Jed walked the Sage Creek Herald’s reporter to the door and shook his hand. “Thank you for coming.”
Keith Gray secured the lens cap on his camera. “It was a great show. Look for the story in tomorrow’s paper. Who knows, might even make the front cover.”
“That’d be awesome.” He held the door open for him, tipped his hat and then slipped back inside to where Paige waited.
His beautiful princess was watching him with those adoring eyes that always melted his insides.
He crossed the lobby to meet her and took her hands in his. “What do you say we celebrate a night well-done?”
She angled her head. “What do you have in mind?”
“Come on.” He guided her back into the theater, now dim, and to a central table that had been cleared and cleaned. He pulled out a chair for her. “I’ll be right back.”
He dashed into the kitchen and to the dessert he’d asked his chef to prepare—a signature dish that merged all her favorite flavors—a mousse tower with chocolate wafers, mint garnish, drizzled in salted caramel.
And hidden within the decadent cream—his grandmother’s engagement ring.
He tucked a small book of matches in his pocket, grabbed a long-stemmed candle in a silver holder with one hand, the dessert and two spoons to share it in the other, and headed back to his love.
She offered the most radiant smile. “What’s this?”
“Something sweet for you.” He set it in front of her, placed the candle in the center of the table and lit it. “But first...” He pulled out his phone and clicked on his radio app. “May I have this dance?”
She gave a soft laugh. “I’d be honored.” She stood, and placing her hand in his, allowed him to lead her to an open area between tables. As they danced, she rested her head against his chest, and her vanilla-cinnamon perfume tickled his nose.
She peered up at him with those big blue eyes. “We’ve come a long way.”
“Oh, Paige, we’re just getting started.” As one song transitioned to another, he led her back to their table and their dessert.
She took a bite and closed her eyes. “This is amazing.” She looked at him again. “You’re something else—you know that, Jed Gilbertson?”
“I’ll be whatever you want me to be. Whatever I can do to see your face light up, to see that beautiful smile of yours.” He glanced at the plate, still filled with three quarters of a mousse. Why had he placed the ring in the dessert? It was taking too long to get to it.
Time to speed things along.
He sliced through the whipped cream with his spoon, pulled out the ring, wiped it clean as best as he could with a napkin and then dropped to one knee beside her. “The execution might leave a little to be desired.” He gave a sheepish smile. “But...”
She gasped. “Is that...?”
“Grandma’s ring?” He nodded. “She’s been holding on to it. For you.” Seemed she knew Paige was the one for him long before either of them did. “I’m not sure exactly when I fell in love with you. One day you were the curly-haired girl who lived next to my grandma and loved to make mud pies and catch frogs. The next you were the girl who occupied my dreams.”
He tucked a curl behind her ear and then brushed her cheek with his knuckles. “My heart broke the day you left, and I thought I’d lost you. But then you came back. To me. And my world felt right again.”
“Oh, Jed.” A tear slid down her cheek, and he thumbed it away.
“I can’t live without you, Paige. I love you more than life itself, and I plan to spend the rest of my days proving just how much, if you’ll let me. Will you marry me, Paige?”
He held his breath as her eyes searched his. But then she squealed, “Yes. A thousand times yes.”