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She didn’t linger. Scott never wanted her help when he cooked, and she had a shower calling her name. She’d always enjoyed a hot shower after work, but since moving into Scott’s place, she sometimes fantasized about it on the way home. Unlike the shower at her old house, which had one single head shooting out water, the one here had six, each one adjustable so she could control the water pressure and get almost a full-body massage every time she showered. Sometimes she even joked that if not for the master bathroom here with its hot tub and awesome shower, she would’ve insisted Scott moved to Rhode Island instead.
Paige zipped through her shower before tossing on a pair of shorts and tank top. If Scott wanted to go out later, she could change, but she doubted he’d want to. Much like her, he preferred to stay home on Friday nights and just relax. Saturdays nights they rarely stayed in unless Cooper was with them. Then they stayed home and spent time as a family. And while she might not have a ring on her finger, they were a family. Much like Scott had, she’d fallen in love with Cooper right away. From the beginning she’d been amazed how easy a baby he was. Although he’d still woken up at night until he turned ten months, he almost never cried unless he was hungry. He took naps without a fuss and didn’t need to be held all the time. When he was held, he didn’t mind whose arms he found himself in. He was just as content if his father held him or one of Scott’s many cousins. If her niece had been as easy, her brother and his wife would already have a second baby on the way. Instead, they’d decided to wait until Gabby was a few years older and required a tad less attention. Although Paige had her doubts that would ever happen. She loved her niece, but the little girl was high maintenance.
“What’s all this about tonight?” Paige looked over the table, her mouth watering as her eyes went from one steaming dish to another.
Coming up behind her, Scott pulled out her chair before adding a dish of olive oil, basil, and Parmesan cheese to the table. “Who says it’s about anything? Can’t I prepare a nice meal for the woman I love?” He dimmed the overhead lights before he took the seat across from her.
Candlelight flickered across his face, allowing her to see his innocent expression. One she wasn’t buying for a minute. “Yeah, but you never cook like this after work because you don’t have time. If you did all this tonight, you planned to leave the office early when you left here this morning. Are you traveling again?” Since they’d first met, Sherbrooke Enterprises had sent him to both Europe and South America so many times she’d lost count. Most of the trips had been short except for his last one to Rio de Janeiro. He’d spent two weeks there. Two very long weeks.
He shook his head. “No traveling in my future. I wanted to do something special for you before Cooper gets here. When he’s with us, we don’t get much alone time to talk.”
The smile Scott sent her as he picked up his fork made her squirm in her seat. Scott was up to something. If he wanted to play, she’d play. “What time are we picking Cooper up tomorrow?” She reached for her ice tea and settled in for a delightful evening.
No matter what he cooked, it came out fantastic. The meal Scott had made tonight was no different. And as usual she ate much more than she should’ve because it was delicious.
“I don’t need to eat for another week.” Paige pushed back her chair and picked up her plate.
Before she moved though, Scott took it from her. “That’s too bad. Guess I’ll eat the chocolate torte myself.”
Despite a full stomach, her ears perked up. Chocolate and sweets were going to be the death of her. “Maybe a small piece.”
His laugh carried in from the kitchen. “Thought you’d say that. I picked up a bottle of forty-year-old tawny port for us to enjoy with it. It’s from my favorite winery in Portugal.”
If the dessert wine came from one of his favorite wineries, it’d be divine too. “I’m not sure I can handle that and chocolate torte. Maybe we should save it until your parents visit again.” Over the past year, Marilyn and Harrison had made regular visits to the apartment whenever Cooper was with Scott.
“Nah. We don’t need to finish it tonight.” Scott set down two extra-large slices of the torte before returning to the kitchen for the wine.
Immediately, the dessert started calling her name, but she fought it. He never started eating without her. “I’m not sure I can finish this, but I’ll do my best.”
Scott dropped a kiss on her head before taking his seat again. “I’ve got faith in you, babe.” After filling the wine glasses, he passed one to her. “Enjoy.”
She watched him move the glass toward his lips and take a sip. Rather than do the same, she set her glass down.
“Perfect. Try it. I think you’ll love it.”
“Maybe later.” She forced a smile and went for her fork.
His sigh almost drowned out the sound of his fork clattering against his plate. “Okay, enough. I can’t do this anymore tonight.” Coming around the table, he dropped into the seat next to her. “I started planning tonight on Monday because I want to ask you something.”
“Ask away.” She’d known he’d gone through all this effort for a reason.
“First, is there anything you want to tell me?” he asked, his voice tender.
Under the table she made a fist, her fingernails biting into her palm. “Since you’ve been planning for so long, why don’t you go first?”
No more. He’d decided to wait until after they ate to ask her about what he’d found in the bathroom. He’d left before her this morning. If she’d taken the tests right before work, it would explain why she hadn’t said anything yet. He’d hoped during dinner she’d tell him. Dinner was over and nothing. For whatever reason, she’d decided not to share the news.
“Okay. You want me to go first, I’ll go. Then you’re answering my question,” he said, immediately regretting his tone. Before he proceeded, he inhaled and exhaled deeply. “Paige Foster, I love you and want to spend my life with you. Will you marry me?” Scott pulled out the ring he’d put in his pocket.
She didn’t keep him waiting for an answer. Lunging at him, she almost toppled them both backward as she hugged him. “Yes.” Tears slipped down her face, and she brushed them away, laughing. “Oh, my God. Yes, of course.”
He’d never proposed, but he suspected he should slip the ring onto her finger now. Before he did, he wanted in on her secret, so he returned the ring to his pocket.
Paige’s eyes followed his hand before meeting his and again doing her best fish impression, reminding him of their first date when the reporter had approached them.
“Usually when the wom
an says yes, you give her the ring. Haven’t you ever seen it done on television?”
