Oh, how I loved that word.And even though I would always love my parent's home in Petoskey, this place had become my home, too – not because it was so nice, but because of the people who lived here, Mason and Willow.
I whirled to look, and there Mason was, standing amidst all the yellow roses and balloons.
With a laugh, I asked, "How come I didn't see you?"
He grinned. "Because I was hiding."
"Oh yeah? Why?"
"Call it the element of surprise."
I couldn’t help but recall that he'd said something similar months ago about surprising me the first time in Petoskey, when he'd offered me the nanny job.
So of course, I justhadto tease him. With mock suspicion, I said, "Are yousureyou don't mean an ambush?"
"I meansomething," he said.
I glanced around in open wonder, marveling at all the balloons and roses. "It reallyissomething out of a dream." I looked back to Mason. "You're crazy-wonderful, you know that?"
"Crazy's right," he said. "If you mean crazy about you."
With my heart overflowing, I closed the distance and fell into his arms. "I know exactly the feeling, except I'm crazy aboutyou." I pulled back to ask, "So, what do you think of that?"
"I think I'm a lucky guy."
"So what's the occasion?"
His gaze warmed. "You can't guess?"
It wasn't my birthday or Valentine's Day, or anything resembling an anniversary. But therewassomething I'd been dreaming of for a while now. With a sheepish grin, I said, "I'm not sure I should."
He smiled. "Want to know whatI'msure of?"
"What?"
"I love you, Cami."
My breath hitched. "I love you, too."
The words had barely left my lips when Mason got down on one knee and held out something he must've been hiding in his hand. It was the most beautiful diamond engagement ring I'd ever seen.
He held it up between us and said, "You're the family I've always dreamed of, even if I was too blind to see it at first. But I know what I want, and I hope you want it, too. Because I've got a question…"
And I had an answer.
Boy, did I ever.
A moment later, I had the chance to give it when he asked, "Will you marry me?"
"Oh, boy." I swallowed a lump so big, it almost made it hard to speak. But somehow I managed to say, "Yes. A million times, yes."
I watched through misty eyes as he slipped the ring on my finger and kissed my fingertips one by one before standing and pulling me into his arms for one of his mind-blowing kisses.
By the time we pulled back, I was breathless and so giddy I was having a hard time collecting my thoughts. And even though it hardly mattered, I just had to ask, "The cookie thing, with Arden…"
He grinned in obvious satisfaction. "All planned."
I grinned back. "Well, aren'tyoudevious."
