She rolled her eyes and turned to face me. “What are you wearing? That usually gives me a good idea of what I’m wearing.”
“A tie and sports coat.” I touched the side of her face and smiled. “Damn, you’re beautiful. Have I told you today?”
“Only ten times.” She lifted on her toes as Peyton made a sound of appreciation, and Logan gagged. It was quite fitting from the both of them. “All right. Let’s go get dressed, Peyton. Something tells me that we’re expected to be dressed to the nines, even if these boys won’t say it.”
Logan walked toward the fridge and got out a beer, offering me one as well.
“I’m good, thanks.” I sat down and let out a contented sigh. “I sure as fuck hope this works tonight. I think Molly has been waiting for a ring for three months.”
“No. Really?” He popped the top on his beer and sat down across from me. “I’m a little upset with you right now.”
“Why?” I lifted an eyebrow and gave him my full attention. He was rarely upset about anything. Had he finally judged me over Molly living at the house with me even though we weren’t married? Surely not.
“You waited three months to introduce me to Peyton? Why? We live in the same damn city. We could have already been engaged by now.” He winked and lifted his beer to his lips. “She’s a pretty girl for sure. If she’s half the woman you and Molly make her out to be, then I might be smitten before the night’s over.”
“She’s everything we’ve said, and then some. Good luck holding your own against her.” I leaned back and took in the moment. Within the next few hours, my whole life would change.
“Nervous?” Logan asked with a cocky grin on his face.
“Fuck yes.”
“Even more than you were when you took over the company as CEO?”
“Ten times as much.” I tapped the table and tried to still my racing heart. I wasn’t necessarily concerned that Molly would say, ‘no.’ We’d talked about getting married a million times over the last three months. I just wanted everything to be as perfect as it could be.
“Good. Then you’re right where you should be.” He lifted his beer as if I had something to hit against it. Instead, I reached out and grabbed the bottle, emptying it and getting up for another. I needed something to help calm my nerves, and Logan’s laughing wasn’t helping the matter.
*
“You like it, love?” I pulled Molly close to me as the violin’s played just beside us. Dinner had been steak and lobster, everything tasting divine. She’d scribbled down a few notes during the meal in hopes of recreating it for us back home, which was so her, and so endearing. I loved everything about her.
“I love it, Alfie.” She glanced over my shoulder as I moved her along the dance floor on the rooftop. “I think they’re getting along so well. You’re brilliant for setting all of this up. Does Logan know it was for them?”
“All of this?” I snorted and lifted my hand, motioning toward the candles, flowers, music and romantic ambiance.
“Yes.” She squealed with delight and pulled me closer. “You’re so romantic. You set this all up for them, didn’t you?”
“I spent months setting it up, yes, but it wasn’t for them.” I smiled and leaned down to brush my nose along hers as I stilled our movement. “I did this for one person…you.”
“Me?” she asked breathlessly, her eyes wide, her long hair blowing in the wind around us. She looked like a goddess in her white dress and dainty heels. I’d undressed her and made love to her a million times over the course of the night. She had me captivated, and something told me that those feelings wouldn’t soon stop.
“Of course this is for you.” I moved back and glanced over toward Logan and Peyton. “Hey. It’s time.”
“Time for what?” Molly looked around with confusion on her face.
Logan walked over and slipped me the black box as Peyton stepped up to the other side. Molly continued to pepper us with questions, but we did a good job of ignoring her. I reached out and took her left hand before moving down to one knee.
She gasped and pressed her free hand to her mouth as tears filled her pretty eyes. “Alfie. Really?”
“Yes, baby. Really.” I released her hand and opened the box, lifting it up between all of us toward my girl. “Marry me, Mol. I’ve dreamt of a love like this since I was a little boy and had always hoped that I would find you, and here you are. You’re my best friend, my fishing partner, my lover, and my girl. Wear my ring and steal my last name, hm? Won’t you?”
She nodded, not hesitating at all. “Of course I will.”
I stood and slipped the ring on her finger before I pulled her to me and kissed her with all the pent-up passion I had inside of me. Peyton and Logan whooped and hollered before clapping for us.
“Well done. I was a little worried there that she might say no, but—” Logan was cut off by a look from Molly that would make a grown man bite his tongue. “Kidding!”
“Alfie, that was beautiful.” Peyton reached over and gave me a quick hug. “I wasn’t sure what to think about Englishmen after all that shit Mol went through with Harry, but you’re changing my mind one day at a time.”