Falling in Love Again: A Valentine's Day Proposal

“She’s going to love it!” Mom swishes into the room and smile. “You know, I wasn’t convinced that setting up a romantic dinner at the conference table in the office was a good idea, but now I can see that it definitely was. I can see your vision at last. And since this is where you met, it’s kinda perfect.”

“The center pieces, flowers, and incredible decorations help. Thank you for that, Mom and the rest of you.” I smile at them all in turn, giving them a grateful look. “But now it’s time for you to go.”

“I don’t think I should go yet…” Mom tries, but I shoot her down.

“No, Mom, I don’t want any audience when this happens. I want Raelyn to say yes because she actually wants to marry me, not because she feels pressured by all of your eager eyes.”

Mom raises an eyebrow at me. “You don’t think that she’s going to say no, do you? She loves you. She absolutely adores you with everything that she has. She will definitely say yes… and then it’s on to wedding planning. Which I am very excited about, I already have some great ideas, just so you know.”

“I don’t think that Raelyn is the sort of woman who wants a big fuss. She’s not like that, is she?” I don’t say ‘she’s not Anna’ but the implication is there. “And I already had that, didn’t I? And it didn’t lead to a good marriage. So, I don’t think we need your input into the wedding.”

“If you think about it, and remember accurately, I think you’ll remember that I didn’t want anything to do with your last wedding. I didn’t have any input at all. And that’s because I knew it wasn’t going to end well.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me?” I demand. “That information would have been well received.”

“I tried to tell you and you didn’t want to hear it. You must see that you don’t listen. You learn by making your own mistakes. I tried to tell you about Raelyn as well, but you didn’t want to hear it from me.”

I roll my eyes. “Okay, thanks for that, Mom, that’s really useful, but it would be great if you left now. I really need to get my head in the right place and I can’t do it with you all here. No offense.”

I don’t need to hear how Mom knows what’s best for me, like I’m some sort of idiot. I get it, I made a few mistakes along the way, but it’s all okay now. I’m finally happy and about to propose to the love of my life.

I pull out the ring as they leave to check it one last time. It’s an understated princess cut diamond on a white gold band, just what I know she would like. With Raelyn, it isn’t about getting the fanciest thing, picking out the jewelry that will get the most attention and that can be bragged about, it’s about something that she will love.

I smile, pleased with myself. I think I have done really well. This is different, it’s really us.

“Who would have thought it?” I ask myself quietly. “Falling in love again, after I swore that I never would. Being romantic again, falling in love once more… let’s just hope I’m doing it right this time around.”

Everything is in place, I know that much, but I check around the room anyway, just to be certain. The pale pink roses glisten in the candle light, the food looks as delicious as it smells, even I’m at my most dapper.

“Abbi, what are we doing here?” I hear Raelyn’s voice echoing through the building. “I’m all dressed up, I don’t want to be at work right now. I want to be out doing… whatever the hell we’re doing.”

“Will you just trust me already? God, you’re such hard work, Raelyn. You don’t trust me.”

“Well, I just don’t get it. This seems really weird to me.”

I can’t help but laugh. I can just picture her face now, all pissed off and cute. She’s so adorable when she’s annoyed, and I knew this would wind her up. I just hope that she’s happy when she sees everything.

“Oh my God.” I spin quickly when I hear her voice closer now. “Oh, Carter.”

As her hands clap to her painted red lips, I drink in her whole outfit, and she looks incredible. Her midnight blue dress clings to her curvy hips, there’s a sweet little dip which shows off her cleavage, her hair waves around her face, she looks stunning. If there are heels on underneath her dress, then I want her with only them on tonight. Maybe some sexy lingerie as well, because that would be hot as hell.

She’s gorgeous, she makes my heart run like crazy. I cannot wait to get my hands on her.

“I’m off,” Abbi calls out behind Raelyn. “I need to leave you two to it.”

She runs away quickly. She didn’t really need to go, but she does. I don’t think she would put pressure on Raelyn to say yes, but I suppose it’s better that we’re alone right now. I really do want this moment to be about just the pair of us. Me and the woman who I hope is going to be my wife.

“Carter, what is all of this?” Raelyn gasps. “This is… well, it’s just too much.”

“Do you remember when we first met here?” I smile widely. “When you were signing the paper work.”

“Oh, when you made a rude comment about me being a woman? Yes, I remember.”

“Sorry about that… I didn’t know then how it would turn out, did I?”

“No, you didn’t.” She smirks. “You just assumed that I would suck because of my gender.”

“No, it was more that I didn’t like being around women. I couldn’t trust them. After everything.”