Chapter 12 #2
He wasn’t listening, and even though it was sweet that he wanted them all to have dinner together, she saw this had the potential to turn into a sticking point for them down the road.
Turning off her computer, Lexi stood and faced him. “I appreciate what you’re doing, I really do. But you have to accept the fact that I am going to work even after we’re married. I like this job, and I’m good at it. Well…so far. But you get what I’m saying, right?”
Stepping in close, he nodded. “I do get it, but just know that you don’t have to work if you don’t want to.”
Her head was already shaking. “I want to, Connor. That’s what I’m telling you.
I want to work. I like my job,” she reiterated slowly to make her point.
“And it’s not because of anything that anyone is going to think, so please don’t go there.
This is about me feeling good about myself.
I have a college degree in business that I never got to use because I couldn’t afford childcare.
This is the first time I feel challenged and…
I don’t know…like this is where I’m supposed to be.
I’m finally comfortable in my own skin.”
She waited for the argument, but it never came.
“Okay. I will never bring this up again.”
“Thank you.”
“Except…”
“Connor…” she whined.
“I just have a nice dinner planned for us and the kids are waiting, so…”
That meant she had to call it quits for the day.
And if there were anything that needed her immediate attention, she had her laptop down at her cabin.
“Let’s go,” she told him as they walked out of the office.
The resort was quiet, but that was okay. They were still in the soft opening phase, and this was exactly how it was supposed to be. There were maybe two dozen people in the restaurant, and as they walked through the kitchen, everything smelled so damn good.
“What are we having tonight?” she asked.
“The special tonight is the barbecue platter. Scott told me it’s a big hit with the guests.”
“Not in the restaurant, silly. I meant us. You, me, the kids…”
“Oh. Sorry.” He laughed softly as they stepped outside and went down the stairs. “That’s a surprise. You’ll find out soon enough.”
That was…intriguing.
“Do I get a chance to guess?”
He laughed again. “Not a fan of surprises, huh?”
“That’s hard to say. So far, the only surprises in my life have been really awful ones,” she admitted lightly. “But unless you’re serving liver or a Brussels sprouts casserole, I can’t imagine this being anything but a wonderful surprise.”
“Then prepare to be dazzled,” he confirmed. “No liver and no Brussels sprouts. Although you’re really missing out on that one. I make a killer side dish with Brussels sprouts and bacon.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
When they didn’t take the path toward her cabin, she figured he felt safe enough having everyone back at his, but she didn’t draw attention to it. Ruth came out to wish them goodnight, and they both thanked her for helping in a pinch today before going inside.
Lexi maybe went all of three steps in when she came to a stop. “What…?” she whispered in awe.
The cabin had been transformed into a magical fairyland.
Twinkling lights hung from the ceilings, and there were white roses all over the place.
Music was playing softly—the song they had danced to at Kelsey and Jayce’s wedding—and Annabeth and Jonah were dressed in their best clothes and each holding a small bouquet for her.
“Look at the two of you,” she said softly as she moved closer to them. “You both look adorable. What’s…?”
“You have to turn around,” Annabeth whispered loudly.
“I have to turn around?”
Both kids nodded, and when she did as they asked, she found Connor down on one knee. Her soft gasp was out before she could stop it. “Oh my goodness…what is happening right now?”
“Lexi Scott, I have waited a lifetime to do this,” he said, his voice gentle and sweet.
“I never thought I’d ever be lucky enough to have a second chance with you.
I didn’t think I deserved one. But then you showed up here at the resort with your list of rules, with keeping me away at the number one spot, and I thought I could play along.
One look at you, even from a distance, and I knew it was impossible. ”
Holding out his hand to her, she stepped closer and put her hand in his.
“I love that we took the time to get to know each other and became friends again first. As single parents, it was nice to have someone to talk to every day who understood the struggles that went along with that. And then we became more than friends.”
She nervously looked over at their kids, praying he wasn’t going to say anything too intimate. And he must have read her mind because he shook his head with a laugh.
“Don’t worry. We are rated PG for this,” he assured her. “Suddenly, it was like no time had passed. Everything we did felt right. You, me, and our beautiful children. What we created is everything I always wanted. And I know it’s only going to keep getting better. We’re just getting started.”
