“Jack?” Her voice carries down the hall.
“In here,” I call, keeping my tone steady.
She steps into the kitchen, hair mussed by the wind, grocery bag slung over one shoulder. Her eyes land on the flowers, then the stove, then me.
“You cooked dinner?” Her eyebrow quirks.
I shrug, trying to play it cool. “I do know how to cook. Occasionally.”
She grins, wrapping her arms around my waist. “I know. But dinner with flowers? Is there an occasion I don’t know about?”
I kiss her forehead. “Can’t a guy spoil his girlfriend once in a while?”
She narrows her eyes, searching my face. “Maybe. But you’re acting weird.”
I laugh a little too quickly. “Weird how?”
She leans against the counter. “You’re fidgeting, as if you’re hiding something from me.”
I grab the salt, avoiding her gaze. “You’re just imagining things.”
“Jack.” She crosses her arms, leveling me with her look. “Spill it.”
I fake innocence. “Spill what?”
She gestures at the room. “Flowers. Homemade dinner. And the way you keep staring at me like you’ve got a confession.” She pauses. “You’re not dying, are you?”
I chuckle. “No, sweetheart, I’m not dying.”
She’s still watching me. “So, what’s going on?”
I reach into my pocket. I don’t want to wait any longer.
She freezes as I drop to one knee. Her hands fly to her mouth. “Oh, my God!”
My heart threatens to pound out of my chest. I look up at the woman who changed everything.
“Beth.” My voice trembles, but I don’t care. “I thought I was content before you. But then you appeared, and suddenly, content wasn’t enough. You made me want everything.” I swallow hard. “I love you. I’ve loved you since the day you crashed into my world. And I never want another day to go by without you knowing that.” The ring sparkles in the light. “Will you marry me?”
For a second, she stares at me, breath trembling.
Then she crashes into me, knocking me backward onto the kitchen floor.
“Yes,” she whispers in my ear, voice shaky and bright. “Yes, yes, yes.”
Relief, then a joy like I’ve never felt. I wrap my arms around her and flip us so she’s pressed beneath me, both of us laughing.
“You sure?” I tease, grinning down at her.
She smacks my chest. “Shut up and kiss me, Jack.”
Who am I to refuse?
I kiss her—deep, urgent, everything I’ve been holding back. She clings to me, hands fisting my shirt, like she never wants to let go.
Suddenly, the sharp scent of burning garlic hits us.
She pulls back, wrinkling her nose. “Jack…something’s burning.”
