Chapter 41
Poppy
I shifted on the couch, trying to get comfortable, but my body was sore from all of the pleasure Patrick had given me over the past few days. Julie gave me a strange look for a split second until her mouth turned into a huge smile as she realized what was happening.
A blush covered my cheeks as I looked away and tried to focus on Daisy as she opened our gift.
I loved that Patrick had taken so much time picking the perfect gifts for her, but I couldn’t help the way my heart felt when she opened the scarf that I knitted for her.
I’d noticed she hadn’t been wearing one, and when I asked Julie about it, she said Daisy had lost the one she had and that they needed to buy her a new one.
I found out what her favorite colors were and bought some yarn when Patrick took me to Silver Falls Express before everything happened.
It was still weird not worrying about someone wanting to hurt me, and I had a hard time accepting that not only was I finally safe, but I was also finally somewhere where I felt wanted and loved.
It had been a long time since I’d felt that way with family, but being around Gage and Julie made me realize just how much I had been missing.
While I had no desire to have a relationship with my parents, I couldn’t see myself not being around my new family.
Daisy continued opening her presents as everyone watched.
We’d gone to dinner at Patrick’s parents' house last night for Christmas Eve, and it had been such a wonderful night. They welcomed me into their family so easily that I found myself constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. I knew that my past would always be a part of me and that I had learned from the mistakes I’d made along the way, but it was surreal not having anyone hold those over my head.
I’d grown up constantly expecting the worst, so it was hard to get used to people only wanting the best for me, but I was learning to let them love me.
Once everyone finished opening their gifts, the adults headed into the kitchen to work on dinner while Patrick pulled me to the side.
We stood in front of the Christmas tree that lit up the entryway of the inn.
I looked around, wondering what was wrong, when suddenly he dropped to his knee and looked up at me as he pulled a small black box out of his pocket.
He carefully opened it, revealing a gorgeous diamond ring with a rose-gold band.
I swallowed hard and covered my mouth with my hands as the room got quiet. I glanced up to find his parents, Gage, and Julie all watching from the living room while Daisy played with Travis and Duke.
“My life hasn’t been the same since the day I saw you standing in the middle of the forest, trying to do something you never should have had to do.
I never knew what it was like to love someone so deeply that I would literally burn the world down to keep them safe until I met you.
Poppy, you’ve changed my life in so many ways, and I can’t imagine spending another day without you.
Will you please do me the honor of marrying me and being my wife so I can spend the rest of my life loving you the way you deserve to be loved? ”
I nodded and didn’t bother stopping the tears that slid down my cheeks as he grinned and took the ring out of the box before sliding it on my finger.
He stood up, and I wrapped my arms around his neck as he wrapped his around my waist. We held each other tightly as I continued to cry, this time from pure happiness.
“I love you so much,” I said softly. “I cannot wait to marry you.”
“I love you more, and I promise, I’m going to spend the rest of my days making sure you know just how much that is.”
I pulled back and looked at his beautiful face, refusing to let go of him just yet.
“I’m going to do the same. I’m going to love you so hard you’ll get tired of me,” I teased, knowing the second he caught my secret innuendo with the way his eyes darkened.
“No fucking chance that will ever happen,” he growled as he leaned in and nipped my ear. “Give me two minutes, and I’ll come up with an excuse for us to leave so I can take you home and show you just how hard you can love me.”
I giggled and smacked his shoulder, stepping away as our family approached.
Gage pulled me in for a hug first, holding me tightly as he congratulated me.
“I’m so happy for you,” he said, his eyes showing he meant it. “I love that you’re going to stick around and keep this one on his toes. He’s needed someone to get him in line for a while now.”
“Happy to do it,’ I teased, stepping back as he let go of me. Julie swooped in next, wrapping me in a warm embrace while Gage and Patrick had their moment.
“Does that mean I get to be a flower girl twice?” Daisy asked, joining us as she looked at her mom, then at me.
I quickly turned and looked at Julie, catching a guilty smile on her face. She lifted her hand and wiggled her fingers, the engagement ring catching in the light.
“Oh my God!” I squealed, gently pulling her hand over so I could see the beautiful ring. “Julie! I’m so happy for you guys! Why didn’t you say anything?”
“We were planning to tell everyone during dinner,” Julie replied with a shrug. She looked past me to my cousin, and I noticed a look that passed between them, almost as if there was more they weren’t telling us. “Gage proposed last night.”
“Fucker,” Patrick muttered playfully. “Always have to be first.”
“Hey, when I see something I want, I go for it.” Gage shrugged.
“Well, congratulations to you guys, too!” I exclaimed, putting an end to the chess match that was about to start between them. “Looks like we’ll have lots of fun wedding planning to do together. Who knows, maybe we can all get married here at the inn.”
“Great minds think alike,” Julie said, giving me another genuine smile.
After everyone finished hugging and congratulating each other, Patrick and I lingered behind while the others returned to the kitchen to get started on dinner.
Patrick opened his arms, pulling me into his chest as I accepted his embrace.
“They might have beat us by getting engaged first, but I say we show them a thing or two and I go home and knock you up,” he said playfully, wiggling his eyebrows.
“I don’t know, I think they might have more secrets they haven’t shared yet,” I responded, catching Julie’s eye from across the room. She blushed and looked away, pretending to be focused on cutting an onion as Gage hugged her from behind.
“Maybe I can force him to spill the beans at dinner,” Patrick said, glancing over his shoulder to look at them.
“Na, let it go. Some secrets deserve to be kept.” I leaned up and pressed a kiss to his lips, loving that he knew what I meant.