“I can build a professional studio at the ranch for you to use so that you don’t have to go to L.A. as often.” He raised his hand to stop her before she could interrupt him. “During the week, we could have someone we trust with the kids when you are working.” He went on, “And I will be with them as much as I can. I’m self-employed, so I can manage my schedule.”
Ellie listened to him, her features still calm. He wondered what was going on in her head.
“When you travel, I’d like to go with you so that we can spend time together, and we’d have someone we trust look after the kids. Maybe you could keep travel to once a month at most, since you’d have a studio to work out of.”
“What if I need to go to Japan?” She seemed to be testing him. “I’m usually there a week.”
Tucker blew out his breath. “That’s a hard one.” He thought about it. “We can wait until it happens to figure it out.” His heart had been pounding and worked its way up to his throat. “I’m not saying I’m against it. I just think we would have to determine that based on the current situation.”
He waited for her to respond as his heart beat faster.
After a moment, she said. “This is all hypothetical. Who says we’re getting married?”
* * *
Ellie watched Tucker’s face as he studied her. He slid his hand into his back pocket and brought out a chocolate brown box, like the box the earrings were in that he gave her for her birthday. Was he giving her another piece of jewelry?
He reached for her hand and put it over his heart. “Do you feel that? It’s for you.”
The thump was a little fast. Was he nervous?
Then he set the box aside and took both her hands in his, looking deep into her eyes. “You know I love you with all my heart. I love you more and more each day.” He squeezed her fingers. “I will do anything in my power to make you happy. Whatever you want me to do, I will do. Whatever you need, I will get it for you.”
Ellie’s skin tingled as he spoke from his heart. It was in his eyes, in his words, in his presence.
“Ellie McLeod, will you marry me?”
She stared at him a long moment, unable to say a word. Then she broke into a smile and threw her arms around him. “Yes,” she said in his ear. “Yes, I will marry you.”
Tucker crushed her to him, holding her so tightly she could barely breathe. “I love you so much, Ellie.”
“I love you just as much.” She realized tears were running down her cheeks. Tears of happiness.
She pulled away and smiled at him, and he brushed her tears away. “I have something for you.”
He picked up the velvet box and opened it. A two-carat heart-shaped chocolate diamond was set in a swirl of small white diamonds in rose gold.
Her eyes widened, and her heart thumped against her breastbone. He took her hand and slid the band onto her ring finger.
She held her hand up and looked at the diamond ring. “It’s so beautiful.” She lowered her hand and threw her arms around his neck. “It’s perfect.”
He kissed her long and sweet. Now this was the happiest moment of her life.
17
Ellie and Tucker strolled through the city center of Potsdam, Germany, around the Old Market Square. She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Our honeymoon has gone way too fast. Thank you for remembering how much I wanted to visit Germany since it’s a part of my heritage.”
“I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it so much. I sure have.” He kissed the top of her head. “We have a lot more adventures to share in the future.”
She breathed in the cool fall air as she looked ahead to the busy and beautiful place, where St. Nicholas Church was huge and lovely at one end.
“What was your favorite place here in Potsdam?” She tilted her head to look at him, “Mine was Sanssouci Palace. It’s amazing that King Frederick the Great built seventeen palaces in Potsdam.”
“I’m partial to Cecilienhof Palace.” Tucker veered toward a store window. “The WWII history was fascinating.”
“But not very romantic,” she teased. “But, yes, I found the whole experience very interesting.”
He brought her to a stop in front of a store window filled with wooden figurines and ornaments. “Hand carvings like these say Germany to me.”
