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I grinned and said, “Oh, it’s nothing. I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention. Just tell me to shut up next time.”
His head tilted, and he frowned. “Why would I do that? You have a beautiful voice. I’ve never heard you sing before.”
I bit my lip and shook my head. “You’re being kind. But thank you.”
He let out a sarcastic laugh. “You should know by now, Giselle. I am anything but kind. Now, let’s go.”
We led the horses outside and Carlo helped me up onto Carmen—even though I didn’t need him to.
Then he swung up onto Capo.
And then—we rode.
The wind blew through my hair.
My spirit felt so light. Out here, there were no responsibilities.
No vagrant fathers.
No bad guys hunting me.
No grouchy lovers who could barely look at me.
Just the fresh air. My horse. And my lumberjack.
“Over here,” Carlo shouted and whistled loudly.
I followed him through a stand of trees and down to the small stream we’d been at before.
After he dismounted, he helped me off Carmen and took my hand. “Time for a break.” He pulled me along behind him to our picnic spot. Today, there was a cute, white table and chair set. Of course, it wasn’t just some run of the mill table and chairs. They had intricate filigree patterns around the backs of the chairs and the top of the table.
I felt my face break into a huge smile. “You certainly know how to impress a girl,” I said with a laugh. We walked up to the table, and I let my fingers touch the top of the metal table. A large glass vase of pink roses sat in the middle. I bent over to give them a sniff. “These are lovely.” I inhaled the deep floral scent. I couldn’t help but touch the petals on one of the roses. They were too perfect. I had to feel it for myself to be sure they were real.
There was a metal wine bucket behind the table. Carlo wandered around and pulled out a chilled bottle from it. I turned around and watched the horses drink from the stream.
Everything out here was so peaceful.
If only it could stay this way.
“Here,” Carlo’s voice said from beside me. He handed me a glass of wine. I took it and brought it to my lips.
It was then I noticed something very, very sparkly in the bottom of my glass.
“Giselle, every time I think about my future—it has you in it. You’re the first person I think of in the morning and the last person I think of at night. You and Daniella have made my life—” he cleared his throat, “so unbelievably full. Marry me, Giselle. Grow our family with me.”
My heart.
My poor, poor heart.
It beat so fast in my chest.
I looked from my wine glass to Carlo.
And back again.
He took the glass out of my hand and tipped it over, wine spilling onto the ground. Before I knew what was happening, Carlo dropped to his knee.
His hand extended.
