“You’re lucky to have them.”
“I know. You are too, according to Mom. She swears I was going to mess this up without her expertise.”
I can’t help but laugh. “So, what part did she take care of?”
“The quilts are clean and fresh, the hot chocolate and dessert. I bought a chocolate cake, and she was insistent that I couldn’t serve my miracle baker girlfriend store-bought cake. She was horrified and read me the riot act. I let her take over from there.”
“She’s awesome,” I say with a smile. “So, what’s for dessert?”
“I don’t know. She wouldn’t tell me. Just that it was going to be a surprise. She and Dad dropped everything off. I texted them before I came up to your apartment to get you.”
“You put a lot of thought into this.”
“Only the best for my girl.” He winks, and those damn butterflies take flight. “Now, I’m going to need you to put this on.” He produces the blindfold from his jacket pocket. I don’t hesitate to take it from him and slide it over my eyes. That’s why I don’t see him coming until his lips press against my cheek. “It’s just a short drive.” He places his hand on my thigh, and instinctively, I place my hand over his and weave our fingers together.
I’ve not been much for surprises during the last few years, but something tells me that whatever he has planned is going to be good. Suddenly, I’m excited to experience it with him.
“We’re here,” Grant says. “Stay there. I’ll help you out.” He raises our joined hands and places a kiss to the back of mine.
I miss his touch instantly, but when I hear the door shut on the Ranger, I know that my time is almost up. All of the anticipation of the past few days and the ride here is going to be over. “I’ve got you,” he whispers huskily, reaching for my hand and helping me step out of the Ranger. “Watch your step,” he says. His hold on me is tight as he guides us to our destination. “Right here.” He steps behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Aurora,” he says sweetly. “Take off your mask, baby.”
My hands are shaking as I pull the mask from my eyes. I blink a few times and gasp at what I see. “Grant,” I whisper. “This is… incredible.” My eyes scan the vision before me.
We’re standing in front of the ice-skating rink on his parents’ land. There are lights strung up around the entire rink, and on the ice, rose petals are spread out on the ice, and they spell out Happy V Day, Aurora. Hot tears prick my eyes. This is the sweetest, most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me.
“Well, what do you think? I bought you some skates. Aspen helped me with your size.” I blink hard a few times, trying to fight the tears threatening to spill. “Aurora?” he asks.
I can’t tell him with my voice. I have no words to explain what this means to me, what he means to me. Turning in his arms, I cup his face in the palm of my hands. His blue eyes are taking me in. I can see the worry when he catches sight of my tears. These are happy tears. Standing on my tiptoes, I press my lips to his. I kiss him with everything I have in me. With all the breath in my lungs, and all of the love in my heart. I kiss him until he understands that my tears are not from pain, but from the hope he gives me. The light he brings into my life.
I can’t get close enough. Can’t kiss him deep enough. It’s as if he can read my mind. He knows what I need, what I want without me having to pull my lips from his. Kiss by Kiss, I’m telling him that he’s everything. He bends at his knees and places his hands on the back of my thighs, and I jump into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist.
When we both need air, I’m forced to pull my lips from his. He rests his forehead against mine as we both pull in much-needed oxygen into our lungs. “Good surprise?” he asks.
“The best.”
“I want you, Aurora. All of you. The pieces I know, and the ones that I have yet to discover. Will you be my girlfriend?” he asks.
“Did you really just ask me that?” I’ve never met a man like Grant. He’s not afraid to express how he feels, and he doesn’t have a single care as to who knows it.
“I did,” he replies, pulling away to look at me. “I don’t want there to be any confusion as to what’s happening between us. I don’t want any other man to get your attention, or your hugs, or your kisses. I want them all for me.”
“And what about you?”
“All I see is you, Aurora. From the moment I walked through the doors of your bakery, you’ve been the only woman I see. I want us to be official. I don’t want it to be a surprise when I introduce you as my girlfriend. I want you beside me at family dinners. Hell, I want it all,” he says, kissing my forehead.
My arms tighten around his neck as I pull him into a hug. He wants me. Me. Aurora Steele, the chubby girl, the one who is always the second choice. He’s choosing me.
“Babe, this is where you say, ‘Yes, Grant.’”
“You’re choosing me?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper.
“Rory, baby, I’ll always choose you.”
He can’t possibly know that. Things change, life changes, but for now, I choose to believe him. I choose him too, and as his lips press to mine, I feel some of the pieces of my shattered heart being put back together.
Kiss by Kiss, I start to feel whole again.
Chapter 13
Grant
“Are you going to leave me in suspense?” I ask her. The smile on her face and the mist of tears in her eyes tells me what I need to know, but I also need to hear her say it. I need the words from her luscious lips.
“Yes.” She nods.
My lips connect with hers, my arms pulling her a little closer, holding her a little tighter. I kiss her like we have all the time in the world, and we do. She’s officially mine. No more wondering if she feels this connection we share—no more worrying that another man will garner her attention. We’re together. For the first time in my adult life, I have a girlfriend, and not just any girlfriend. Aurora. The woman who is perfect for me in every way. Not to mention, she’s a baking genius.
Fucking finally.
She’s mine.
“Come on. I have something for you.” With my hand laced with hers, I guide her to the tent that I set up earlier. Inside there is a propane heater, table, two chairs, and two coolers that hold our dinner and dessert—hopefully keeping them at the correct temperatures. “Sit.” I point to one of the chairs and grab the white box with a red bow around it. “Here.” I hand her the box.
“These…” She points to the vase of roses in the center of the small table. “They’re beautiful.”
I lean in and press my lips to hers. “So are you. Now open the box.” Standing to my full height, I watch as she carefully removes the box and then the lid.
“Grant,” she breathes. Reaching into the box, she pulls out one of the brand-new white skates. “You didn’t have to do this. When you said you brought some skates, I assumed they were a borrowed pair from your mom or one of your sisters-in-law.” She stares down at the new skates like I’ve given her a million dollars.