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She’d kept the mistletoe. I was shocked as I set her down on the sidewalk. “You still have it.”
“I do.” She gestured to her dress. “I put on the dress and the coat hoping that in seeing all of this, I could talk you into wanting to date me. I’m glad I didn’t have to arm wrestle you into compliance. Because you would lose.”
That made me laugh. “I would not lose. There is no way. But no, you don’t need to strongarm me into anything. I’m yours, to do with as you what.”
“Oh, I like the sound of that.” She wrapped her arms around my neck.
I kissed her, taking in the taste and feel of her with a whole new appreciation for having lost her. “I missed these lips. I missed you.”
She sighed, but broke away, lowering the mistletoe. “Are the girls upset? They told me they didn’t want you to date.”
“I think that applied to everyone but you. They are one hundred percent on board. Their texts to you today were to confirm that you would be here when I showed up.”
“Devious. All of you. I like it.”
“Poppy was working on a love potion to get us together. That should put your mind at ease. That she wants us together. Not that you’re about to have a stepdaughter who is a mad scientist.”
“She’s got style. You have to admit.”
“She has something.” I brushed her hair back. “Just so you know, I have a housekeeper now who helps with the girls and a driver to take Willow to soccer. You can still travel if you need to for work. We’ll work it out.”
“I don’t think I want to go on tour anymore. I’m not sure what I want to do. I hated school so college is out but I’ll figure it out. Right now I’ll be happy to work part-time when I can, volunteer a ton, and be a wife and stepmom.” She gave me a grin. “Hey, did you know I love parties? Think how many charitable events I can throw.”
I pretended to groan. “Oh, shit, what have I done?” But then I kissed her gently. “I love the idea of you devoting a lot of time to volunteering. You have a beautiful heart, and that all sounds perfect to me. I can even deal with the parties.”
“Are we getting in this carriage?” she asked, gesturing.
The driver was studying his phone, clearly not caring that we had been standing there ten minutes. “Absolutely.” I held my hand out to help her up.
Once she was in, I jumped up in after her. “Go ahead,” I told the driver.
“Where are we going?”
“Not that far.” I had gotten ahead of myself with the proposal.
“This isn’t a surprise wedding, is it?” she asked. “Because that would be amazing.”
I laughed. “It crossed my mind, but I thought you might actually kill me if I did that, so no.”
I’d even nixed the idea of bringing the girls or her friends along to witness the more formal proposal, with a ring.
Instead, I’d found a small outdoor ice-skating rink that I had rented. Having only seen pictures of it online, I was pleasantly surprised to see it was strung with Christmas lights. One end had the igloo I had rented set up off the ice, with a table and chairs, and a heater inside.
“This is so cute,” Dakota said. “Why is no one else here?”
“I rented the whole space. I thought about Rockefeller Center, but there are just so many people.”
“It’s New York. There will always be people.”
“I know. But I want you alone.” I tipped the driver and dismissed him for the night, then jumped out of the carriage. I helped Dakota down.
There was an attendant who gav
e us our skates and a waiter who took our drink order for the igloo.
“You are a very romantic man,” Dakota said, as we sat in the igloo, putting our skates on. “This is all amazing.”
The waiter brought in a tray of sushi.
