“You bet. That’s not just me being positive. That’s me believing you were going to ask for this. For us. For our forever. I had a new plan.”
“Of course you did.” She held out her left hand. “Is this where I ask you to marry me?”
“Not if I ask you first,” he bandied back, laughing. “Mad, will you make me the happiest man on earth and spend the rest of your life with me?”
Sinking down on her heels next to him, she laid her hands on his arms and met his gaze straight on, like she had the firstmoment they’d met and become unlikely friends. “I’d love to.”
He slid the ring on her finger, and of course it fit. “Me too. And don’t worry, I already asked Pierre and Spike to make sure they were on board.”
Cuddling closer to their little family, she cupped his jaw and leaned in for a kiss. His mouth moved over hers with the pure precision of the finest car engine, sealing the deal.
He wasdefinitelyher ride or die.
When they could breathe again, they leaned back against the wall, stretching their feet out as Spike happily crawled all over them. “I know we should get up,” she said with a laugh, “but my whole body is tingly. And this is another crazy thought…”
He looked down at her. “Let’s hear it.”
“I want to text everyone the news.” She practically slumped against him. “I can’t believe I’m saying this. I want to tell them Nanine’s got three stars.”
God, she was really feeling light-headed now.
“And…I want to tell them we’re getting married.” She gave a crazy laugh, feeling happier than she ever had in her whole life. “I might even go so far as to suggest we put on those T-shirts Dean gave us.”
He nuzzled the side of her neck. “Now I know you’ve lost your mind.”
“Completely.” Turning in his arms, she made sure not to squash an excited Spike. “For you. For us. For everything. Kyle, I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” He kissed her softly. “With all my heart. And I have something to show you. Can you get up?”
“Can you?” she shot back, laughing as they pulled themselves off the floor.
He took her by the shoulders to steady them both, letting the moment sink in more.
She was so many things to him. Best friend. Business partner. Lover. Michelin-starred chef. And now fiancée. He’d thought he’d have to convince her to marry him eventually, but no, she’d up and dove into it with the kind of dedication and determination he loved about her.
“Come on.”
Her brow wrinkled. “What did you do? Kyle, I can’t imagine you topping our private dance club.”
Didn’t she know how much he loved a challenge?
“You grab Pierre while I take Spike,” he called, taking her hand and dragging them off to his office, her black high-tops slapping on the marble floors and Spike’s excited barks filling his ears.
When he flung the door open, he pulled her inside and pointed to the wall where he and Sawyer had hung the portrait of her, right across from his desk for him to look at every day.
Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my God! That’s me!”
“No,” he joked, nuzzling her neck as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. “Of course that’s you. Even better, it’s how you look at me when I’m not looking. I’d planned to show it to you today, regardless of the Michelin decision, to remind you how much we mean to each other. It was Phase One of my Operation Marriage plan, which we achieved today, thank you very much.”
She turned slowly to face him. “That’s how I— Wow! Okay, if that’s how I look, thank God you tucked this painting away in your office. It’s official. I am no longer a badass.”
“Sure you are, just not with me. Are you going to let Sawyer display it in his first gallery show?” he teased.
She blanched. “Oh, jeez, that would help him, wouldn’t it? I mean, it’s really incredible. I can’t believe that’s me.”
He kissed her soundly since she looked like she was incomplete shock. Who knew a painting to immortalize her would do that more than getting engaged?
“Do you have your phone?”
