Dark Haven Found (The Children Of The Gods #49) - I.T. Lucas Page 0,20
taking any chances where Carol was concerned.
Turner had arranged everything, including fake documentation for each leg of the trip. Carol had a similarly convoluted itinerary and was scheduled to arrive at the rental a couple of hours later, which gave Lokan enough time to prepare for romance.
They had been dream-sharing nightly, and during those dreams, he’d taken her to every romantic destination he could think of, but there was no substitute for the real thing, and he wanted to make sure that their weekend in Wichita would be no less exciting.
On the way to the rental, Lokan had the Uber driver stop at the top restaurant to pick up the gourmet meals he’d preordered for the weekend, and then at a flower shop to pick up several bouquets of flowers and a bunch of aromatic candles.
Then on the spur of the moment, he’d asked the guy to take him to a jewelry store, where he’d picked up an engagement ring, or rather a placeholder for the better one that he was going to get Carol later.
He should have planned better and bought a proper ring in Washington, where the selection was better and finding a diamond larger than two carats wasn’t a problem. But it hadn’t occurred to him until the saleslady in the flower shop had asked him what occasion he was buying the flowers and the candles for. When he’d told her that he was planning a romantic dinner for his girlfriend, she’d asked if he was going to propose, planting the idea in his head.
Once the vases were filled with flowers, the candles lit, and the table set, Lokan sat down on the couch and opened the small jewelry box.
Should he go through with it?
The ring was pretty, but it wasn’t good enough for his princess, and he felt bad about proposing to her with such a modest offering.
There was no rush, and he could wait until he had a proper ring.
As he heard a car stop in front of the house, he put the box down on the coffee table and went to open the door.
The moment she saw him, Carol threw the passenger door open, flew out of the car, and flung herself at him. “I missed you, big boy.”
Behind her, the driver cleared his throat. “Here are your suitcases, miss.” He put them down on the sidewalk.
Not letting go of Lokan, she cast him a smile over her shoulder. “Thank you.”
She still clung to him long after the car had left.
Lokan chuckled. “If you hold on tight, I can carry the suitcases and you into the house.”
“Ooh, I love it when you get all macho on me.” She tightened her arms around his neck and her legs around his torso. “I’m holding on. You can let go.”
Reluctantly, he removed his hands from her soft butt cheeks and crouched to lift the suitcases.
“Did you bring your entire wardrobe with you?” He carried her and the luggage into the house, kicking the door closed behind him.
“Pretty much. I’m not going back. I’m staying with you.”
Lokan dropped the suitcases on the floor and carried Carol to the couch.
“I wish you could, but it’s not safe.”
Ignoring his reply, her eyes zeroed in on the box he’d forgotten on the coffee table. “What’s that?”
“A gift.”
Pushing out of his arms, she leaned over, grabbed the box, and opened it. “It’s lovely.” She lifted her eyes to him. “Are you proposing to me?”
“Not with this ring. It’s just something to hold you over until I get you a proper one.”
“What’s wrong with this one?” Carol took it out of the box and slid it onto her finger. “It’s perfect.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He laughed. “I haven’t proposed yet.”
“So what are you waiting for? Do it already.”
“Over dinner.” He turned them both around so she could see the dining table.
“Oh, wow, Lokan. I’m impressed. How long have you been planning this?”
“The dinner or the proposal?”
“The proposal, silly.”
“An hour. The dinner took much longer.”
Carol frowned. “What prompted it? Did you talk with anyone in the village? Did Jacki put you up to it?”
“I didn’t talk with anyone. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision.” He regarded her with a raised brow. “What would I have heard if I’d spoken with Jacki?”
Carol smirked. “I’d better show you.”
Reaching into her purse, she pulled out two small flasks, one with a pink bow tied to its neck, and the other with a blue one.