“Oh come on, Dean.” Scott came up behind me, placing one hand on my back. “You know she can’t help herself.”
Donovan and Elaine were now celebrating their twenty-sixth wedding anniversary. After the extravagant party he had thrown her last year—or I had thrown her last year, however you choose to look at it—Elaine had insisted on one just like it every year. Down to the very last detail. Same venue, same band and yes, even the same photographer.
Dean set down his flute. “Scott, I know you planned on taking off early, I was just told your car is ready outside.” He winked and left us alone at our table.
I turned to Scott, confused. “We’re leaving? I mean sure Donovan won’t notice, but they’re just serving dessert.”
Scott took my glass and set it on the table along with his. “Don’t worry sweetheart, I made sure there were no raspberries.”
I rolled my eyes. “Cute.”
His smoldering eyes scanned me again. “You know, you didn’t have to wear the same dress.” Scott lifted my arm and spun me once to admire the black laced gown from the night we’d met.
I shrugged. “Kind of an inside joke. Besides you’re the only one who would remember what I wore that night.”
“Don’t be so sure of that,” a familiar voice came from behind me.
Scott turned slowly, his expression unamused. “Hello Shawn.”
Despite the insincerity in Scott’s voice, Shawn beamed. “Hey, thanks again for the gig. Now let’s try a smile.” He held up his camera.
Scott pulled me against him and I nudged a grin out of him.
When Shawn slipped to the couple a few feet away, Scott turned to me. “Really? There wasno oneelse?”
I shrugged in response and he lifted my purse from the table, then nodded once at Dean who stood a few feet away, talking to Mimi.
Outside, I looked around the empty driveway. The same one where he’d found me “waiting” last year and basically chased me away. “Where is your car? I thought Dean said it was ready?”
Scott turned me and arched a brow. “Well, I guess we’ll have to kill some time.”
We walked along the pier behind Square Landing. The planked walkway was suspiciously lined with tree lights along the sides. Something stood at the edge. It was a little hazy at first, but as we neared, I gasped at the small round table set for two. A sample of various desserts were spread. Three tall candles within glass cylinder holders were lit.
“I actually think it’s completely fitting that you wore the same dress again tonight, one year after the day we met.” His voice was soft. “You took my breath away that night and haven’t stopped since.”
I opened my mouth to let him know I felt the same, but he went on. “This past year, getting to know you, spending time with you, waking up with you and falling more in love with all the things that make up who you are…it’s all I’ll ever want.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small shiny object that finally came into view behind my glistening eyes. “For the rest of my life.”
Chills ran through me and I gasped as the man I loved more than anything held out a gorgeous diamond setting in front of me. “Scott.”
“Elle…Isabel,” he let out a short laugh. “Be my wife. And sincerely make me the richest man in Manhattan.”
I looked up at him. “Yes. I would love to be your wife.”
His eyes shined and he smiled as he slipped the ring on my finger.
I stood on my toes to kiss him. “I love you. It’s beautiful.”
“Today and forever, I will love you more.” He led me to our table. “You didn’t really think I’d ever let you skip dessert. Especially since you insisted on skipping to ice cream on our first date.”
I crinkled my nose. “I was starting to have my doubts about you twenty minutes ago.” I popped a raspberry in my mouth, which Scott and I declared months ago as the fruit of our love.
Barely five minutes went by before the waiter from the venue approached the table, setting down a bottle of champagne and one too many glasses.
Scott looked up. “Um, thank you, but my fiancé prefers tea with her dessert…”
“Nonsense,” Ron said from behind the waiter, who was tearing off the wrapping regardless of Scott’s request. “Assuming she said yes, I wanted to get one last toast for the evening before calling it a night.”
I picked up a glass and kicked Scott under the table to do the same.
