the scenery was gorgeous: the rolling hills of Tennessee, the picturesque view of the lake, and the beautiful colors of the orange and red leaves on the trees, and she knew the pictures were gonna be amazing. Especially the ones with her hunk of sexy, man-meat boyfriend in them. When he picked her up, like a prince carrying a princess, she beamed up at him as he looked at the camera, ever the model. She giggled as he put her on her feet, dipping her back and kissing her deeply.
Man, she loved him.
“Gosh, y’all are adorable!” Elli cheered as she hopped on her toes.
Harper nodded as she looked through her viewfinder on her camera. “Y’all are. I’m getting some great shots.”
“Great,” Jordie said, his arms around Kacey’s waist, his head resting on her shoulder.
Elli snapped a picture and grinned. “Why don’t we do some with the guitar, Jordie?”
He nodded as he let her go to get it and Kacey grinned. “Are these only of you and her, or can I join in?” she asked, speaking of his guitar.
He shot her a look as he put the strap over his head and ran his fingers along the strings. “Hush, you,” he said and then he started playing, like really playing.
“What are you doing?”
“Shh,” he said again and she smiled, confused. She loved watching him play, but weren’t they supposed to be taking pictures? She understood authenticity, but really? It was getting cold out there. But then he started singing, his eyes locked on hers, and she froze.
What was he up to?
As he sang, “God Gave Me You” by Blake Shelton, her heart started to speed up in her chest. It was a beautiful song, and the way he sang it made her feel like it was written for her. And she loved it, she did. But why was he doing this in front of an audience? She couldn’t cry in front of them!
Looking back at Elli and Harper, she found that they were taking pictures, big grins on their faces as Jordie came toe-to-toe with her, the music vibrating her soul while he sang with all the gusto of Blake Shelton himself. When a single tear rolled down her face—because, really, how could she not cry when he was playing, obviously for her—he smiled, playing the last note with a little flair, like he always did. She loved that, but when he pushed the guitar back behind him and reached in his pocket, her heart jumped up into her throat.
“Jordie?”
He just grinned as he dropped to one knee, holding the little Tiffany’s blue box in his hand as he looked up at her. “As the song said, Kacey, God gave me you to make me better, to help me love life, and to be a better person not only for Him, but for you. I do all these things because of you, because of all the love and support you give me. I have wanted to marry you since the moment I saw you, but I was too scared to think that I could have the happily ever after everyone talked about. I thought it wasn’t in my cards, I thought that it was unattainable, but you proved me wrong. You give me that happily ever after every day. And there isn’t a day that passes that I don’t fall even more in love with you,” he said, his voice breaking with the last word. Her lip started to wobble as her vision blurred from the tears in her eyes. They hadn’t even spoken of marriage or anything—she’d just assumed they’d do it sooner or later. But apparently sooner was here because Jordie slowly opened the box, his eyes on hers as he whispered, “You are my best friend, my lover, my heart and soul. I couldn’t live the life I wanted without you, and it would be my honor if you’d marry me.” He sucked in a deep breath as the tears rushed down her face, probably ruining her makeup, but she didn’t care. Her eyes were set on this gorgeous man who was slowly opening the box, his eyes still on hers and his heart in his eyes. She didn’t even see the ring, all she saw was him as he asked, “So Kacey Marie King, will you do me a favor and help me write my happily ever after by being my wife?”
Her lip started to wobble, and out of the corner of her eye, something caught her