He dropped his shoulders and groaned.
I patted his chest. “It’s not so bad.”
Lucas smiled. “The house and the room are beautiful, Hollie. I’m so very proud of you, I hope you know that. And I would never ask you to…”
His voice trailed off.
“Ask me to what?”
With a tight smile, he lifted my hand and kissed the back of it. He had a habit of doing that, and I loved it. Sometimes he switched it up and kissed my wrist, which turned me on like crazy.
“I’m just so damn proud of you. I don’t tell you nearly enough.”
My heart melted, and my knees went weak. I hated to see the conflict in his eyes; the only thing I wanted to do was take it away. The best way to do that was to be honest.
“I know about Ireland.”
The color from his face drained. “Is that why you said you wanted to take a break? I would never in a million years ask you to step away from your career or your life here in Salem, or–”
“Let me rephrase that. I know you’ve been stressing about something to do with Ireland, but I’m not sure exactly what it is. And to answer your question, no. I had no idea until today.”
He narrowed one eye suspiciously. “Shawn told you?”
“No, Kristin. Apparently, their relationship has moved to sharing secrets.”
Lucas rolled his eyes. “I was planning on talking to you about it tonight, I swear. I just wasn’t sure it was something I even wanted to do.”
Taking his hands in mine, I smiled up at him. “We can talk about it after the shower, but know one thing, Lucas Dayton. I love you with my heart and soul, and I know you would never ask me to do something unless it meant a lot to you. I’m home when I’m with you. You are my safe place. The only place I want to be. Everything else is a bonus.”
He dropped my hands and cupped my face. “How did I get so lucky to have you love me? And why did we waste all those years being so stupid?”
I giggled. “Hardheaded, I guess.”
He ran his thumb over my lower lip. “I love you so much, Hollie. More than you’ll ever know.”
Reaching up, I kissed him softly. “I think I know because I feel the same.”
He studied my face, then dropped his eyes to my mouth, then moved them back up again. He shook his head. “I can’t wait. I can’t wait to do it.”
“What?” I asked, confused as he took my hand and then pulled me through his parents’ house, past onlookers who were just as shocked as I was as Lucas practically ran through the house with me trailing behind him.
“Excuse me. Excuse us,” I said as I gave a smile of apology to the number of people who he nearly knocked over.
Walking into the mud room, Lucas reached for my coat and then slipped it on me. He put his coat on and held the back door open, motioning for me to go outside. Once outside, we headed toward his parents’ gazebo.
“Lucas, slow down! Do you know how hard it is to walk in heels even with the sidewalk cleared of snow!”
Stopping, he turned and swept me up into his arms as I let out a shriek of laughter.
He stepped up into the gazebo, then slowly set me down. It was chilly, but Rose had drapes that hung down, and Lucas pulled the two closed, then reached for the small heater. Rose had arranged for the gazebo to be heated in case anyone wanted to slip away. I was pretty sure she hadn’t planned on her son losing his mind, though.
Lucas drew my coat closed, then kissed me as if he hadn’t seen me in a month.
When he drew back and looked into my eyes, I swayed. “Wow. What was that for?”
Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, got down on his knee, and opened it. Tears clouded my eyes, and I took a few steps back, my hand over my mouth as a sob forced its way out. Then I broke down crying before I launched myself into his body, damn near knocking him over. I didn’t even care that I heard my dress rip.
With my arms wrapped tightly around him, I cried into his neck.
