room, he was sitting on the couch, guitar in hand, the keyboard pulled off of its stand and laid across the coffee table instead.
I smiled. He could have worked in the piano room at the front of the house, but we both preferred this room. He looked up when I was halfway down the stairs and smiled like I was the best sight he’d seen all day. It was hard not to fall even further in love with a man who would look at me like that even when I hadn’t showered yet. My hair was pulled out of my way into a messy bun. I wore loose shorts and one of his t-shirts, which I had confiscated near the end of my pregnancy.
“Where are you going?” he asked as I headed out the back door.
“I’ll be right back,” I called.
I invaded the guest house, looking through his nightstand until I found the folder of songs. Then I brought them back to the main house and brandished them in front of Sean’s face where he sat on the couch. “Play these for me?”
His startled expression turned to sheepishness, and he carefully took the folder. He thumbed through them for a moment, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “Not all of them have a melody.”
“So play me the ones that do.”
He nodded slowly, then looked up at me and gave me a careful smile. “Okay…” He reached for my hand and pulled me down beside him, clearing his throat as he started to play one by memory.
Listening to those songs was both heartbreaking and healing.
♪♫♪
Sean liked to take me out on dates. But he was a celebrity and Joanie was only four months old, so we went to strange and exotic places like…the backyard, or the library on the third floor. Honestly, they were perfect. We had plenty of privacy, Tucker was nice enough to pick up food for us when we asked, and Sean had an impressive collection of candles and tablecloths, which he used liberally. Last week we’d had burgers while lying out under the stars. Tonight he’d told me that the dress code was formal and that he’d pick me up at eight.
Joanie didn’t fall asleep until seven thirty, so I wasn’t quite as glamorous as I’d hoped to be, but I did manage to curl my hair and put on some makeup. I slipped into a sundress, which was the only dress I felt was flattering on me. That was just going to have to be formal enough for him.
I was walking down to the great room right at eight o’clock when Sean walked in the back door—wearing a suit.
I stopped midway down the stairs. “Wow.”
He looked up and saw me. “You were supposed to wait for me to come get you,” he said, though the appreciation in his eyes as he jogged over indicated he wasn’t too upset about it.
“Was I supposed to wait in my room?”
“Yes,” he said as he reached me, picking up my hand to kiss the back of it.
“Very gallant,” I tried to tease, but my heart had gone all fluttery.
He wrapped my hand over his arm and swept a hand toward the back door. “Shall we?”
Our “restaurant” was located in the small living space of the guest house. He’d decorated with candles and flowers, and there was a distinct aroma in the air that didn’t seem like take-out.
“Did you cook for me?” I asked as he pushed my chair under me.
“Yes.” He dropped a quick kiss on my neck. “I hope it’s edible.”
I grinned as he sat across from me. “I’m sure it will be great. I’ve taught you very well.”
And it was great. It wasn’t fancy or complicated, but the chicken was tender and the salad was fresh. The dessert was store-bought, but it was one he knew I loved, so I wasn’t about to complain.
I sat back with a sigh of contentment as I licked the last vestiges of cream off my fork, taking a moment to admire him as he sat across from me.
Sean shifted in his chair. “So, can we please get married now?”
I halted my admiration and darted my eyes back to his. “What?” I asked, half laughing.
He sat forward, his eyes earnest. “I’ve been holding off because I knew it was too soon after Jonas, and I wanted you to feel more like yourself after having Joanie. But I’m really hoping you’ll put me out of my misery and just marry me.”