“It’s beautiful. Thank you for bringing my family here.”
“They could only stay one night, they said. Farm business doesn’t stop, I suppose. But I was glad to be able to make it work.”
“I only wish…” I stopped myself, uncertain about how Jake would take the idea.
“What do you wish?”
“I wish your brother could be here. I wish your mom could meet my mom.”
Jake swallowed. I felt his heart beating against my back.
“I know it’s impossible,” I continued. “I know it’s too dangerous. But… still.”
“My brother, my mother…” Jake said. “I would never have met them without you, Lacey. But more importantly, I think that you helped me to realize what I was missing.”
My eyes raised to his, a question lingering unspoken in the air.
“I missed being part of a family.”
“Do… do you want to stay here? To live in Paris with your mother and brother?” I pressed my lips together and scanned the skyline. It was beautiful, yes. But it wasn’t home.
“No, no. Lacey. I mean you.”
“Me? What about me?”
“I want to start a new family. With you.”
I turned to face Jake. He looked at me with eyes so full of love that I could hardly bear to meet them. His hand pressed against my back warmly, drawing me closer. He kissed the top of my head and rested his cheek against me.
“Jake, you are the most talented, wonderful man in the world. And I would go anywhere to start a family with you.”
Jake lifted my chin with his cupped hands and drew me into a warm kiss that kept out all the chill of the night air.
Epilogue
She was standing next to one of the waiters when we came down the elevator to the bottom of the Eiffel Tower. My breath caught when I saw her: that blonde woman I’d seen leaving our hotel room. Jake must have noticed my expression.
“Lacey, you met Marianne at the party, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” I said, my voice halting. I needed to ask him about it. Now was not the best time, but I couldn’t wait any longer. “And—”
“She’s been coming over to help me plan the proposal,” Jake said, before I could get another word out. “Her husband works for the city council, and it’s almost impossible to get nighttime use of the Eiffel Tower.”
“Is that why she was there at the hotel room?”
Jake’s face fell at the tone of my voice.
“Oh my God. You thought—”
I shook my head helplessly.
“I didn’t know—”
“She was helping me with the paperwork! We tried to keep it secret, but there was one night when she needed a signature immediately… I thought she had missed you when she left. Lacey, I’m sorry.”
My skin turned warm. A rush of relief flooded me. And guilt, that I had thought Jake would do anything with another woman while he was on a trip with me.
“I didn’t want to be jealous,” I said. “I didn’t want to be one of those possessive girlfriends…”
“Oh, Lacey. You possess me completely. Be as possessive as you want.”
“Really?”
“As long as I get to be as possessive as I want.” There was a sly glint in his eye.
“What are you going to do to me, once you have me?” I teased.
“Well, first thing, I’m going to tie your wrists together…”
“Shhh! Okay, never mind! Not while my mom’s nearby!” I craned my neck back to see where she was. But it was only Steph and Lucas standing within earshot. She caught my eye.
“Congrats again, you two,” Steph said.
“I never thought I’d see the day,” Lucas said. He clapped Jake on the back.
“It might come for you someday soon, just wait and see,” Jake said, a grin on his face.
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Lucas said. He glanced sideways at Steph, and I noticed a strange look on her face. When Lucas stepped away, I took her by the arm.
“What’s up between you two?” I asked.
“Between who?” Steph asked.
“You and Lucas.”
“Nothing! There’s nothing between us. Why would there be anything?”
“I don’t know.” I frowned, confused. “I thought, the way you were looking at each other…”
“I wasn’t looking at him at all, okay? I don’t know what he’s looking at, but—”
“Alright, alright!” I held my hands up and laughed. “I thought I noticed a little something between you two, that was all.”
Steph breathed in deeply, flaring her nostrils. Then she bit her lip.
“Yes, you’re right. There’s more.”