Chapter Twenty-Nine
Alice
“You’re going to cut your fingers.” Tim, my Blue Moon chef and all around savior, hovers around me as I’m dicing chili peppers for a marinade. Tim has been feeding me delicious things all day. Delicious and healthy things, which makes him a superhero in my book. It’s like he could see the heartbreak written all over me since I stepped into Blue Moon today. “No one wants marinade with a side of fingers.”
“Ew, I didn’t need the visual.”
“Neither do the customers, so let someone else do the dicing.”
I contemplate arguing, but the truth is my mind has been wandering every ten seconds. Nate has taken over my thoughts. I called him on Saturday, but it went straight to voice mail, and I haven’t tried calling him since. I figured he’d contact me when he sees it. No sign from him yet, so he still hasn’t turned on his phone, or—I refuse to consider another option. Yeah, I’m stubborn.
I’m giving him two more hours. If I don’t hear from him, I’m taking matters into my own hands and will seek him out.
“Alice, there’s someone asking for you,” one of the servers says, poking his head inside the kitchen. My heart leaps in my throat. It could be anyone from a delivery person to a patron, but I can’t keep myself from hoping.
“I’ll be right out.”
First I wash my hands; there’s no worse way to doom a conversation—professional or romantic—than by accidentally rubbing your eyes after cutting chili peppers.
My palms become clammy as I walk into the dining area. Drawing in a deep breath, I berate myself for being downright ridiculous. But when I spot Nate pacing in front of the entrance, my breath catches. Tall and steady, his delicious gaze rakes over me immediately. I close the distance to him with quick steps, smiling at the customers on the way. When I come to a halt in front of him, my pulse is frantic.
“Hi.”
“Hi back. Sorry, I turned off my phone over the weekend, so I only saw your call today. Thought about calling back, then decided to do this in person.”
“You came here. It’s all that matters. Let’s go outside.” Some of the customers are watching us curiously, and I want this talk to be private. Outside on the deck, the air is more biting than crisp, and I shudder involuntarily.
“Here.” Nate shrugs out of his jacket, draping it around my shoulders.
“No, I’m okay. You—”
“Don’t start fighting me, Alice.”
“Fine.” Drawing in a deep breath, I add, “I’m sorry I left on Friday.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t stop you.”
I open my mouth but Nate brings his hand to my face, placing his thumb against my lips. “I’ll speak first.”
“Always so bossy,” I mutter around his thumb, then press my lips together because I’m dying to hear him out.
“I’ll talk to Horowitz and turn down the job in London. I don’t want to be away from you, Alice. What you and I have is special, and I won’t let this go. I’ll figure everything out, I promise.”
My heart drums frantically in my chest, the pounding echoing in my ears. “So, can I talk now, or are you going to boss me around some more?”
He tilts his head to one side, as if this decision requires all his concentration power. “I’m tempted to boss you around some more, just because I love seeing your reaction. But what you were going to say?”
Clearing my throat, I suddenly feel anxious again. The skin at the back of my head prickles, and my mouth has dried up.
“I don’t want you to give up on your dream. I can manage my restaurants even from London. I’d have to fly in a week every two months or so, maybe more in the beginning because I’ll miss my family like crazy, but—”
Nate jerks his head back, clearly not having expected this. “Are you serious?”
I nod eagerly. “I made a plan, simulating how my workdays could look. There are some details to streamline, but it looks possible.”
The corners of his mouth twitch, his eyes glinting. “You made a plan?”
“Yeah.”
“When?”
“Over the weekend.”
He stares at me thoughtfully for a few seconds before shaking his head. “You are incredible. I’ve barely processed what happened on Friday over the weekend. Clara was right. Women think at a different speed than men.”
“Clara is a smart girl. In the interest of honesty, Pippa came by my house on Saturday and encouraged me to do it. Once I had it all in front of me, I realized I could make it work. I’ll make it work, because I want you to live your dream, and I want to be next to you when that happens.”
Bringing his other hand up, he splays his fingers on my jaw and my cheek, squeezing lightly. “Do you mean this?”
“Every word.”
We’re standing near the edge of the deck. The water in front of us is glinting beautifully, reflecting the weak sunrays.
Dropping my voice, I whisper, “I’m going to tell you a secret.”
He flashes me a cocky smirk. “You can’t imagine your life without me?”
“With the risk of my admission going to your head, yes. But also, I even considered up and leaving, with no plan, just to be with you.”
“I’d take care of you, always. I love you, Alice.”
“Can you say that again?”
“I love you. For years, I wasn’t feeling at home anywhere. Now I feel at home whenever you’re with me. You’re my home, Alice.”
He lowers his hand from my face to my waist, pulling me to him. Goose bumps form on my arms instantly. Sighing, I cocoon against him, inhaling his delicious scent. I don’t think I’ll ever get my fill of him. Then he wraps both arms around my waist, bringing me closer still. Dipping his head, he buries his nose in my hair, right below my ear. And then he takes in a breath so deep it makes my knees weak. It’s like he hasn’t taken a deep breath in days. When his lips touch my neck lightly, I warm all over.
“My family is going to go berserk when I tell them I’m moving to London,” I whisper. “After they calm down, they’ll be happy for us.”
“Hmm, I know something that might soften the news.”
“Do tell.”
“I’ll ask them for your hand.”
I gasp in surprise, pulling back so I can look straight at him.
“What?”
“Marry me, Alice.”
My mind doesn’t process his words right away, but when it does, my entire body reacts. Butterflies roam in my belly and a bolt of energy zips down my spine, extending to my limbs until my toes curl and the tips of my fingers prickle with excitement.
“Is there a question mark anywhere?” I tease.
“Nah, not my style.” Pushing a rebel strand of hair behind my ear, he lingers with his fingers at my earlobe. “I want you to be my fiancée when we move to London.”
“When’s the job starting?”
“Theoretically right away, but I can negotiate to start next week.”
My jaw drops. “That’s gonna require a lot of planning.”
“Luckily you’re a planning genius.”
Tilting his head forward, he brings his mouth to mine, swiping his tongue once over my lips before sealing his lips over my mouth. The kiss is explosive and all-consuming, taking my breath away. Fisting the lower hem of his shirt with both hands, I pull him to me, flattening myself against his chest. I become greedier by the second, wishing I could feel his skin against mine, wishing we could disappear under blankets and only resurface in a few days, or weeks.
“So that’s a yes?” he whispers when we pull apart. The door of the restaurant swings open and a couple steps out. They nod at us politely before stepping onto the narrow path leading to the outer gate.
Once they’re out of earshot, I eye Nate.
“No question, no answer.” I shrug one shoulder playfully before crossing my arms over my chest. “Everyone will think we’re hurrying because you knocked me up.”
He kisses my forehead and then my temple, feathering his lips down my cheek all the way to the tip of my nose. I barely restrain myself from smothering him with kisses. If I kiss him again, I won’t be able to stop.
“No problem. We can start with that project right after I put a ring on your finger.”
Pushing myself away from his grasp, I shake my head, hoping to clear it. I firmly believe this man can get me to agree to anything if he focuses his smoldering gaze on me long enough.
“By the way, about the engagement ring—”
“I’ll buy it from Bennett Enterprises. Didn’t even occur to me to go to the competition.”
“Would be a pretty serious incentive to say no when you pop the question.”
He sighs. “You won’t let me off the hook, will you?”
“Of course not. You have to drop on one knee, open the lid, pop the question.”
“You just moved from closet romantic to full-on romantic.”
I flash a grin. “I know. I’m not even sorry.”
“Any other requests?”
“I want an epic bachelorette party. But the girls will see to that.”