Chapter Twenty Nine
DIANE
"Are you sure you want us to build it today? I mean, I can wait for the movers next week," I said, but I sounded unconvincing even to my own ears. It was our second day in the new home.
Gabe smiled. "Come on, look at your face. You're dying to see it finished, aren't you?"
I smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, so I can finally put all of my books in it."
"Then let's work on it together."
We'd turned that alcove where we first got down and dirty into a reading corner. As far as I was concerned, it was truly the perfect use for it. I'd put my reading chair here first thing, but now I pushed it to the wall so we had enough space to assemble the bookcase.
It was relatively straightforward, thank goodness.
Nothing like my usual Ikea furniture; large parts of it were prebuilt.
It had been delivered in a huge, heavy package, but Gabe had managed to carry it upstairs.
I'd done nothing but observe that sexy ass moving up the stairs and those muscular arms bulging with the effort.
I was so giddy that I could barely focus. I'd moved with Gabe into our home, and it was amazing.
Leo had found new tenants for the lease across the road easily enough.
The landlady had grumbled but eventually accepted.
Gabe insisted he had no problem paying for another six months for both of us in case Leo didn’t find anyone, but I put my foot down.
I didn’t want to take advantage of him. I liked being independent.
My business was off to a fantastic start.
I was booked solidly about four days a week.
I was still tutoring on the side, though, because I didn’t want to let go of that income.
I also kept tabs on Chuck because I couldn’t help myself.
And because it was easy, since he kept posting regularly on LinkedIn.
His new business turned to dust before it even took off.
Apparently he came up with a software idea…
that infringed on another company’s patent.
They threatened with a lawsuit, so he had to close down.
I was trying to be the bigger person and not rejoice, but part of me believed he simply got what he deserved.
That chapter of my life was completely over, and I was looking forward to the one Gabe and I were starting now.
We worked side by side for an hour. If I was honest, he was working more than me, as this wasn't exactly a two-person kind of job. I gave him the tools when he asked for them and gladly drank up all his sexy muscles.
He looked at me with a cheeky smile when he finished. "Come on. Go get your books. I know you're dying to."
I grinned, nodding. "Yes, I am."
We'd put the boxes near the staircase, so all I had to do was open them and bring over the stacks of books.
I first took out my gorgeous fantasy paperbacks, putting them in the middle row.
Then my decorative candle that would separate the dark fantasy from the light fantasy, which went on the other side.
I'd even bought new candles that would fit the room. I got the approval of the designer.
I put the romance section on the lowest level. I had a mix of man-chest and flower covers, and I arranged them so you couldn't see the semi-nudes unless you looked closely. I wasn't at all ashamed of them, but no need to offend anyone.
I grabbed a candle, and when I was about to put it on the shelf, I realized there was something else there already.
Huh? Is that another candle?
No, wait, it's a velvet box.
I stilled. Gabe was right in front of me.
I pointed at the small box. "Did you put that there?" I asked.
"Yes," he said. Then, before I realized what was happening, he kneeled. He opened the little box but left it on the shelf, holding both my hands.
I glanced at the ring. I loved it. It was a dark blue stone in a rhombus shape.
"Diane, I'm the luckiest man to be here with you today. I told you less than a month ago that I'm not good with hints or subtext; I say things the way I mean them."
I took the ring box, opening it even wider. In the light streaming from the window behind Gabe, the stone was even more beautiful.
"I want to ask you, here today, next to the books you love so much, in your new reading corner, to be my wife. I want to be your man for the rest of our lives, to love you and cherish you. I want to come home to you every night and enjoy our life together. Always."
I nodded. "Always. God, Gabe, I'd love that. I'd love to be your wife."
He kissed my hand but didn't slide the ring on yet. "I promise to always take care of you, to get better at pretending I don't see you stealing my food."
I giggled but covered it with my hand. I wanted to hear everything he had to say.
"And I'll pay attention to all of your superstitions. And I solemnly swear that I will never, ever cook without following a recipe. I promise to watch all your Christmas movies with you, come November and December."
I bit my lower lip and laughed nervously. "Just so you know, sometimes I start watching them in October, but I'm willing to compromise."
He laughed. "Compromise, huh?"
I smiled widely. "Well, then… how can I not marry you when you're making such a great case?"
This time he did put the ring on, then rose to his feet. I put my hands on his chest because that way I could look at both the man and the ring. I would admire the two of them until the end of time.
"I wanted to ask you here, in this place where I first realized I could never resist you. I can't wait for our life together to start."
"Hasn't it already?" I murmured.
“Okay, then I can't wait to start our life together as an engaged couple and then later husband and wife."
I smiled. "Thinking ahead already?"
"You know what I mean. I designed this place thinking I’d be here alone, but now it's the two of us. And I want you to be happy here. This is your home too. And one day, it will be the home of all our kids as well."
My heart leaped in my chest. I felt absolutely giddy.
"I can't wait for that day," I whispered.
"I can't wait either. I'll watch you in the evening, reading in your corner while I work out."
"Let’s make a deal. You can only work out when I’m watching you."
He grinned. "You can talk me into a lot right now.
You have no idea how happy you've made me.
How deeply you've changed everything I've stood for, everything I believed in.
" He shook his head lightly, closing his eyes for a moment and then opening them again.
"I didn't think what we have existed for anyone, except perhaps my grandparents. "
"And your brothers."
He kissed both of my hands. "Seeing the others in no way prepared me for how it would feel to experience it myself. I love you so damn much."
"And I love you too,” I said.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and climbed him because I wanted to jump his bones. He didn't even stumble backward. Yeah, tree was the right description for him. The man was sturdy and didn't sway. He was smiling against my lips.
"Do you think you can carry us to the bedroom?" I purred.
"Hell yes," he said.
"Thank God the stairs aren’t tricky like that damn spiral staircase."
"I can't say I'm sorry about those stairs. It helped my case a lot."
He laughed and kissed my neck, jostling me up the stairs before stepping inside the master bedroom. It was huge and full of light.
"I can barely believe that I'm here with you. I want to pinch myself."
He smiled wolfishly. "I have an idea how to convince you that this is real, fiancée. It's so much better than pinching. That I promise."