She was trembling and felt so completely overwhelmed with emotion, but she didn’t want to miss anything he was saying.
Although he was a bit blurry because she was seriously trying not to cry, her tears were hanging on.
“I love you, and I want us to spend the rest of our lives together,” he went on. “But I also wanted you to know that you deserve more than a casual proposal in the car or…in a hotel room.” Pausing, he winked. “And I couldn’t think of anything better than making this a family proposal, so…”
He motioned for Annabeth and Jonah to come and stand next to him. He nodded to his daughter first.
“Lexi, you are the coolest person I know,” she said shyly. “I love when we read together and go on picnics. I know you’re not my real mom, but…” Pausing, she looked at Connor before she continued. “But you feel more like a real mom than mine. I love you, and I hope you want to marry my dad.”
And…cue the waterworks, because now her tears fell in earnest.
“You’re up, buddy,” Connor whispered to Jonah.
“I like this family,” he said confidently. “I like Connor and Annabeth and making s’mores and running around the resort and waffles and…and…”
Annabeth nudged him.
“And I think Connor would be a good dad and Annabeth would be a good big sister. Even when she shoves me.”
“I didn’t shove,” she whispered.
“Okay,” Connor quietly cut them off before giving Lexi a lopsided grin. “We all love you, and I think we could make one really awesome family.”
Pausing, he held out his hand to Jonah, who reached into his own tiny pants pocket and pulled out a ring that he placed on Connor’s palm.
“Lexi Scott, will you make us the happiest family in the world and marry us?”
She couldn’t even get the words out. Nodding, she dropped onto her knees for a group hug as Connor put the ring on her finger.
“Yay! We’re married!” Jonah cried out.
“This is the best day ever!” Annabeth added before she took Jonah over to the toy box.
Cupping her face in his magnificent hands, Connor rested his forehead against hers. “Marry me, Lexi.”
“Yes,” she whispered right before he sealed it with a kiss.
It was over way too soon, and when they broke apart, she sat back so she could see her ring.
“Oh, Connor…it’s beautiful,” she said in a hushed tone.
The oval diamond was one of the largest she’d ever seen, and was flanked by pear-shaped side stones, creating a graceful yet striking silhouette.
And it fit perfectly. When she looked up at him, he looked beyond pleased.
“This is incredible. How did you manage to pull all this off today? Especially after everything that happened last night and this morning?”
Slowly, he got to his feet before helping her up and leading her to the kitchen where he had a bottle of sparkling cider for them all to toast with.
“After you left this morning, I just knew that it was time. I felt awful for even bringing up getting married and asking you when you deserved a properly romantic proposal.”
“This was definitely romantic,” she assured him. “And how you got the kids to be a part of it?” Her hand rested over her heart. “That was possibly the sweetest thing in the whole world.”
“We practiced a lot, believe me. But once the idea took hold, I knew I could pull it off with a little help. So I made some calls and Maisie helped too. She’s the one who decorated.”
“Oh my goodness! I can’t wait to thank her!”
“I told everyone we’d see them tomorrow at breakfast after we took the kids to school. Tonight, we are not to be disturbed.” He turned and looked at the kitchen. “Actually, everything should be on its way down from the kitchen now.”
Her eyes went wide. “Really? You mean you didn’t cook?”
“Well, I helped, but I couldn’t do it all. I’m no Superman.”
Wrapping her arms around him, she shook her head. “I disagree. You’re my Superman. This is all just…it’s everything, Connor. I love you.”
“I love you too, beautiful girl.”
There was a knock on the door before they could say anything else, and Connor sprang into action. Three servers came in and placed several covered dishes on the table that was already set for them. Lexi thanked them, but they were gone in the blink of an eye.
“Okay, kiddos,” Connor said after he shut the door. “Let’s eat!”
When they were all seated, and Connor began lifting lids, Lexi burst out laughing. “Are you telling me our engagement dinner is chicken fingers?”
“With all the dipping sauces,” he told her seriously, but then he grinned. “Actually, this is for the kids, along with mac and cheese. That was their request. But you and I are having my seafood risotto.”
“Oh my goodness, both of our first meals,” she realized, loving him even more by the second.
“Exactly.” He took his seat beside her, serving her. “But this weekend, you and I are going out for a proper romantic dinner, just the two of us.”
“Is Ruth babysitting?”