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Taking a leisurely sip of her wine, Emma sighed. “You know, tonight still feels unreal. The flowers were a surprise, but this has been beyond my wildest dreams.” She paused to breathe in the pleasant scent of the magnolias nearby.
Raising an eyebrow, Luke teased, “So, I should’ve just stuck with the flowers then?”
Her laughter rang out, light and free. “Maybe! But I’m not complaining.”
“But it’s your birthday, Emma. I had to make it unforgettable.”
“You’ve made this night unforgettable. All my birthday wishes, realized in a single evening.”
Leaning in, he whispered, “And what about your regular wishes?”
“Meeting you. That was a wish I didn’t even know I had.” Emma looked down as her cheeks flushed a delicate pink.
“That was a wish we both shared,” Luke said, his gaze holding hers intently. “Any other wishes?”
Emma hesitated, then shared, “I’ve always dreamed of having a brick-and-mortar store for my dog treat business. It’s just, I don’t even know where to start.”
“Well, that definitely possible.” Luke’s voice was soft and sincere. “You’re capable of so much. I don’t see why owning your own shop isn’t something you couldn’t do.”
Emma was filled with a sense of calm as Luke spoke, knowing he really believed in her.
Luke raised his wine glass. “To you, Emma. Happy birthday.”
She clinked hers with his. “Thank you. For everything.”
Taking a moment, Luke reached into his pocket, producing a black rectangular velvet box. “Well, there’s one more thing,” he murmured, setting it before her.
“Luke, what’s this?”
“Just a little something for your birthday. Open it.”
Emma carefully lifted the lid and found a shiny silver bracelet inside. “It’s beautiful, Luke! You really didn’t have to, but I love it!”
“It’s a charm bracelet,” Luke explained, lifting it and clasping it around her wrist. “One charm is a dog, and the other is a lighthouse.”
Her voice quivered as she traced the shape of the dog charm. “It looks just like Riley.”
Luke’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Yeah, it’s our story. The dog is for the day we met, and the lighthouse is for our first kiss.”
With teary eyes, she leaned in, pressing her lips against his. “I love it so much, Luke. Thank you.”
His thumb caressed her cheek. “I wanted it to be special. Every moment, every detail.”
Their intimate bubble was interrupted by the arrival of their meals. After not eating anything today but her veggie wrap, Emma couldn’t wait to dig into her portabella steak.
Taking a bite, she turned to Luke, awaiting his reaction. “How is it?”
His eyes widened as he dabbed his mouth with the linen napkin. “It’s incredible. I can tell there’s a difference from regular steak, but still, I’m impressed.”
Emma chuckled. “Plant-based dishes have really evolved. I remember when they were just, blah.”
They lost themselves in playful banter, savoring their meals and the wine’s mellow buzz, until an unexpected voice intruded.
“Luke?” A figure stepped into the dim glow around their table. “Is that really you?”
26
Luke
