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He literally beams at me. “It’s a show called Cavalia. It’s like Cirque du Soleil only with horses. Next weekend is the premiere, but I’ve arranged for us to watch a private dress rehearsal. Just you and me. Okay?”
“Sooooookay.” I grab his scruffy cheeks and pull him toward me. Give him the hugest kiss.
Thisis why it’s awesome to be in love with a rock star who has all the rock star connections.
Jace slings his arm over my shoulder and the most divine show I’ll ever see unfolds before my eyes. Over the course of two hours, dozens of ethereally beautiful horses—in all the colors of the rainbow— take the stage. Sometimes they’re on their own. Sometimes they have riders decked out in brilliant costumes. The horses are nearly always surrounded by multicultural dancers, the most stunning visual projections of nature. Not to mention the death-defying acrobats.
It’s utterlyspectacular.
It’s impossible for me to look away. I’m on the edge of my seat. One hand rests on Jace’s thigh and I’m pretty sure he’ll have fingerprint bruises from how hard I clutch at him every time a new segment starts.
What’s most compelling to me personally is how this show treats its horses as the glorious, mythical creatures they truly are. It’s so clear they are cherished and loved. It’s my perfect night out. A celebration of the horse, my most favorite animal. I’m bawling my eyes out at the spectacle of it all.
When it’s over, Jace gets up. Holds his hand out. I take it and someone from the show leads us back to the stables. I lean up and steal a kiss. “I love you so much. This is the best surprise ever.”
“No, I loveyou, Poppy. I knew this show was meant for you.” He’s walking on air. All because he’s pleased me. Gawd. I sometimes wonder how I got so lucky this gorgeous man loves me so much.
We’re ushered into a giant holding pen where the horses are being brushed and fed. For the next half hour we’re given a behind-the-scenes tour of the inner workings of the show. I’m even able to sneak in sweet snuggles with the amazing animals. Bouncing on my toes, I turn to Jace. “The trainers use Liberty training. I want to learn sobad. Just like onHeartland.”
“You and that show.” He cracks up at my mention of my favorite Netflix series about a horse ranch in Canada. “I figured this would be inspiring stuff. Good thing I’ve already arranged for one of their trainers to come out to the ranch to teach us. Lena can learn too.”
I throw my arms around my man. “Ohmygod. Are you serious?”
“Dead serious.” Jace cups my face with both hands. Kisses me tenderly. “I do have one think to ask you, though.”
“Anything. Seriously.”
To my complete and total shock, he drops to one knee in front of me. Takes my left hand and brings it to his lips. He’s shaking, almost like he’s nervous, which can’t be true. Jace is the most confident guy in the world. “Poppy, this is long past due. You are everything to me. You’ll always be everything to me. I love you more than any words can say. I know I’m not eloquent or sappy. I don’t have a sexy Irish accent. But you are mine. I’m yours. It’s time to make this official, don’t you think? Would you please marry me?”
“Ohmygod.Jace. Yes. Yes.Yes.” I kneel down with him and we cling to each other tightly. “Were you scared to ask me?”
“Shitting bricks. All night.” He arches an eyebrow and looks down at the ground.
I thread my fingers through his hair. He looks up at me, almost shyly and I absolutely melt. “I’ve never been the kind of girl who obsesses about a wedding. But Jace? You’ve got to know, I think you’ve made me change my mind tonight.”
“I didn’t know how you’d react. All the guys figured out such grand gestures. I wanted you to have one too.” His dimples pop as a smile spreads across his face. “We’ve gone about things backwards, but I know we’re going to have the kind of marriage my parents have. You’re it for me.”
I’m floored at his sentiment. A little terrified. My parents are divorced. It was ugly, so I’ve always been a bit skeptical about marriage generally. Which is why I’ve never,everwanted to pressure Jace for a ring. Forcing someone to do something they don’t want to just isn’t…well, me. I must admit, though, with all the LTZ couples being so solid. So in love. Maybe I can accept that Jace and I can make it too.
Besides, we don’tneedto actually get married.
But hell yeah, of course Iwantto marry Jace.
One of the performers hands Jace his phone. Leave it to my social-media-expert-now-fiancé to have arranged to capture our special moment. I can’t wait to watch it over and over and over. Despite my own insecurities about the marriage thing, I definitely want Jace to feel as special as he’s just made me feel. “Babe, this is the most perfect proposal I could have ever hoped for. Seriously. Absolutely blown away.”
It’s about a thirty-minute drive to the Salish Lodge, where Jace has us booked into a spectacular suite overlooking the 268-foot Snoqualmie Falls waterfall and river. The room is illuminated by dozens of white candles. A tray of chocolate truffles along with Champagne on ice is waiting for us.
When the door shuts behind us, Jace pulls me to him. We melt into each other, kissing, groping, tugging our clothes off as fast as possible. He cups my ass and yanks me against his thick cock. “We havewholea night of uninterrupted naked-time, are you ready?”
“Gawd, yes.”
We make love until dawn. Like we used to do all those years ago when we were sneaking around Europe together. When we truly fell in love.
Back then, I wasn’t ready for him. I was too afraid Jace would eventually break my heart.
Tonight? It’s so clear.
He’s mine. The future is finally ours, and I’m diving in headfirst.
