Chapter Seven
Reese stared down at the ring in his hand. Yes, he’d gone and done it. He’d bought a ring for a woman that he didn’t even know if she liked him. This was how crazy he was about Julia.
Life with her had become something he enjoyed and relished. The thought of being without her, well, there was no thought to it at all.
“Everything is set up,” James said, coming to stand beside him. His boss looked over his shoulder and nodded. “It’s a pretty ring.”
“Do you think she’ll like it?” He’d never been so nervous before in his life.
“If she loves you then she’ll like it.”
“I don’t even know if she loves me.”
“You really need to stop panicking. This is now on you, and I’ve seen the way you two are together. You’ve got this, Reese. Stop panicking.”
James slapped him on the back, and he gripped the counter, trying to deal with his fear. If she said yes to marrying him then he’d be the happiest man alive. If she said no, then he’d need to sell his home, find somewhere else to live, and of course get a new job.
The stakes for the first time in his life were high.
“You can do this.”
“If she says no, I’ll say yes,” Lori said, giving him a wink. “She’s a lucky woman.”
“Thanks.”
“Here, it’s on the house,” she said. She placed a shot glass of tequila down in front of him, and he finished it off in one swig.
He’d brought his friends here to witness his proposal. Their work colleagues were here, and even Ericka was coming. She’d offered to bring Julia here, and he was more than happy about that.
The time ticked by, and he served customers. James had made his customers aware that one of his staff intended to propose, and asked that when she entered, they’d be quiet.
“You look sick,” Peter said.
“Shut up.”
“She’s going to say yes.”
“And if she doesn’t?” Reese asked.
“Stop being a pussy.” Peter slapped his arm. “You’ve got this.”
He smiled at his friend’s encouragement.
“You really love her, don’t you?” Peter asked.
“More than anything.”
“Then if she loves you like I can see in your eyes, and by how nervous you are, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”
Reese waited for Julia to enter. When he caught sight of Ericka, his entire world focused on this one moment. He’d told James that he’d give a signal for when he wanted silence.
Ericka gave him a thumbs-up, and he smiled at her.
She was so happy for him, and he could see it. Julia came straight toward the bar.
“Hey,” she said. “Ericka agreed to bring me to work, and she wanted a drink.”
“Good. Good. You don’t start for a few minutes.”
“No, I don’t. I’ll go and get set up.”
“Wait,” he said.
Leaving the bar, he took her hands. “Let’s have a dance.”
“Okay.”
Leading her onto the dance floor, he realized he’d never taken her dancing. “Do you like to dance?” he asked.
“Yes. Sometimes. Mostly when I’m alone and only Bell’s there to see how crazy I look.” She rested her arms around his neck.
He held her hips and smiled into her green eyes.
“I read your story.”
“You did?” He saw her panic.
“You’re talented. It does need a good editor, I grant you, but it’s a good story.”
“Oh, wow. You really think so?”
“I really think so.”
“I’m … shocked.”
He stared at her and knew this had to be the best moment. When he nodded to James, the music suddenly switched off. The entire club was completely silent.
“What’s going on?”
Reese kept a hold on her hand, and bent down on one knee, offering her a smile so she didn’t entirely freak out.
“You’re down on one knee.”
“I’m down on one knee.”
“Oh, this is … I don’t know what this is.” She glanced around the room, and clearly saw all of his friends.
She bit her lip and looked terrified.
“Julia Kendall, I’ve never been so wrong about a woman in my life. When we first met, I thought the worst of you, and now I’ve come to see that I made a mistake. You’re a wonderful, beautiful, amazing woman, and over the past few months, I’ve fallen in love with you.” He heard her gasp and hoped that someone had taken pity on him. “I promised myself that I’d never fall for a woman, that I’d never get married, but being with you, living with you, I know there’s nothing else that I want in this world than to grow old with you. I want to wake up every single morning with you in my arms, and fall asleep. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, because I love you. I hope that you can get past my assholiness in the beginning, and see that I love you more than anything else in this world. Julia, will you please marry me?”
Silence fell at his words, and she simply stared at him. Her mouth opened and closed, and there were tears in her eyes.
“Hopefully give me an answer so I can either run home and cry or kiss you right now.”
“Then kiss me because I love you more than anything else in the world.”
He got to his feet, cupping her face and kissing her deeply. The club erupted in applause as he tasted her. His soon to be wife. His soul mate. His woman. His everything.
“The ring. Don’t forget the ring,” James said.
Breaking the kiss, Reese groaned. “I totally forgot to show you the ring.”
“You got me a ring?”
“Yes.” He grabbed it from his pocket and presented it to her. “Will you marry me?”
“Now it’s going to be a no,” she said with a laugh. “Of course, yes. My answer won’t ever change.”
He took the ring from the case and slid it onto her finger. He was now engaged to be married to the woman of his dreams.
“I love you,” she said.
“And I love you.” He cupped her cheek and claimed her lips, knowing he’d finally found the one.