough, she gets her first glimpse of the gazebo all set up for the occasion.
It’s draped with white twinkle lights all along the railings and exposed rafters, sparkling like tiny gems in the moonlight.
The floor of the gazebo is covered with dark pink rose petals, and large clusters of matching roses are set in a large circle around them.
“Alec!” Hazel turns to me. “What is this?”
“It’s part of the surprise.” Leading her up the three stairs into the gazebo, I take her to the center of it. “I know you love this place. And the park especially.”
A light breeze blows dark strands of hair into her face. I push them back behind her ear, then adjust her collar so it’s protecting her neck.
Her expression shifts from surprise to something more serious. “I do love it out here. This was one of the first things that made me fall in love with the town. But there’s another reason I love the park.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s where our story started. The first time we really talked—not just a brief conversation at Blissful Brews, but really talked—was here. It was Taste of Bliss, and we were waiting in the same line—”
“For those white chocolate macadamia cookies.”
She smiles. “Yes. And there was just something about you. From that moment on, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Wishing things were different.”
“Haze.”
“It’s okay. It all worked out. We found our way to each other. And we’re happy. Living together. Meeting friends and family. And—”
“Being engaged?”
Hazel’s eyes go big. “What?”
Shit. I hadn’t meant for it to just come out like that.
Heart pounding, I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Engaged. That’s what we’re missing. Being engaged. Planning to get married.”
Tentatively, she asks, “What are you saying?”
Feeling slightly sick with nerves, I reach into my pocket and pull out a small velvet pouch. Then I drop to one knee as I open the pouch and remove the ring tucked inside.
I hold the ring out to her with a trembling hand. “I didn’t want to keep it in the box. I was afraid the bulge in my pocket might give it away. But I have the box back at home, if you want it.”
Hazel gives me a puzzled look. “Why would I want the box?”
“Um.” I’ve never felt this unbalanced before. Like the slightest wind could knock me over. “I don’t know. I thought it might have sentimental value or something.”
A smile tugs at her lips. “I suppose it might. But… what about this?” She gives a pointed look at the ring. “Maybe we could talk about this instead?”
Right. The ring.
“I’ve never proposed before,” I explain. “I’ve thought about this moment hundreds of times, but in theory, it’s one thing. In reality… Shit. I’ve never felt this nervous before.”
“Alec.” She kneels and takes my empty hand. “There’s nothing to be nervous about.”
“This is important, Haze. You’re important. And I want to do this right. Which—” I shake my head in rueful self-recrimination. “I’m not doing a very good job of.”
“I think you’re doing a great job so far. Except… is there a question involved?”
What is wrong with me?
Did Enzo, Knox, and Gage have this hard of a time proposing?
With another deep breath and exhale, I collect my thoughts and try again. “I love you, Haze. More than I even thought possible. I always knew love was real. That it was special. But I never considered it happening to me. Or how it would really feel.”
Holding her gaze, I continue, “Loving you… It’s the best feeling in the world.
It’s feeling happy just because you’re around.
It’s waking up feeling complete because the woman I love is cuddled beside me.
It’s trusting you above anyone else. It’s knowing I’d do anything to protect you.
Knowing I’d do anything to make you smile. It’s—”
A lump forms in my throat. “It’s finding the person who makes me feel whole. I never knew before. That there was an empty part of me just waiting to find my missing piece. But with you… I found it.”
“Alec.” Hazel stares at me with shining eyes. A moment later, a tear trickles down her cheek, followed by another.
“Sweetheart.” I catch her tears with my finger. “Don’t cry.”
“They’re happy tears,” she explains in a wobbly voice. “Everything you said? I feel the same way. Like I’d do anything to make you happy. Like I’d do anything to protect you. And I know I wasn’t Special Forces, but I would still go after anyone who hurt you.”
“Ah, no.” I kiss her softly. “Don’t do that. I still get palpitations whenever I think of you coming outside when Sawyer was in the driveway.”
Hazel gives me a sheepish smile. “I said I was sorry about that.”
“I know.” Taking her right hand in mine, I rub my thumb across her bare ring finger. “So. What do you think? Would you marry me? Be my wife? Make me happier than I ever imagined?”
“Alec.” Another tear escapes. “Of course. I would love to be Mrs. Emerson.”
A burst of joy explodes in my chest.
All my nerves slip away.
“Mrs. Emerson.” I slide the ring onto her finger. “I like the sound of it.”
Hazel gazes at the ring sparkling on her finger. Then she looks up at me with joy shining in her eyes. “It just sounds right, doesn’t it?”
It does.
Framing her face with my hands, I capture her mouth in a passionate kiss. One I pour all my feelings into. One that shows her how deeply I love her and how much I can’t wait to make her my wife. Of how happy I am to have found the one person in the world who makes me complete.
“How soon can we get married?” I ask once we finally break apart. “Because I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait.”
Hazel stares at me for a few seconds before a bright smile appears. “Soon. Because I can’t wait, either.” She pauses to think. “How about right here? In the gazebo? As soon as it gets warm enough. We can have Blissful Brews cater it and there’ll be plenty of room for everyone.”
A spring wedding in Bliss?
Summer with Hazel as my wife?
I can’t think of anything better.
“Yes,” I tell her. “I think that sounds perfect.”