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Carter removed the ring and dropped to his knee. “Angela, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”
Her heart launched into her throat, stifling her words. Tears of joy gathered in her eyes, blurring her vision. She gazed down at the most perfect man in the world—perfect for her—as he knelt down on one knee, holding out a sparkling diamond ring to her.
If this was a dream, she never wanted to wake up. They’d been dating for a little more than two years now—ever since she’d visited this coffee shop, and he’d held the door open for her. His warm smile had been what had first caught her attention, but as he’d stood in line behind her and started a conversation, she’d found a whole lot more to like about him. A shared coffee led to a first date that led to many more outings, and, somewhere along the way, love bloomed.
She nodded enthusiastically. She swallowed hard. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Applause arose from the crowd of strangers gathering around them. Angela didn’t care who knew. The more, the merrier.
After placing the ring on her finger, Carter threw his arms around her and swung her up and around. Her feet dangled above the ground as they turned in a circle. Her heart soared. She had never known this sort of happiness.
When her toes touched the earth once more, she was still holding onto him. Her arms were draped up over his broad shoulders as her fingers linked behind his neck.
She continued to stare deep into his eyes as her pulse raced. “Is this really happening?”
“Oh, yes. It is.” He dipped his head and pressed his lips to hers.
Her heart fluttered. This moment was perfect. Carter was her perfect match.
They were perfect together.
CHAPTER ONE
The Perky Pink Wedding Planner’s office, one year later...
Onlyeightdaysuntilthe big day.
Bright and early Friday morning, Angela rode across town with Carter. They’d both taken the day off from work to wrap up some last-minute wedding details.
Angela’s heart raced with the thought that soon she’d be Mrs. Whitlock. With her car in the shop to have the oil and tires changed, her fiancé, Carter, had been sweet to offer her a lift to the wedding planner’s office to go over the final details for the wedding. Today would also be her final dress fitting.
She was so excited. The dress had been her mother’s. With her mother having been tall and slender, while Angela was short and curvy, a number of alterations had to be made. In the beginning, Angela wasn’t even sure it was possible, but Liza, the owner of the Perfect Day Bridal Boutique, was a true miracle worker.
The final fitting was to have been done the week before, but a bad cold had forced Angela to reschedule. In order to save time, Clara, the wedding planner, had arranged to have the dress brought to Clara’s suite of offices for the final fitting.
Angela glanced over at Carter as the car pulled to a stop at a busy San Francisco intersection. They’d previously bought his black tuxedo and had it tailored. “You’re going to pick up your tux today, right?”
He nodded. “I won’t forget. You’ve reminded me like six times today.”
“I’m sorry. There’s just so much to do. I don’t want to forget anything.”
“Isn’t that why we hired a wedding planner?”
“Carter, you know how important this day is to me. I’ve been dreaming of it forever. Nothing can go wrong.” Everything just had to go according to plan.
If only her mother were alive to share these moments with her, it would have made it so much better. And though her mother had died ten months ago, her spirit was here with Angela, of that Angela was certain. Before her mother had died, they’d started working on a binder full of wedding ideas. Her mother had known she wouldn’t get to see Angela walk down the aisle, so she’d done the next best thing. Together, they’d daydreamed what the wedding might be like. As they’d conjured up ideas, Angela had taken detailed notes and added photos cut from bridal magazines.
Carter glanced at her before focusing back on the road. “Did you get my message about the additional two people from the office who are coming?”
“I did. I just don’t understand why you had to invite the whole law firm.”
“I keep telling you that it wasn’t the whole firm. It was just upper management. You know, the partners and senior partners. I have to make a good impression.”
He was right. If he wanted to make partner one of these years, they had no choice but to include the higher-ups at the firm. “I know. You’re right. There are just so many people coming to the wedding.”
He reached over and took her hand in his. “Just focus on you and me. The rest will work itself out. Besides, the wedding isn’t far off.”
Ding.
