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He smiled. “You’re spoiled. Most people fall in love with how beautiful Napa is.”
“Wow. You’re right. I guess I am.” She smiled. “I’m not used to being spoiled.”
He reached across and took hold of her hand. “I hope you’re going to enjoy getting used to it.”
She squeezed his hand. “I’m going to enjoy trying. Do me a favor, though. Give me a reminder every now then, if I start to take things for granted?”
“Okay, as long as you’ll do the same for me.”
When Cameron pulled up in front of the house, Piper stared up at it. “And you grew up here?” she asked. She was in awe of the place. It was like some stately home from a movie or something.
He nodded. “We had a great childhood here. It’s a big house, but it’s always been a house full of love.”
Piper nodded. She envied him that.
He came around the car when they got out and put his arm around her shoulders. “Remember, you belong here now. You’re a part of that love—this family.”
She looked up at the house again. “I feel like I belong with you, but I’m not sure I’ll ever feel I belong in a house like this.”
He led her up the steps and stopped at the front door. “Remind me to ask you if you still feel that way when we leave.”
She cocked her head at him, wondering what he meant by that, but he just smiled. “Trust me?”
She nodded.
Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton greeted them warmly in the hallway. It was enormous, but it felt homey. Piper understood what Cam had meant; this was a house full of love.
When they went through to the drawing room, she was surprised to see Smoke and Laura there. They were sitting chatting with Chelsea and Mary Ellen.
“There you are.” Laura got up and came to hug her. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too. I didn’t know you were coming.”
Mrs. Hamilton came and hugged her. “We invited them. You two girls make me so happy. We wanted the whole family here.”
Piper gave Laura a puzzled look, but she just grinned and shrugged.
Cameron came to stand beside her, and for some reason, his mom got all teary eyed. Piper put a hand on her arm. “Are you all right?”
“She’s fine.” Mr. Hamilton came and put his arm around his wife’s waist, drawing her away to the sofa where they both took a seat. Mrs. Hamilton kept tight hold of his hands and kept smiling and dabbing at her eyes.
Piper turned to Cameron. Something odd was going on here, and she was hoping he could tell her what.
He smiled and put his arm around her shoulders. “I was going to wait until after dinner, but I have a feeling this is all going to get too weird if I don’t do it right now.”
“Do what?” Piper had no idea what he was talking about.
Everyone was watching the two of them. They were all smiling expectantly.
“Cam? What?”
He dropped down on one knee before her and held up a ring. “This.”
Her hand flew up to cover her mouth.
“Piper. I know it’s too soon, but, to quote a friend of mine, falling in love isn’t a decision that you make with your head according to some predetermined timeline. It’s something that happens inside your heart that you can neither control nor deny. I’ve fallen in love with you. I couldn’t control it, and I don’t want to deny it. You know I love you. You know I want us to be forever. Will you marry me?”
She looked down into his eyes. They shone with love and with hope. She looked around at all the expectant faces. His mom was leaning forward in her seat urging her on. His dad smiled and nodded. Laura was grinning like an idiot and Smoke winked at her. Mary Ellen had her hands over her mouth as she waited, and Chelsea was smiling encouragingly. She looked back at Cameron whose smile was now frozen on his face. “Yes!” she cried. Not wanting to keep him waiting any longer. “Yes. It’s way too soon, but it’s right.”
