“We’re here,” he announced, pulling her to his side. “You can open them.”
She opened her eyes and gasped, clutching at his arm. They were indeed at his parents’ home. In front of them stood the same Bell 429 helico
pter that they were supposed to ride in over six months ago. But this time, the sky above was clear and not a cloud in sight. The sun had just set over the horizon and soon the city around them would be alive with brilliant colored lights.
“Are we really going up?” she asked.
The helicopter’s blades began to spin in response to her question.
“Come on,” Michael said with a smile. “Aaron’s waiting. He’s excited to try for round two.”
She followed him up to the helipad, where they both greeted the pilot. Michael helped her up into the plush white leather interior and got her settled into the seat next to him. They both put on headsets and held hands as the helicopter lurched into the sky, making his stomach drop into his feet for the slightest moment.
“Oh Michael, it’s so beautiful.” Emily leaned over the window, still clutching his hand. Below, San Jose was a valley of lights. “I can’t believe we’re up this high. I was just starting to get used to the height of Linex Investments. This takes my breath away.”
Michael smiled warmly, his attention fully fixed on the stunning woman beside him in a sunflower yellow sundress. She took his breath away. There was no doubt about that.
“I can see our office,” she squealed, pointing out the window. “And I think that’s where my apartment building is. Oh, and there’s your penthouse.”
He nodded, squeezing her hand. His palm felt clammy. He hoped she didn’t notice. Tonight had to be perfect.
They began to lower. Emily stared at the window, her eyes taking in the sight of the tiny cars passing beneath them. She didn’t seem to notice that Aaron was moving them toward a target, until the helicopter touched down. Michael kissed the top of her hand when she turned to him, confusion in her eyes.
“Why did we stop?” she asked.
“Because, there’s more in store,” he replied, his eyes twinkling. “Trust me.”
Her lips twitched in surprise, but she took his hand and let him help her out the door. It didn’t take long for recognition to light up her face. The familiar scene of the rooftop garden of Linex Investments waited for them, except it had been recently strung with hundreds of warm lights. As the helicopter powered down, the soft tinkling of music drifted toward them. Michael led her toward the table where they often met during busy work days to reconnect. A white sheet had been laid over the top and a single vase with a rose adorned it.
“Michael, what is this?” Emily gazed at the romantic scene, her eyes growing wide.
“This is where I first told you that I loved you,” Michael said with a smile. “And you said it back. I thought it would be the perfect place.”
She turned toward him, her cheeks pink. “The perfect place for what?”
“For lovers, of course,” called a deep voice with an Italian accent.
Lorenzo appeared from behind the stairway access, holding a tray in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other. He placed two glasses on the table, along with two slices of his famous tiramisu. With a flourish, he pulled the cork out of the wine bottle and poured it for them.
“Sit, sit,” he insisted with a wave of his hand. “I did not climb all those stairs for you both to stare at me.”
Emily rushed to take a seat and Michael followed. He thanked Lorenzo with a small nod of his head and got a sly wink in response from the old man. Lorenzo quickly disappeared the way he’d come, leaving them to gaze out at the glorious city bathed in lights.
“I can’t believe you did all this for me,” Emily said, chewing on her bottom lip. She looked up at him through her lashes. “This is the most wonderful date I’ve ever been on. And lately I’ve been on some amazing ones.”
“I’d do it all a thousand times over,” he said, reaching across the table to cover her hand with his. “Emily, you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I never expected to be so happy. And I certainly never expected to find love. You’ll always have my heart.”
Her cheeks blushed as she smiled into his eyes. Michael could never remember her looking so beautiful. He was so caught up in the moment, he almost forgot what he was supposed to do next.
“Where is it?” he mumbled, dropping her hand to pat his suit coat. His hands worked their way down to the pocket of his pants where he found the small box he’d been looking for. “Oh, yes.”
He dropped to his knee in front of her as she inhaled sharply and pressed her hands to her mouth. Opening the light blue box, he held it up for her to see in the soft glow of the lanterns.
“Emily Sevenson, would you make me the happiest man in the world and be my wife?”
For a long moment, she stared at the ring. Michael was almost starting to think that maybe he’d picked the wrong design. It hadn’t been the biggest ring in the store, but it certainly sparkled and it would probably add a lot of weight to her hand. The thing had called to him the moment he saw it, Emily’s name practically stamped on the band.
But that doubt vanished as soon as her warm gaze swept up to meet his. She had tears in the corners of her eyes and an elated smile on her gorgeous pink lips.