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I rub my finger over my bottom lip, and he watches it with hungry eyes. “Dare.”
“You’re ending on a dare?” he asks with wide eyes and a smirk, and I smirk back.
“Yep. So, make it good.”
He looks around before he finally holds out his phone toward me and says, “Call my parents and ask permission for our marriage.”
My jaw drops. Surely not? I feel my heart drop and then my stomach flutter because I know I’m going to have to do it, but I need to stall. “What?”
“Go on.” He grabs his phone, swipes it to unlock, and waves it in front of me.
I drain the glass of my drink, and he brings up his parents’ phone number. I hit call, taking a deep breath. I can do this. No big deal, right?
And when his mom answers, all the blood rushes to my toes as I say, “Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Giordano, um, I’m calling to ask if I could have your blessing to marry your son?”
Marc is watching me with the biggest grin on his face. And I’m glad one of us is amused because it isn’t me. I’m a ball of nerves, and he is happy as a pig in mud.
“Really? That would be an honor, love,” his mom gushes, and I can finally breathe, though the stomach flutters are still there. Why was asking that so hard to do?
“I better go, but thanks for the blessing,” I rush out, still in disbelief that I just did that.
I hang up and hand him the phone.
“That was so nerve-racking. And why did they say yes? I’ve met them once,” I say, horrified. Aren’t in-laws supposed to be like parents and give me a hard time?
“Why? They love you. I talk about you all the time. But let’s get going.” He checks his watch and stuffs his phone in his pocket as he stands and holds out his hand.
I freeze momentarily. He talks about me all the time and they love me? I never expected it, but I feel a small swell in my heart. How kind they can be toward me, yet they barely know me. My own parents knew me for years and would only treat me with such venom.
I slide off the stool and take his hand in mine. “Where are we going?”
He lifts my hand up and kisses the back of it before squeezing it and tugging me toward the door. “A surprise.”
I narrow my eyes and try to keep my lips pursed, but they break free into a big grin. “Don’t blindfold me this time.”
“Okay, but…” He leans and whispers, “Only if I can use it in the bedroom on you tonight.”
I shiver at the idea. Oh yes, please. Even the idea to blindfold him…yes, an even better idea. A wicked grin sits on my face as I say, “Deal.”
“You didn’t even hesitate. And what are you thinking?Bella? You’re looking a little too pleased with yourself?”
We step outside, and I keep my eyes forward on the car as I pull him inside. “Come on, I want to get home.”
He swats my behind as I’m about to get in. “We have a stop along the way that I’m sure you’ll love.”
We walk from the car to the beach. I kick off my stilettos and carry them.
“We are ticking watching the sunset off our list?”
“Yep.”
We get to a spot on the sand that looks perfect to watch the sunset. He rolls out a blanket, and I smile as I take a seat and curl up beside him. My head rests on his shoulder, and as the time passes and the sky settles in a spot that radiates a beautiful hue of deep yellow and red, he shuffles, and I lift my head off.
Moving in front of me, he’s kneeling, and his hand disappears into his pocket before he opens a ring box. A shiny cushion-cut diamond stares back at me. The white gold details make me gasp. It’s so pretty. I’ve never owned something so delicate or expensive.
My heart is racing inside my chest, and my eyes are glued to the ring until he speaks.
“Gracie, I want to thank you for making me a better man. Since I met you, I’ve felt more centered, more at peace. Not only do I have something new to work for, but someone to share this life with. Please, do me the greatest honor and become my wife?”
