“Sorry,” I said, when I pulled away.
She shrugged. “I don’t mind it.” She looked at me very seriously. “Do the right thing, Bailey.”
Before I could figure out what she meant, she flounced out of my room. I followed her to the playroom where Harrison sat on his giant beanbag, still wearing his tux and reading a comic book. I set up a video game for Ava and then awkwardly hung around in the doorway, not sure what to do next.
“Go on,” Harrison said. “Get out there and have a good time.”
They both erupted into giggles as I left and I headed toward the dining room. Will met me in the hall coming out of his bedroom, and he looked so handsome in his dark suit that it took my breath away. I had to press on my chest to keep my heart from cracking through my ribs.
His jaw dropped as he gave me a slow once over, making my skin tingle. I was suddenly a lot more hungry for Will than I was for dinner.
“You look amazing,” he said, his eyes still fastened to me.
I knew I could get used to that look, and more frightening thoughts tried to crowd in. What if I got used to it and then it got ripped away? I shoved my fears away, only wanting to spend a nice evening with him.
“So do you,” I told him. “Is this our first date?” I asked in a hushed voice.
“First of many,” he said.
He held out his arm in an old-fashioned gesture, and I linked mine through the crook of his elbow. Inside the dining room, all the candles were lit, giving the room a magical, flickering glow. He pulled out my chair for me, and I surreptitiously pinched myself when I sat down. How was I awake? I was being treated like a real life princess by my very own knight in shining armor. Or at least a fantastically tailored suit.
The cook served our meal, and it was all the favorite foods I had listed earlier. I shook my head at Will. “How did you do all this?”
He shrugged. “The kids helped.”
I wanted to ask about the kids, how they felt about us, what he’d told them, but I still felt like it wasn’t my place to bring them up. I told him all about my spa experience, and he told me I could go back whenever I wanted, and they’d fit me right in.
“I don’t need all this,” I said. “The spa days, or the dress, or this perfect dinner.”
“I know,” he said. “But I want to give it to you.” He reached across the table for my hand. “This might be strange, figuring out how we’re going to go forward, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make you happy.”
“I am happy,” I assured him, shocked he might not think so. “You have no idea. Us being together is the icing on the cake.”
“Just the icing?” he asked with a mock frown.
“Okay, it’s the whole cake.”
We laughed, but then he turned serious, letting go of my hand. “There was actually a reason I set this up,” he said. He cleared his throat. “I love you, Bailey.”
I smiled at him, remembering how he’d wanted the perfect setting to tell me. “I love you, too, but I’m still counting this morning as the first time you said it.”
He loosened his tie, acting uncharacteristically nervous, then reached for something on the chair next to him. “There’s more.”
He held up a small box, snapping it open to reveal a ring that was so blindingly beautiful I actually had to lean back. All the candles caught the facets of the big oval diamond and reflected brilliant gleams of light off the shining platinum band. This was for me? I looked up at him questioningly.
“I don’t understand,” I said. “I’m actually dumbfounded.”
He leaned across the table to pull my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles. “I know it’s soon, but I’ve never been so sure of anything. I knew I was heading in this direction, but when I went to get the kids this morning and all they could do was ask about you, I didn’t want to wait. They’re over the moon about this. You’re their miracle, Bailey. I know it’s a lot to ask you to be their mother—”
I stopped him with a gasp. “I’d love to be their mother,” I said. “If that’s what they want, I’m all in. I love them so much.”
He stood and dragged me across the table, pushing aside the flower arrangement to give me a soul-stirring kiss. “Then marry me,” he said when he broke away.
“Yes, of course I will.”
Before he could even put the ring on my finger, there was an excited cheer from outside the dining room. The door flew open and Harrison and Ava tumbled in, clamoring onto my lap. After Harrison hugged me, he ran around to hug his dad. “You did it,” he said.
“I sure did,” Will replied, ruffling his hair. For once Harrison didn’t dodge the affectionate gesture, and I realized I had joyful tears running down my cheeks at the outpouring of love.