"But your shop…are you going to throw that dream away?”
“Nope. That can still happen. There's time. It’s not now or never." He took the box from his brother and stared down at the ring, imagining it on Tawny's finger. They'd probably wait until after the baby was born. "I think this is the best decision I've ever made."
"Not a whole lot of competition on that front, though, is there?" Rex raised his eyebrows and Luke rolled his eyes.
"Alright, so what do you think Tawny would like? I thought about waiting until the baby was born and trying to make him part of things, but I want her to know that this isn't because she's pregnant, so..."
"So just do it when it feels natural to you. If things are right, you'll know."
"Yeah," Luke nodded, "maybe you're right."
But he still couldn't help feeling the sooner he asked her, the sooner the best chapter of his life could begin--with her by his side.
Chapter 20
He stared at the clock again, then looked at the strawberries, already rinsed and freshly cut with a side of chocolate and whipped cream. It was simple--he knew that--but if he knew anything about Tawny, it was that she didn't want some big spectacle. His words would have to be enough, and he'd spent the whole of the day composing them, making sure every last one was right for her. That it was a speech they could frame and show to their son when they explained their love story to him.
Clearing his throat, he pulled the sheet of paper from his pocket and scanned the lines again.
Tawny, I've had some incredible high points in my life and still you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You, not just the idea of our family, but you--your kindness and your good heart. Your humor and your grace. You're everything I've ever wanted and now, looking at you, I know that this was fate. That, no matter what I did with my life, it would have been less special without you in it. You are my dream come true.
I can't think of spending another day without you in my life, and because of that I--
There was a knock on the door and he shoved the paper back in his pocket before sweeping toward the door and opening it. Tawny stood there in a pretty white maternity top and a pair of black leggings looking cute as ever and it took all he had not to scoop her up, but something in her expression stopped him cold.
He hadn’t seen her for two days because she’d been under the weather and had just wanted to sleep, but looking at her now, it didn’t seem like she’d done much of that at all. Under her eyes were dark purple smudges and he rushed to pull out a chair at the dining room table before asking her to take a seat.
"Are you okay? You look like you haven't been sleeping."
"I'm fine, I'm fine. This late in the pregnancy...well, you know the deal."
She sank into the chair, then, with wild eyes, looked down at the strawberries. "What's all this?"
"I haven't seen you for a couple of days. I thought our reunion could be special. Still craving strawberries?"
"Oh." Her face fell and she averted her gaze from him. "Um, yeah. Thanks. You didn't have to do that."
"I know I didn't have to do it. I wanted to." He studied her, wondering if this was really the right time after all.
Maybe he ought to have gone bigger--drawn her a bath with rose petals and candles and everything she liked. Maybe he should have...
But that didn't make any sense. When love was real, it didn't matter when he asked, the answer would always be the same, wouldn't it?
"Tawny, are you sure everything is alright?" he asked.
"Yes, everything is fine. I just...I wanted to talk to you."
"I actually wanted to talk to you, too."
"Okay, well, I'll go first. These past couple of days I've been by myself, I was thinking..." She let silence fall heavy between them and she twisted her hands in her lap. Still, she wouldn't meet his gaze and he had half a mind to tuck his hand beneath her chin and pull her toward him, forcing her to show him whatever was waiting there behind her eyes.
But he didn't. Instead, he sat there, waiting for whatever it was she had to say, his senses on high alert with apprehension.
“Look, Luke…you’re amazing in bed. Truly, amazing. And you're so smart and good-looking. You're a great guy in every way and I know you're going to be a great father." The words came out in one breath and his brain scrambled to untangle them even as his gut clenched with dread.
He knew this speech. Hell, he’d said it in some form or another a dozen times. And he knew what came next.
"Wait, Tawny--"
"No, let me finish." She held up a hand. "Pregnancy is a really emotional time for women and sometimes our hormones get in the way. I mean, you of all people know that I had plans for my life before you and the baby came along."