Brandon seemed so happy while he drove. Eva uncrossed her arms and tried to let all the people who had interrupted their morning dissipate from her thoughts. The thought of Chris coming at her and stealing her baby sent shivers down her spine. She wiggled in her seat for more comfort and stared at Brandon's handsome profile.
His brown hair and straight nose made her wish he was her own fairy tale prince. She'd be happy with him. A second later, she blinked and saw the entrance sign to where he was pulling in his car. She leaned closer to him. "Brandon, are we at Butterfly World?"
"Yes, come," he said, parking his car at the front. They were the only car in the lot, and the place felt closed.
She pinched a piece of her blue dress and showed him while she stood. "I'm all dressed up."
He took both of her hands and led her inside. "Yes, I rented this for you."
"You what?" she asked, following his direction. The door was open for them and he led her through where they normally took admission tickets.
At the door to the atrium where the butterflies lived, he led her inside. "Come."
"What is this?" she asked as they passed the netting. Once inside, she saw the Christmas lights that lined the handrails, and how the butterflies flew everywhere. "Oh wow. This is beautiful." Her ears perked up to classical music as they walked forward. "What is that music?"
He pointed ahead of them. "Right outside the gate, I placed a string quartet."
A band? This was serious. She twirled and stared at the flowers, trees and butterflies of every color. "Everywhere is beautiful."
Near a gazebo, he stopped and found a box in his back pocket. "Last time I asked you, I didn't do it right."
Her heart beat so fast while he went down on one knee. "Ask me what?"
He reached for her hand and she stared down into his gaze. "Eva, in high school, even though you never noticed me, I thought you were the prettiest girl I ever saw."
Perhaps this wasn't a proposal. She ran her hands in his thick hair. "I was clearly stupid then."
"Wait," His words held her still, and he took her hand again.
Maybe it was. She stilled and swallowed. "Okay."
For a second, she couldn’t breathe. He said, "Since meeting you again, I've realized through all of this that my sister was always right."
Okay, now she was confused. She blinked. "What?"
Butterflies flew between them and she shifted away to give them room. Once they were gone, he took her hand again. "I'm messing up. I'm slightly nervous."
"A butterfly’s landed in your hair," she said and reached for it. It moved on its own and flew to a nearby tree as if staring down at both of them.
This time, He opened the ring box and displayed the biggest diamond she’d ever seen. All her other friends wanted simplicity, but the ring Brandon showed her was made to display. "Eva, the other day you asked if I wanted to marry you because I loved you, or because I was trying to protect you. I’ve thought about nothing else since, and I figured that on Christmas there was nothing I wanted more than to ask you right."
"What?" The band played the instrumental from Spend My Life With You. Brandon sure knew how to set a scene.
He took the ring out and handed it to her. "I love you. Will you marry me?"
She tugged him to get up. He stood, and she hugged him. "You love me? For real, you love me?"
His nod was all she needed because she kissed his cheek.
He took her offered kiss and his lips tasted like heaven itself. A moment later, he brushed his thumb against her cheek. "Eva Bishop, yes I do. So, what do you say?"
Tears formed in her eyes. "Brandon, I love you too."
He stilled and she could feel his heartbeat was fast under her hand. "Will you marry me and be my wife for the rest of our lives?"
She threw her hands around his waist, leaned her head on his shoulder and hugged him. If there was anyone in the world she wanted to be with, it was Brandon. The tears in her eyes washed down her face while she said, "Yes, Brandon."
He hugged her and kissed the top of her head. "You will?"
"Yes," she repeated, and smiled.
"Thank God," he said, and leaned down.
Her eyes flickered closed, and he kissed her again. This time, even the butterflies disappeared, and all that existed was their kiss.
He let her go and jumped in the air, smacking his feet together. Her head jerked back. "What are you doing?"
With the sway of his hips, he held out his hand for her to join him. "Dancing. Join me?"
"Jumping cannot be good for my girl," she said while he led her into a classic waltz. Over his shoulders, she saw a small water fountain where butterflies gathered. "How did you ever think about this place as a setting to propose?"
He pinched her backside playfully. "I'm a movie producer. You'll be okay living half of our lives in LA?"
With Brandon, anything was possible. She was in love. "Maybe I'll land a few more movie deals post-pregnancy."
He nodded his head. "Eva, you stole my heart already, you draw all my attention. It won't shock me at all if you're the breakout star soon."
She settled into the dance. "Brandon, I don't know how I lived without you."
"Now you won't have to."
His words rang like a promise in her ears. If he was right, perhaps it was possible to get to her happily-ever-after and to trust at least him. Until Brandon, she had always thought that dream the stuff of fairy tale. But now? Anything might happen.