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It was going to work out. Even though they weren’treallyin love, he’d make this all as special and perfect for her as possible.
The sun was setting on the horizon, leaving a rusty glow over the land. Avalynn didn’t ask where they were or even where they were going. She patiently waited until the car stopped before sending Julius a questioning look.
He popped open the door and then folded his fingers around hers, tugging lightly for her to follow him. His boots ground on the hard-packed earth where the driver had let them out. The place Dove had found for where he and Avalynn would have their engagement photoshoot.
Just as Dove had told him, a large rock stood as a landmark to guide him. Keeping Avalynn’s hand in his, he circled the rock.
She stopped dead. Even when she made a soft cry it was musical and sweet.
He turned to see her face and imprint this moment on his mind.
“Julius!” she gasped. “How did you manage this?”
He squeezed her hand. “I have people too.”
“What is it all for?” Her wide eyes sucked him in, urging to not only protect her but shield her from the crueler parts of the world and keep her trusting and sweet forever.
“It’s our engagement, honey.”
Her lips formed anO, and the soundshe made touched a secret spot in his chest that he didn’t know had her name on it.
* * * * *
Avalynn might have traveled to foreign cities and seen beautiful places. But what Julius had done for her… It left her speechless.
In complete awe, she allowed him to lead her across the hard-packed earth of the desert to a glowing ring of candlelight.
All sizes of pillar candles had been set up in the shape of a heart. The flicker of flames added even more ambience to the enchanting scene. Julius seemed to have called on the sky to add to the beauty too because it was painted with sweeps of orange and yellow.
“It’sstunning,” she whispered.
His eyes were partly in shadow under the brim of his Stetson, but his lips revealed his emotion when they curved upward in a soft smile. His hand wrapped around hers, he continued drawing her toward the candles. A small gap between pillars had been left for them to step through and enter the space.
In the middle of that, someone had laid out a thick satin blanket in her favorite blush pink color, and it was weighted down with a wicker picnic basket and a silver ice bucket of wine.
“Julius!” She gaped at the scene. “This is extraordinary. And so unexpected!”
“It suits you. Do you want to sit?”
She nodded and then sank to her knees on the satin, taking a minute to arrange her short dress around her thighs. Julius paused for a moment, looking down at her. Then he rubbed his finger over his upper lip and sat next to her.
She stared at him. “What’s in the basket?”
“A picnic dinner. A romantic one, of course.”
“Of course.” A laugh bubbled up, again unexpected. She never thought she could laugh when under as much duress as she’d been in the past few days. “And you’re going to…propose to me?”
“I’m going to pour you a glass of wine and feed you. Then we’ll see what happens.”
She darted a glance at the bottle. “Winewouldloosen us up.”
He reached for the bottle and then used an opener provided to uncork it. When he let the rich red wine tip into a glass as thin as a soap bubble, he flicked his gaze up to hers. As he passed her the glass, their fingers brushed, taking her back to the feel of his arms around her…his hard body against hers.
No one could orchestrate such a perfect moment in time without caring at least a little bit.
“You know”—she toyed with a lock of hair—“when you kissed me on the forehead, it almost seemed…normal. Not just a role you were playing for the cameras.”
He didn’t speak, just poured his own wine. Then he raised his glass. She clinked hers against it and they both sipped.
