train wreck of a childhood. At least they’re trying.”
“I’m trying, as well. Do you really think people can change?”
“You know the answer to that. The only thing that limits us is fear and the boundaries we set for ourselves.”
“Our relationship has helped me understand them better.” He brushed his hand along her jaw. “I think Mum and Dad have a relationship similar to ours. Even after thirty years he’s still head over heels in love with her.”
Finally, after a year, he was beginning to believe, truly believe, in his heart and in his gut, that she loved him. That she wasn’t going to wake up and decide there just wasn’t enough substance to him or that the substance was too unpalatable.
He’d actually gone to Savannah with her a couple of months ago to meet her family, after the fallout from her broken engagement had cleared. It’d been an interesting weekend. While Elliott, with his outgoing personality, had charmed them, they’d actually liked Simon better—especially after they’d found out Elliott’s sexual preference. Her father had pronounced Simon a man of depth. Her sister Betsy just thought he was weird, but then again, anyone not teeing off at the golf course or signing on at the garden club was weird to her sister, who lived in a microcosmic world.
And she knew for sure Simon was getting comfortable with their relationship when he asked her to go with him to England in the fall to meet his grandparents. Who knew? In a decade or so, her relationship-phobic love might actually decide to do something wild and crazy, like commit.
“Speaking of being head over heels...where is the happy couple of the day?” she asked.
Simon grinned. “Richard was nervous, so Elliott thought it best if they had a few minutes alone before the ceremony.” He tugged again at his tie. “A gay commitment ceremony held in an art gallery—not exactly conventional. You’d think they would’ve picked something a little more avant garde than a tux.”
“Would you like a little cheese with that whine? Anyway, Richard wanted tuxedos and Elliott wanted to make sure everything was the way Richard wanted it. I think it’s sweet. Richard’s been good for Elliott.”
“Absolutely. He’s much more considerate than he ever was before.”
“And I think it’s very cool they chose the anniversary of the blackout.”
“Very sentimental. Very touching.”
She shoved his shoulder. “Don’t be a jerk.” She knew better than anyone what a sentimental romantic he was at heart.
“But I’m so good at it.” He smirked, sending her heart into a flutter and a heat blooming low in her belly.
“You’re good at lots of things,” she said and smirked back.
“Stop it. It won’t do for you to go tenting the front of my trousers with naughty insinuations before the ceremony.”
“You know how to spoil a girl’s fun.”
“I’ll make it up to you later, luv.” And he would...and then some. “You know what today is, don’t you? We’ve been together a year and we’ve got some unfinished business between us we need to wrap up.”
“Business?” What was he talking about? And his timing left a lot to be desired.
“Right. I delivered your photographs, but you’ve yet to plan my party.”
“You were supposed to bill me,” she said, her mind wandering to her mental checklist. Had the caterer ordered the extra champagne Elliott had requested? Yikes! She thought they’d answered her email, but she didn’t recall seeing the extra bottles.
“Now don’t do getting all argumentative, luv. I need an event planned.”
Men picked the weirdest times. She focused her attention on him. “What kind of event?” Simon wasn’t a party kind of guy. He could’ve been voted Least Likely to Attend a Party in his high school yearbook.
“Something very similar to this. Except perhaps a bit fancier. Maybe something in a church and then a party afterward with a bit of dancing.”
Was he saying what she thought he was saying? Her heart seemed to skip a beat. Perhaps he had impeccable timing after all. “Are you talking about a wedding and a reception?”
He snapped his fingers. “That’s it.”
“You’re definitely sure? It’s a lot of work if you think you might change your mind later.”
“I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”
“I presume you have someone in mind?”
“As a matter of fact, there’s this enchanting creature who has me thoroughly besotted....”
“And have you asked her yet?”
“I’m working on it.” He took her hand in his and dropped to one knee. “Tawny Marianne Edwards, would you marry me?”
She’d always thought it was sort of