Matt cut in and frowned at Bailey. "So now you're not gong to ask me?"
"I have a different question now," Bailey told him and cupped his face.
"I have a question too," Matt said and turned his head to kiss the palm of his hand before he asked. "When isn't it too soon for me to ask you to marry me?"
Bailey felt like the wind was knocked out of him. "When is it too soon?" he said while he struggled to comprehend the words. He was stunned.
Sounding perfectly reasonable though a little breathless, Matt explained, "I don't want to do it too soon, but I don't want to wait too long either."
"Right, right," Bailey said still in a daze. "Well, you'll need to wait a little while."
Joey was now calling for them to jump in the water. Bailey told Matt to go while he took care of the breakfast dishes. He still feltlike he couldn't take a proper breath, like his breathing couldn't catch up to his heartbeat.
Once he was done in the kitchen, Bailey went to his office to work. Gwen left and Matt and Joey got busy doing some chores. Then Matt brought him coffee and Bailey was very grateful. "I needed this. Getting back to work after a weekend away is not easy."
"You poor guy," Matt said, mocking him a little. He lingered in front of his desk, staring at the floor then he sighed. "I didn't mean to scare you with that marriage stuff."
"I wasn't scared, just surprised," Bailey told him.
"You had a deer in the headlights look," Matt claimed.
"I did not," Bailey said and Matt grinned at him.
"You just make me so impatient, so happy," Matt said and he leaned over Bailey's desk for a kiss.
Bailey felt the same way, happy, happier than ever. He just had to make it last.
Chapter 24
Bailey wasn't scared, but Matt did seem to want to rush things. If Bailey said he wanted to take things slow, he would be lying. He wanted a future with him, and for them to have some time together tonight.
That evening, Bailey arranged for dinner on the beach for the two of them though they had some egg rolls with Joey when he had his takeout. Later Bailey asked Matt to helped Joey get ready for bed while he went outside to get things ready for their dinner.
He put the table from the porch on the sand not too far from the house and set out plates. He then went inside to kiss Joey goodnight. They waited until he was asleep to go outside. Grandpa had an old fashioned lantern and Bailey lit it and put it in the center of the table.
"A proper romantic dinner," Matt said.
"I wanted candles but they would just blow out," Bailey said as the breeze coming off the ocean picked up to prove him right.
"This is good. I have no complaints," Matt said as he started on the filet mignon and the small buttery potatoes with purple carrots and roasted radishes.
They had wine too. After they each had a glass, Matt gazed at him over the table. Waves splashing softly on the sand was the only sound for a moment then Matt said, "I don't mean to always be pushing you."
"You aren't. I love you," Bailey told him.
"I love you too, and I'm sorry about this," Matt said as he stood up from the table then came around to him. He got on one knee in front of Bailey and clasped his hand. "Will you marry me, Bailey?"
"Really? You waited less than a day," Bailey said.
Matt wasn't apologetic, telling him, "If you didn't want a proposal, you shouldn't have set the scene."
"I guess then it's my own fault, so I better say yes," Bailey said and pulled Matt closer so he could hug him as he still kneeled in the sand.
Bailey had tears in his eyes, and when he took Matt's face in his hands to kiss him, he saw that Matt was teary-eyed too. As Bailey kissed him and stroked his face, Matt shuddered and then he started crying outright. Clinging to Bailey, he was sobbing, "I'm sorry, I'm so happy. You make me so fucking happy. Oh fuck, I'm ruining a special moment with cursing."
Hugging him tight, Bailey told him, "You're not ruining anything. You're perfect. And I want to marry you more than anything."
They kissed and Matt pulled Bailey down into the sand. They couldn't do more than kiss there though.
