Chapter 15
Before we began getting ready for the evening, I took pictures and videos of the room to capture the memories. Solo also sent me the pictures he’d received from the decorator before we arrived.
I’d applied a light beat to my face and had decided on fuchsia for my lips because it paired well with the purple dress I’d chosen for tonight. Although Solo told me to pack something nice to wear, he gifted me three dresses for my birthday, and I decided to wear one of them.
“You almost ready?” he asked, stepping behind me.
Our eyes connected in the bathroom mirror, and my lips curled into a smile. We looked like a couple who’d just stepped out of Ebony magazine.
“We look good together,” I said, instead of answering his question.
“You make me look good. I have something that will go great with your dress. Stay here.”
He disappeared and returned within seconds with his hands behind his back.
“What are you hiding?”
“You’ll see in a minute. Close your eyes.”
“Solo.”
“Baby, close your eyes.”
I shook my head and closed my eyes. I could hear him opening something, maybe a box, and seconds later, I felt something around my neck. I didn’t wait for him to tell me to open my eyes, and I gasped when I saw what he’d placed on my neck.
It was a diamond necklace with a large solitaire diamond in the center and three smaller diamonds on either side. It was simple, but still elegant, and a lot without being too much. I absolutely loved it.
“This is beautiful, Solo. I don’t know what to say besides thank you.”
He stood behind me, watching me admire the necklace in the mirror, looking pleased. I turned to face him, wrapping my arms around his neck and standing on my toes to kiss his lips.
“You’re welcome. There are earrings to match,” he said when our lips parted.
He held up a pair of dangling solitaire hook earrings, and I had to fight to control my emotions. This man was determined to make me cry like a baby and confess my true feelings for him, something I’d been trying not to do for the past few days.
“Oh my God. I love them. I don’t think I can handle any more surprises.”
I’d just so happen to choose diamond earrings for the night, but they didn’t compare to the pair Solo had gifted me. I wasted no time removing them and putting on my new pair.
“The night is still young, baby. There’s plenty of time for more surprises.”
“I have a feeling you’re gonna make me ruin my makeup.”
He shrugged. “You don’t need it anyway. You ready?”
“I just need to grab my shoes and purse.”
“You don’t need either. We’re not going far.”
I eyed him, showing my confusion.
“What do you mean, no shoes or purse? I thought you said we were going to dinner.”
“I said we’re having dinner, but I didn’t say we were going anywhere.”
“Solo, you’re confusing me.”
He took my hand and guided me out of the bathroom.
We walked across our suite to the patio, and he opened the shades he’d closed earlier while we got ready.
At this point, I was sick of myself because I was losing count of the number of times I’d gasped, covered my mouth in shock, or had to hold back tears with this man.
Right outside our patio was a trail of candles that led to the beach. Solo and I followed the trail to a lavender canopy with a table set for two inside. Candles and lavender rose petals were placed around the table in the shape of a heart.
Tears could not be avoided this time, and as I leaned into the side of Solo’s body, I cried. Thankfully, it wasn’t an ugly cry, but my tears flowed freely as his hand gently rubbed up and down my back.
“What are you trying to do to me?” I asked, looking up at him.
“Make you fall in love. Is it working?”
Although I could hear a tiny bit of humor in his voice, his words gave me pause. I turned around, moving to stand in front of him, and our eyes met.
“Solo, you don’t have to buy my love. You don’t have to do any of this for my love. I fell in love with you before you dropped a bag on me.”
He smiled. “I know that, E, but it’s because I’m in love with you that I want to spoil you.”
“You’re in love with me?”
“I am. Why do you sound so surprised?”
“I’m not surprised . . . I’m relieved that I’m not in this alone.”
“Me too.”
He cupped my face and wiped my tears with his thumbs before pressing his lips against mine. When we parted, he helped me to my seat, and he sat across from me. Out of nowhere, a waiter appeared holding a covered silver platter.
After introducing himself, he shared what was on the menu for the evening, and it didn’t take me long to realize it was all of the foods I’d deemed my favorites since being on the island. My eyes were locked on Solo as the waiter spoke because I was simply in awe of him.
The thought he put into planning this day made my heart swell. What I loved even more was how making me happy made him so happy. I’d never experienced anything or anyone like him.
The waiter left us alone, and we enjoyed our first course. Solo and I had never been short on conversation, but tonight it seemed neither of us could find many words. We shared some small talk, but we spent more time staring and smiling at each other than talking.
By the time our dessert arrived, all the nonverbal flirting we’d been doing had me hot and bothered. I was sure my face was flushed because Solo had me blushing all evening.
“You really want me to sit on your face right out here in the open,” I said.
“There will never be a time when I will deny you sitting on my face, but I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve barely said a word.”
“You don’t have to talk. It’s how you look at me. Your eyes say way more than your mouth ever has.”
“While I would love to be drowned in your juices on the beach, I didn’t come prepared for that, and I fear the sand might interfere with the intended goal.”
I laughed because I hadn’t thought about how messy it could be without a blanket.
“I guess I can wait until we’re back in the suite.”
“You have no choice. I have one more surprise after we finish our dessert.”
“I don’t think I can handle any more surprises tonight. Can you save it for tomorrow?”
“I could, but I’m not.”
As we finished our dessert, a photographer arrived. I looked at Solo through squinted eyes because I knew he was up to something.
“A photographer?” I questioned.
“He’s been here all along, baby. You just didn’t notice him.”
“He hasn’t been in this canopy. Why is he here now?”
“Because I need him to capture something up close. Do you mind?”
Now, I was curious about the next surprise.
“No, I don’t mind.”
He moved his dessert plate to the side and put his elbows on the table. His eyes pierced my soul, and I had a feeling that what he was about to say was serious.
“We’ve been in each other’s company a handful of times and exchanged a few words, but neither of us was checking for each other.
Nothing about how we got to this point is orthodox, and I’m grateful the universe waited until the perfect moment to bring us together this way.
I didn’t come to Barbados looking for love, but love crashed into me, literally, and something shifted in my soul.
After that collision, you stole pieces of my heart over the next several days.
The time I’ve spent with you has been the best of my life.
Tonight wasn’t just about celebrating your birthday, it was also about celebrating us.
I want to ask you a very important question. ”
“Umm, Solo. What are—”
“Patience, baby. I promise I’m getting to the good part.”
I blew out a breath to calm my nerves. “Okay.”
“We’ve established that you’re my woman, but fuck all that. I want you to be my wife. Eva Simone Fuller, will you marry me?”
My ears had to be deceiving me because I knew damn well Solomon Holmes didn’t just ask me to marry him. Yet, he was next to my chair on bended knee, holding a small box with the most beautiful ring, . . . a ring that I’d chosen days before.
“What did you say?”
“Eva Simone Fuller, I’ve fallen head over heels in love with you, and being my woman ain’t enough. I want you to be my wife, carry my last name, and have my children. Will you marry me?”
My eyes were blurry with tears, and snot trickled from my nose, but I said yes about a hundred times. Solomon Holmes was a good man.