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But there it was. Life was good.
Life was very, very good.
Only one thing could make it better.
The crowd was chanting for an encore while I made my way up to the stage. I had something hidden in my fist. I smiled as I stopped the band from starting a new song. I winked at the guys and held out two fists.
"Hey guys. I just have a question for Elle that couldn't wait. I hope you will understand."
The crowd roared its response in the affirmative.
I grinned and looked at my beautiful girl. As usual, she looked suspicious. She hissed at me that didn't like surprises. I knew that. But I couldn't help myself.
Elle gave me an odd look as I offered her two clenched hands.
"Pick one."
"Really? Now? Right now?”
I nodded and she gave me an exasperated sigh.
"Alright Delancey, this better be good."
She cocked her head and tapped my left hand. I opened my fist, holding it palm up.
“Good guess.”
Her beautiful eyes opened wide when she saw what it was.
It was a ring. A big honking diamond ring.
I dropped to my knee.
"Will you marry me, Eleanor?"
She was already crying as she nodded. I slipped the ring on her finger while the crowd went wild. Then she threw herself into my arms, laughing and kissing me over and over again.
I wasn't surprised when she whispered into my ear, barely audible above the noise of the crowd.
"What the hell was in your other hand then?"
I shrugged sheepishly, pulling back to show her.
"Another ring. I got two, just in case."
She was laughing as I pulled her in for a kiss.
"You're incorrigible, alright. But I'll have you."
I murmured into her soft kissable lips.
"Lucky me."
Chapter Twenty-Six
Elle
I sighed as the stylist put the finishing touches on my hair and departed. My mother had slipped out to get ready a few minutes before. My hair and makeup were done. Now all I had to do was slip into my dress.
I pulled the robe tighter around my body and bit my lip. I wanted to go downstairs and peek outside. I wanted to see what my pesky fiancé had planned. But when I twisted the knob to our suite, nothing happened. I stared dumbly at the thick wood door for a moment before it registered.
The door was locked! Jake had lost his damned mind. He had locked me in!
“Hello?” I called out, feeling stunned, outraged, annoyed, and amused all at once. I heard footsteps after a moment thankfully. An unsettling feeling of panic had been starting to rise.
Locked in, like a damned animal! The man was going to have to stop treating me like a pet once we were married, wasn’t he?
“Is someone there?” I asked, then took a deep breath. “I seem to be locked in.”
“Sorry,” came the reply. A sheepish redheaded beauty popped her head inside the door. “I told him the lock was overkill!”
“I didn’t even know you could lock these doors from the outside.”
“You can’t,” Phee said with a chuckle. “Just this one, and just since last night.”
“You mean I was locked in all night and I didn’t know it?”
“Yup,” she said, plopping onto one of the arm chairs by the massive windows. “He spent half the night pacing the halls and checking your windows.”
“What?”
“He looked really jittery, Elle,” Phee said, her voice serious. I sat down with a plop.
“Does he really think I am going to leave him? Now?”
“I don’t think he knows what he thinks. I just know he loves you an awful lot.”
Tears stung my eyes.
“I love him, too.”
“Have you told him?”
I nodded. I had. But maybe not as much as I should…
“Uh oh, time to fix your makeup,” she said chirpily, springing into action. In a couple of minutes the runny mascara was fixed. “Now, let’s get you into that dress.”
“It’s time, then?” I asked, feeling suddenly nervous.
“It’s time,” she said. “Feel like running?” she asked with a raised brow.
“Towards him, Phee. Only towards him.”
“Good,” she said, giving me a gentle squeeze. “Let’s go get your man.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Jake
I had my arm over my bride’s shoulders as we wandered around the estate, chatting with the guests. The move looked casual, but I was making sure she didn’t wander off. She gave me a funny look, as if she knew what I was up to. Little did she know I would be watching her like a hawk for the rest of our lives together…
The day had been perfect. I didn’t want to stress out my bride but putting handcuffs on her. But honestly, I’d been tempted.
Elle’s mom and uncle were here, along with some childhood friends. We’d flown them all out first-class from Ireland. Shirl was here too, as well as Elle’s band Black Diamond. They were going to be performing later, when the dancing started.
But for now there was a string quartet playing by the bar. White flowers were everywhere, along with food and drink stations.
