Chapter Thirty-Four
Shane has been so preoccupied throughout the past couple of weeks. He’s still very loving, though. Some days even excessively so.
I’m not worried.
I think he’s just in game mode.
The team has been doing really well, and he tells me it’s because the guys are über focused.
But tonight it’s all about me and Shane. He’s organized for us to have a romantic dinner out back by the infinity pool. He’s had people working back there all day, setting up a cloth-covered table and bringing in comfy chairs.
Hell, he’s even hired a private chef.
I don’t know what the big occasion is, but hey, I’m rolling with it. Shane is just so sweet and thoughtful all of the time. I can certainly see him setting something like this up to make up for him being distracted lately.
I love that even though he has so much on his mind, he still prioritizes us.
Damn, I just love that man.
He told me we don’t have to get overly dressed up for this dinner.
But since he slipped and divulged that he’s wearing his nicest black pants and a forest green button-down dress shirt, one that I adore on him because it really brings out his emerald eyes, I’m going with a black knit sweater dress and matching suede boots.
I’m actually pulling on the boots now, up in our bedroom.
Shane is outside. I’m guessing he’s making sure everything is just right.
In any case, I’m not supposed to come out till seven.
I check the time and see it’s five minutes till.
“Time to head down,” I murmur.
I’m so curious about so much. Shane wouldn’t even tell me what we’re having for dinner. I kind of hope it’s filet mignon paired with a lobster tail. That’s one of my very favorite meals.
Still, I’ll be happy with anything.
I make my way downstairs, but before I can slide open the glass door leading to the back patio, Shane is here, opening it for me.
He holds out his hand, and I take it as he says, “My lady. You look beautiful tonight.”
“Wow, thank you. I feel special already.”
“Good,” he replies. “That’s what tonight is all about. I want it to be an evening to remember.”
Hand in hand with Shane, I step out onto the patio and…wow!
“This is amazing!” I exclaim. “Everything looks so…so…magical.”
“I’m glad you like it,” he says.
“Like it?” I scoff. “I love it.”
It’s dark, but there are soft white fairy lights strung all around, the pool water reflecting them and making it seem as if there are even more than the surely hundreds.
It’s just gorgeous.
A bit over from the pool, positioned for more of a mountain view, there’s a white cloth-covered table with a spattering of strategically placed candles on top, two full place settings, and a silver wine bucket in a stand off to the side.
Shane leads me over to the table and pulls out my chair.
“Thank you,” I say as I sit down.
He takes a seat across from me, and we both place our cloth napkins on our laps. Shane proceeds to uncork the bottle of white wine that’s in the bucket and pours us each a small amount.
As I take a sip—oh, and it is divine—the private chef emerges from a side door leading to our kitchen.
After greeting us, the middle-aged man hands us a small card with the menu for this evening. I don’t read it, though, as I want to be surprised. However, I do set it aside to save as a reminder of this already wonderful night.
“We will begin with a tomato velouté soup,” the chef informs us.
When he steps away, I lean forward and whisper to Shane, “I don’t even know what that is, but it sounds fancy.”
“It’s just a French tomato soup,” he explains. “But it is beyond delicious.”
I trust him. Shane curated the menu with the chef, and he knows what I like and don’t like.
Turns out, the soup is freaking superb. It’s so creamy and rich, and bursting with fresh tomato flavor.
Next up is a simple mixed greens salad with a light vinaigrette.
Then out comes the main course.
“It’s filet and lobster!” I exclaim, delighted.
Smiling at me, Shane says, “I know it’s your favorite meal.”
“It really is.” I cover his hand that’s on the table with mine. “Thank you, Shane. I really am having an amazing time. It’s already a night I’ll never forget.”
With a twinkle in his emerald eyes, he says, “You just wait, sweetheart.”
Wonder what that could mean?
We work on our meals then, and every bite is so good. The steak is tender, and the lobster is sweet.
For dessert, the chef brings us mango sorbet, which is the perfect light finish to an outstanding meal. He also returns with a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne that he swaps out with the wine in the ice bucket.
The cutest thing is there’s a sparkly little charm tied to the neck of the bottle with a white ribbon.
When the chef walks away, Shane lifts the bottle from the bucket and turns it so that I can’t see the charm.
That prompts me to say, “Ooh, can I see the champagne?” I hold out my hand. “I want to get a closer look at that pretty little trinket on it.”
Shane, smiling, hands the bottle over to me. “Yeah, I think you should take a look. I actually picked it out as well. I’d like your opinion on it.”
This is interesting.
I take the bottle and turn it so I can see the trinket.
“Holy crap!” I blurt out. “Shane, it’s a ring. And a very beautiful one at that.”
No sooner are the words out of my mouth than Shane is before me on bended knee.
I scoot out my chair some, and he takes my hand. “Willa Avery, you complete my life, and there’s no one else in the world I’d rather spend the rest of it with. Will you marry me?”
Happy tears flow from my eyes as I place my hands on either side of his face and tell him, “Yes, yes, yes.”
I lower my hands, and, carefully, he unties the silky ribbon, slips off what is absolutely my dream ring, and places it on my finger.
I admire it for a few seconds, then lean in and kiss Shane.
I kiss him and kiss him, and he kisses me back.
Then he lifts me up in his arms and spins me around. “I love you, Willa. I can’t wait to make you my wife.”
“I love you, too, Shane, so very, very much. The day I can call you my husband will be the best day of my life. Until then, this one is.”