lived in fantasyland all the time, and I took a second to appreciate how wonderful it was that my proposal included my suitor dressing up in an eye patch. The definition of ideal looks different to one person than it does to another, but the site of Drew dressed up in an eye patch was like magic to me in that moment.
"So, Captain Klein, did you come here to bring me some more stolen treasure?" I asked.
"I do have treasure for you. You've already found it. You've been rifling through my pockets."
"Oh, was that for me?" I asked feigning surprise. I dug in his pocket and took a hold of the box again. "Is this really for me?" I asked, staring up at him before I opened it.
"Yes."
I reached up and flipped the patch where it was resting on his forehead and no longer covering his eye. That way I could stare straight at him. He actually looked handsome wearing that thing around his head. He looked fierce and dangerous, and I smiled, thinking he'd look good in anything.
I held the ring box between us, but I didn't open it. I held it there, deciding if I had the nerve to look at it. I rested my head on his chest. I had missed the light, woodsy smell of his cologne. I wanted to bury my face in his shirt and stay there, breathing it in all evening. I had seriously missed him—I had physically missed his presence near me. My body ached to be next to him.
"You can open it," he said.
"I know. I'm just taking a second. I missed you."
I finally pulled back and opened it.
I stared inside.
I was expecting it to be smaller than the other one. I was prepared for that. Drew would know it would be safe to assume I wasn't the type of girl who needed a gigantic wedding ring. It was different than the one I had sold, but it wasn't smaller. This one was vintage looking and full of charm where the other one was modern, clean, and sharp.
This was, no doubt, the perfect ring for me.
I glanced up at Drew. "I love it."
"Good," he said. "See if it fits."
Chapter 20
I slid the ring onto my finger and stared at it, feeling humbled and not knowing quite what to say to Drew. I didn't think I wanted a big diamond, but now that it was sitting on my finger, I felt like I never wanted to let it go.
Because of my speechlessness, I almost made a joke about being glad he didn't toss it into the bay, but I kept quiet. I was glad I did because Drew spoke up and what he had to say was much better.
"You were in California, Lu, and I was missing you so much. I was counting the minutes till you got back." He took a deep breath. "Look, I've been trying to go slow with this relationship. Uh, I mean, I guess we're not really going slow, but slower than I wish we were going. Lucy, look, I'm ready to just be with you. I'm ready to start a life with you and Mac. Is it possible that we just jump in to the part where we make our plans with each other from now on? You know, be a family? I talked to Mac, and he's okay with it. So, I figured if you and I are both okay with it, then I can't see any reason why we need to keep waiting."
And then, Drew turned into the Senator's son—the well-mannered gentleman who kept to tradition. He went down on one knee, but he stayed close to me, holding onto me, holding my legs gently, looking up at me. I felt tempted to protest, like I should excuse him from getting on his knee and tell him to stand up, but he didn't give me time for any of that. He just started talking.
"Lucy King, I want to come home to you every day. I want my house to be your house. I want to be Mac's dad, and for us to have more Macs."
I laughed at the thought of that. Tears filled my eyes as I stared down at Drew.
"Please marry me," he said.
"Yes," I said, pulling him to his feet.
I hugged him tightly.
"Soon?" he asked.
"Whenever you want to. I love you, Drew. I feel the same way you were saying. I was over there in California, wishing you were with me. And