“Lucky girl,” I say to myself.
But as I lean down to grab the first vaseful of gorgeous violets, Lee looks up from some daffodils he’s wrapping. “Hold up. Start with the ones in the front room.”
My head snaps up. “The front room? That’s full too. Stop it ...”
I start walking that way, making my way through the floral maze. Out of habit, I put my hands in the front pocket of the apron beforemy shoulder connects with the swinging door. I say, “Jesus, what is this guy trying to prove?”
But the moment I’m through, I freeze. All the air in my body is sucked out. Because what ... What is happening? Noah’s standing in the middle of the room, vases and vases of baby’s breath packed in around him.
My favorites.
He smiles at me. “I’d say he’s trying to prove he loves you.”
“What?” My fingers instantly cover my mouth as I stare back at him, still unable to speak. Because ... oh my god. I can feel myself blink too many times. And my heart’s thumping at an irregular rate.
He lets out a nervous breath.
“Goldie, I’ve been looking for the right moment to do this again, and I swear, everything kept making it impossible. So I decided it couldn’t wait any longer.”
He starts walking toward me, and goose bumps explode over my arms.
I keep glancing at the bushel of wildflowers mixed with my favorites in his hand and back to his eyes as he speaks.
“I figured if all the orders were for you, they’d have to give you the day off.”
Genius.I shake my head as I bite my bottom lip, still feeling like I can’t process what’s happening. My head swings over my shoulder, then back to him, before I repeat what he’s just said.
“The ones in the back are for me too? Wait ...” My voice is shaky. “You told me to call in ... How are you here? What’s happening?”
He bought me all the flowers. All of them.
Noah grins, then stops in front of me and forces me to look up at his face.
“It’s called skillful distraction. Although I did get worried for a minute I was too convincing and would have to think of a plan B.”
The flowers in his hand make it into mine. Not that I realize it because I feel like I’m having an out-of-body experience. And none ofthe three million thoughts whirling around in my head seem to stay in one place long enough for me to grab hold.
But then he looks at me. Really looks at me. And instead of feeling like I’m floating, I feel tethered to him, like I always do.
“I don’t know if this is the perfect moment ...” Noah rubs the back of his neck, because that’s what he does when he’s nervous, and his eyes drop to my lips before locking on my eyes. “But I hope so because you have my heart ... You always have. I asked you to marry me in this city once. And I’m gonna do it again because I love you, Goldie Monroe.”
Am I blinking? Am I breathing?
His knuckles brush my jaw. “Baby ... did you hear me?”
My chest feels tight, and I know my hands are starting to shake. Butterflies cyclone in my stomach as I look up at him.
“I already said ‘deal’; what more do you want from me?” I whisper with a grin.
Noah bends down, our faces so close we’re sharing all the air as he grins back.
“Good, because everyone’s waiting at the courthouse—I’m asking you to marry me today.”
“Say it again,” I add as his fingers tickle along my jaw.
“Marry me today,” he breathes, our foreheads touching. “I am so fucking in love with you.”
Pure joy washes over me as I throw my arms around his neck and seal our lips, saying yes to him over and over between kisses.
