“Then we should have no trouble getting seated atourtable,” I reply.
The hostess greets us, and I tell her we want the booth near the window, which she already knows since I set this up weeks ago. I allow Mindy in the booth first before taking the seat beside her. She eyes the pretty round flower arrangement with fragrant magnolias and red roses.
“Kind of odd that this is the only table with flowers,” she muses.
“It’s truly a night of wonders,” I say, making her laugh.
We order the same foods we did eight years ago, and our conversation flows just as easily. Once we’re done, the waitress clears our plates, and Mindy leans her head over onto my shoulder when I wrap my arm around her.
“Thank you for bringing me here for our anniversary instead of to a fancy restaurant,” she says, peeking up at me from beneath her lashes.
“I wanted it to be special.” I lean down and take her mouth in a sensual kiss. Some idiot knocks on the window, but I ignore them and focus on my woman. When the kiss ends, I brush my thumb over her damp bottom lip. “I got you something.”
“You didn’t have to?—”
I hush her with my thumb. “I know I never have to, but I do anyway. Get used to it.” Then I reach over the back of the booth and locate the handles of the gift bag, tugging it over and setting it on the table in front of Mindy.
“What is it?” she asks because she knows it bugs me.
“A seventy-inch TV,” I deadpan. “Just open it.”
As she pulls out the mounds of tissue paper from the bag, my heart rises up to my throat in anticipation.
“Ooh, there’s two boxes,” she says, removing them and setting them on the table.
“Open the one with the blue bow first,” I instruct. She does, and her eyes light up when she sees what’s inside.
“Oh, this is so cute!” she squeals, carefully easing the salt shaker shaped like a white high-heeled shoe from its cushioned box. Turning it over and over in her hands, she seems to genuinely love it. “It’s so detailed. You can even see the stitching. Is that hand-painted?” Her excited eyes lift to mine.
“It is. I had them custom-made.”
“Them? There’s another one in the other box?”
I stroke her ponytail. “Does only getting you half a set sound like something I would do?”
“Of course not,” she says, reaching for the other box, the one with the silver bow. “Hmm, this one is a little flatter. Maybe a lipstick to go with the high heel?”
I don’t answer because my tongue seems to have gotten stuck to the roof of my mouth. Reaching for the orange juice glass, I down the last of it, wishing it was something much stronger right now.
Mindy lifts the lid and her eyes turn into saucers. “Oh god, it’s so pretty.” Her fingers trace over the shaker shaped like a solitaire ring. I can see her blinking rapidly. Has she figured out what’s going on yet?
My fingers dig into my thigh so hard I think I might literally poke holes in my suit pants as she lifts it from the satin-covered cushion. When a clink comes from the ring, her eyes snap to me.
“There’s something inside,” she whispers like she’s Indiana Jones discovering a coveted treasure.
“You should probably investigate that,” I say, doing my best to sound calm.
“Remi…” My name holds an unasked question as we stare at each other, and I give her a nod.
“Just open it, baby.”
Her fingers fumble with the stopper at first, but she finally pops itout and turns the ceramic ring over until thevery realengagement ring falls out into her palm.
“Oh my god,” she gasps. “Remi, it’s beautiful.”
I slide from the booth and kneel beside it. This whole proposal scenario might be a little unorthodox—though it’s undeniablyus—but I’m doing this particular traditional part right. I take the ring from her shaky hand and hold it between my fingers, which are suddenly steady and sure. Because I have never been more sure of a single thing in my life than I am about wanting Mindy Espinoza to be my wife.
“Mindy, we met eight years ago today. It may have only been one night, but you changed me. You imprinted yourself on my soul, and I never forgot you.” I pause, gathering my words. “We’ve had a few bumps in the road since then.”
