He sat next to her. “Let’s toast.” He clinked her glass.
“What are we celebrating?”
“This.” He slid off the chair and got down on one knee.
Her eyes widened and she clapped her hand over her mouth.
“Will you marry me, Elise Preston? Soon? Very soon?”
Moved, surprised and elated, she swallowed hard. “I will, Finn. I love you so much.”
“We’ll choose a ring together.” He kissed her again. “I love you, too.”
He sat back in the chair.
“How are we going to do this?” she asked.
“Off the cuff, I guess I’ll get a minister. We can have a quiet ceremony out here.”
“We need witnesses.”
“Fiona of course. And the boys. And Oliver. He’s my best friend.”
“Won’t a wedding make Fiona feel bad?”
“No, she’ll be happy for us. And I couldn’t get married without her there. What about you?”
“Maybe John Gorman.”
“Aw. That’s nice. Are your friends back in Hollywood?”
“I don’t have many friends. I’m close to one woman but having her come to Rockford would cause a stir.”
“By the end of the week, okay? All this mess with the collective will be over by then.”
“The end of the week is fine.”
As they stared out at the water, Elise had never felt so content. She wanted to marry Finn with all her heart.
Later, Finn stood, set their glasses down and drew her up. “Are you feeling better?”
“I am.”
“Want to go inside?”
“I do.” She stood, they held hands again and walked into THE house and to his bedroom. A big bed, covered in a brown, window-paned duvet with taupe walls and huge windows. “I love the room. I didn’t notice much before.”
“You had a migraine.” He grinned. “Can I undress you?”
“Only if I can underdress you. My fiancé.”
“Your fiancé.” A huge, boyish grin. “I like the sound of that.”
Slowly, with no rush, he eased her shirt over her head. She shivered when he kissed her breastbone and unclipped her bra. Just as slowly, he drew down her capris and the matching panties. He kissed her curls. She was already wet, but still, sensations flooded her. Then he stood.
Elise whispered, “Now, it’s my turn.”
* * *
