I waited for what he would produce. For a moment, I wondered if he would produce a ring, and felt my heart nearly give out. I held my breath and watched as he instead, produced an envelope.
Surprised, but just a bit disappointed despite not wanting to admit it, I tore the envelope open to see what was inside.
It took me a while to read enough to understand, and at the realization of what it was, I gaped at him. “You bought a winery? In South Africa?”
“Yeah,” he replied. “I’m gonna go off grid for a little while, do exactly what I always wanted, just like we talked about.”
I let out a huge breath, my eyes misting all over again. I felt so happy, more than I could express in words. “That means you’re going to leave the business?”
“Yup, as soon as I put things in order. After our wedding, we’ll be on our way.”
My gaze had returned to the letter but it flew upwards at what he had just said. “Uh, what?”
He dropped down to a knee right there in the middle of the sidewalk.
My hands slapped over my mouth. I thought I would faint from sheer excitement. “Levan,” I breathed his name out.
He gazed up into my eyes.
The crowd that had gathered around us faded away … in that moment, it was just me and the man I loved. He was making all of my dreams come true.
“Will you marry me, Bianca Russet?”
I was able to breathe then. I looked into his eyes and was about to respond when the cat calls urging me to accept poured in from the strangers gathering around us.
Levan laughed. “Listen to them. They know what they’re talking about.”
I immediately pulled him to his feet to kiss him hard and deep. “Yes,” I breathed into his mouth. “Yes, Levan, I’ll marry you. And yes, I’ll follow you wherever you want.” I glanced down at the ring then. My eyes widened even more open at the big ass, stunning baguette diamond with a halo of blue stones, presumably blue diamonds, all around it.
“Is there a problem?” he asked, the worry in his voice vibrating.
I met his gaze, not sure how to express what I was feeling. “Couldn’t this buy my bakery?”
His eyes narrowed and he looked like I had rained on his parade. “It’s nothing really. If you don’t like it, we can get something else.”
I threw my arms around him. “I love it you crazy, crazy man. What’s not to love? I just wanted to know how much?”
“Ahh,” he replied with amused understanding.
“More than fifty thousand?” I asked.
He looked offended.
“A hundred thousand?”
He tightened his lips to hide his smile.
My eyes widened. “Two hundred thousand?”
He put his hand out and made a small upward movement.
“Levan!” I scolded. “Three hundred?”
He made another upward movement.
The crowd behind us was going crazy.
“Nooooo,” I said. “Four hundred?”
He shook his head.
“Five hundred,” I stated incredulously.
“Don’t go on, Bianca.” He shook his head again. “It doesn’t matter what it costs. The only thing you need to know is I fucking need you,” he stated almost breathlessly. “Last night, I woke up in a cold sweat because I dreamed I lost you.”
“You did?”
“I did and it took me hours of just lying next to you, watching you sleep before I could console myself.”
“Oh, Levan,” I whispered.
“The car is here,” he announced excitedly and grabbed my hand.
“Levan!” I called as he pulled me along with him.
We got into the waiting SUV, and before I could say anymore, his mouth covered mine. When he lifted his head he said, “Have I got a birthday surprise for you!”
And I said, “I’m pregnant.”
All the amusement fled from his face. “What?”
“My surprise is better than yours, isn’t it?” I teased.
“Did you say you’re pregnant?”
“Mm-hmm …”
He grabbed me and held me close to him. “A little baby of our own?”
“Mm-hmm …”
“Oh, Bianca. Bianca. Bianca. How I love you.”
THE END