Page 72 of The Rough Ride

“Maybe,” he winked. He took her hand and led her back to the table. “Sit. Close your eyes. No peeking.”

She cocked her head and gave him a look. “Okay. You’re not going to flambé anything, are you?”

“Now there’s an idea,” he laughed. After making sure Liz closed her eyes, he turned on the huge monitor over the fireplace with the recording of the fireworks behind the Eiffel Tower, adjusted the fiber optic lights in the ceiling, and set the dessert on the table. It was his best imitation of a starry night in Paris. “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” she giggled.

“You can open them now.”

Her eyelids fluttered. She stood on a gasp and twirled around. “Oh, my. It’s stunning, Nick. You’re amazing. This is breathtaking. It looks just like Paris at the holidays.”

Yes!He pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly. “I’d love to whisk you away from here and everything that’s happened, but we both know it’s not possible right now.”

Liz caressed the side of his face. “I don’t need Paris when I’ve got you and Ella. The past few days have been the best of my life with the three of us under one roof.” She beamed at him.

He kissed her shoulder and whispered in her ear, “Ready for some chocolate cake?”

“Always.”

He chuckled. “Got it. Sit down.” He cut the big slice just like he’d planned, set it in front of her, and then cut himself a piece.

“Nick,” she laughed, “I’ll never eat this huge piece by myself. We’ve got to share it, save yours for breakfast.”

He knew she’d say that.“You get the slice with the candy box and the big chocolate rose, Lieutenant. I insist and suggest you dig in.”

She giggled. “That little box is edible?”

“Sure is. But you might want to remove the contents before taking a bite.” His stomach started doing jumping jacks and cartwheels.

Liz pulled the dainty box from the cake and licked the icing off the bottom. She grinned. “That is amazing buttercream.”

Heaven help him.He couldn’t wait to haul her into his arms and eat her alive, starting with the little dollop of chocolate in the corner of her mouth.

“Oh look, it has a removable lid.” She held it up.

“There’s a present in the box, babe.”Shut up, shut up. Let her discover it.He bounced his knee impatiently.

As Liz looked inside, Nick slid to one knee.

Tears flowed down her face as she pulled out the gorgeous emerald and diamond ring.

He cleared his throat and took one of her hands in his. “Liz, I have loved you since the third day of junior year statistics class. You’re everything that’s good in my life, the ember in my fire, my continuous heartthrob, my best friend, and the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. I have never wanted anyone but you. Will you please do me the honor of—”

She slipped to her good knee in front of him, tears trickling down her cheeks. “Oh, Nick. You’re the man I’ve admired most, the one I’ve dreamt of holding me at night, and my giant among men.” Her hands traced his face with tender strokes. “Yes. Yes. I should’ve said yes the first time.”

He nodded as his eyes misted. “You’ll do me the honor of being my wife?”

She nodded excitedly, a huge smile lighting her face from within. “Without hesitation.”

He pulled her into his arms, kissing every inch of her face over and over again. “Looking back, saying no in Paris was the best thing you could’ve done. We have Ella because of it. It all worked out the way it was meant to. I love you, Elizabeth Nelson.”

Liz swiped the tears from her cheeks. “I love you, too. So much.”

Nick slipped the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly and would endure the decades.

Just like them.