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He stood to greet her, and she stepped into his waiting arms. She pressed her tight little body against his, and as usual, he went rock hard. He nuzzled her neck and inhaled the fragrant scent of her long hair.
“Well, hi there.” Her voice was low, throaty. “You must be the mystery man from my text messages.”
He brushed his lips along the shell of her ear. “I am. You must be Camille. Thanks for coming to meet me.”
“Well, I’m not usually impulsive but I couldn’t resist.” She tipped her head back, her smile teasing.
“Have a seat. I ordered your whiskey.” He pulled out the chair for her and then sat. “So, I’m Trent.”
She lifted her glass and toasted him. “Nice to meet you, Trent. Thanks for the drink.”
He tapped his glass against hers. “Let’s toast to our first anniversary.”
Her full lips curved upward. “So our first date is our anniversary?”
As if they hadn’t planned this re-enactment of their first date. He placed one hand on her leg and squeezed. Her eyes widened but she scooted closer to him.
“Best night of my life.”
One blond brow arched. “Oh really? Are you sure it wasn’t the next night?”
He slid his hand up her thigh. “The next night was extraordinary. And the next night. And all the nights since that one. But I’ll never forget the moment you walked into this place.”
She inhaled a sharp breath, but her voice remained even. “Oh really?”
His pulse accelerated, his heart hammering against his ribcage, like it was ready to burst free. He nodded and cleared his throat. Here went nothing––or everything.
“The minute you walked into this room, it was like something clicked in my chest.” He swallowed, his throat dry. “First, I noticed your beauty because I’m not blind. But from the moment you sat down, right here in this spot, I knew you weren’t beautiful just because of your face or your body but because you have a light that shines from your eyes. A warmth from inside. Then, you blew me away with your quiet strength, your logical accountant’s brain, and your sense of humor. You make me laugh, you make me smile, you make me feel like I’m the luckiest man in the world, just being with you.”
Camille’s hands were clasped in front of her heart and her clear green eyes were wide.
He reached for both hands and brought them to his chest. “Camille Taylor, I love you so much. I’ve never been so happy, and I never want it to end. Will you marry me?”
She leapt from her chair onto his lap and threw her arms around his neck. “Yes, yes, yes! I love you with all my heart and I feel like the luckiest person in the world that your text landed on my phone. This past year was beyond what I could have dreamed. Having you by my side makes everything sweeter.”
He caught her face in his hands and kissed her soft lips. He grasped her waist and shifted her back to her chair.
A crease formed between her brows. “Hey, you aren’t going to be shy now, are you?”
His lips quirked up and he dropped to one knee. “No, not shy. But I do want to make it official.” He pulled out the small box and flipped open the lid.
Her eyes widened and she drew her hands to her mouth. “Oh my god, it’s gorgeous, Trent.”
The emerald cut diamond glittered in the dim lighting––no way would he skimp and give her anything other than a jewel as flawless as she was––and her expression confirmed he’d chosen well.
When she remained frozen, he took the ring and slid it home on her finger, where it fit like it was made just for her.
She angled her hand side to side, her face glowing. “It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. I love it.”
She lifted her gaze to his. “I love you so much. Can we come here every year to celebrate? Now it’s our first date and where we got engaged.”
He grinned and returned to his seat. “Maybe we can get married here too?”
She threw back her head and laughed. “Umm, no. My brother runs the most incredible hotel in Monterey and that’s where I want to get married. But maybe an engagement party?”
Warmth spread through him. “Whatever you want. As long as we’re together, I’m happy.”
She raised her glass again. “To us.”
“To us.” And to the rest of their lives.
***
